I just bought a 90's Cross Country Diamondback for $25
It's a fully rigid frame that's a early hybrid because it has a road bike fork, mountain bike frame, 700cc x 35 wheels, 21 speed.

Ok, here's the question, is it worth upgrading?

I'm thinking of making it a all around bike, to ride out to the trails, climb the mountain and explore it before I bike home.

Everything works fine as it sits, but is it worth my time and money instead of getting a different bike to upgrade?

Also, I like to stay within selling range, so I can get my money back.

Thanks in advance

eh, in my experience fully rigid frames these days are usually 29ers. with a different fork, it's certainly doable, but it'll be bumpy ride.

I love rigid. Can't speak for the DB , what tube set does it have? A large tire may be all the suspension required in most cases.

It's Chromoly, can't find the exact tubing but probably reynolds. The frame is strong and light. It's 700cc and I just ordered a new set of tires. I'll run 90psi for roads and deflate for offroad to take some shock out and give traction.

Any psi ratings for light trails?

Also, I've tested the ride out in a dirt field, when over loose rock it was killer, but beaten path and smooth slopes was better then suspension

I have a mid 90s KHS Montana Comp rigid mountain bike with 90psi road tires. It's the go to town/utility/ errand bike now and, in the past, I've toured on it.

It's OK on dirt roads and had pack but, with those tires, it's no longer a mountain bike.

Maybe you need sets of wheels -- one with street tires and one with knobbies?

Well, as for your thread title, I've found that for singletrack type trails, I think rigid is fun. If I'm doing any drops, I'd prefer a suspension fork. You will put in a little more work to ride the same trail on a rigid than a suspension fork, it's just more challenging and fun in some respects.

As for your question about that particular bike, if it's this one, then I'd just make sure everything works as is, give it a tune-up, probably some new tires if the ones it has aren't suitable, and ride it as is. You don't have much invested, so if you don't invest much more then any decent riding bike that fits you should be basically worth it. However, if you see any older bike shop quality MTBs for sale in your area for under ~$75 that are in riding condition(probably with tune-up/tires), I think you'd be better off with that.

This is all assuming by "climb the mountain" you're referring to dirt and/or rocky paths, not paved paths. If they're paved, no need for much other than a hybrid/road bike. Stick some road type tires on the Cross Country and have at it as long as it fits you well. Make sure your seat is high enough that you get proper leg extension.

Thanks 3speed

I've got some more aggressive tire coming with a smoother center tread for roads. I've also ordered a seat, but that's a personal keep, so if I'd sell the bike, I would switch them out for the old one. I've also ordered bigger brake pads to stop better.

I recently finished building a rigid MTB. Used a Nashbar frame & carbon fork.

There are pros & cons. The handling is more precise, but you are getting hammered. I don't do jumps or high speed downhill much anymore. Works great on trails

Do you mean that in a good way or a bad way?

I love my single speed rigid 29er! Favorite bike ever!

I had a fully rigid bike when I was a kid and I thought it was fine. Then I got suspension and realized I could still use my hands after a full day of riding and I never used rigid again.

^Kinda the same here, but I think it depends on what you're doing. I was fine ripping it up on my rigid bike. Once I got a suspension fork, I guess I probably won't ride rigid again(unless I have the money for multiple nice bikes). That's mostly just because of drops, though. There's a drop that's ~4' where I usually ride that was super sketchy if I didn't land it right on my rigid. Now I can just say "f*** it" and ride off of it however I want with no concern and due to the fork and I'll be fine. It's nice in that it can really help you not kill yourself on drops, but if you're just doing a couple hours on a trail and basically staying on the ground then I don't really see a need for suspension.

I preferred the price tag on my rigid. And it's really responsive. Of course, if I had the extra money, would it stay rigid? Absolutely not.

Last year I refurbished an old alum Gary fisher bike and swapped the Juddy TT pogo stick for a rigid fork. It was very fun to ride and taught me how to balance better and better handling skills. It definately slows you down, and you can't keep up with your biddues in squishies if you are gowing through a lot of rocks and/or downhills. The biggest downside is arm fatique over long rides.

For me, it was a cost effetive way to get into the sport and I am glad I did it.

If you ar eup for a challenge and don;t mind going a bit slower, go for it. Get a big front tire, get "loose" on the bike and have fun.


I now own a fully rigid steel SS 29er.....much different ride experience than an aluminum 26er. I have since put a squish on the front of the 26er.

Yep... Here are my 1995 GT Tequesta and my 1995 Trek 7000ZX I guess I like 1995 too?

I am in the process of rebuilding my old 93' Giant iguana (rigid-geared) into a single-speed mixed-terrain cruiser. I put drop bars and road levers on it but am still using medium/big 26" tires and V-brakes. so it rides more or less like a cyclocross bike. I personally don't care for suspension bikes because they feel sluggish to me but then I am not jumping off steep drops or hopping over logs or boulders either. The most I will bei doing is fire roads, carriage trail, flat singletrack and of course hopping off curbs and embankments. (stuff I wouldn't want to do on my road bike.)

As stated it is all about the trails. By mid summer, my FS seems a bit overkill for the smooth, fast fire trails i ride after work, so I built this...

Nice Mikkelsen. He did the top tube replacement on my Team Miyata.

Sweet bike.