As you will be able to tell I'm a newb tring to get into biking. My family of 5 all have yardsale and walmart bikes. We have been riding around town everyday for the last 4 or 5 months. We have came up with a plain to upgrade all the bikes to "bike shop bikes" and take to some of the local singletrack trails. So we started looking at the LBS's, reading books and on the web. I think we have all rode atleast 2 or 3 bike each but I'm still not sure if ones better then the other. The 3 kids (5,8 and 13) really like them all and don't care about much more then looks and a new bike. Although my 13 YO did say he liked the feel of one bike over the other. So far my list for me is about 13 or so bikes from 6 different builders. I myself can tell alittle different between bike but nothing good or bad.

What am I looking for in a bike when I test ride it?
Are all bike frames equal in this price range?


So far I rode;
Specailized hardrock disc
Specailized hardrock disc 29
Felt Q520
GT Avalanche disc 2.0

Some I still want to look at;
Kona Lana'l
Scott Aspect 40
Scott Aspect 29
Gaint Revel
GT Karakoram 2.0

fit. you should be comfortable and the bike should fit, it should feel good. your kid said he liked the feel of the one bike over the other, so that is the bike for him.

after that, make sure it's a good bike, i.e. it is made by a reputable bike company (Next is not a good bike, Specialized is).

this bikes you listed are all good bikes, so the only thing you need to focus on is fit.

+2 on all counts

I think he liked the 29 inch tires over the 26. He said it was easier in the grass. So he's pretty much set on the Specailized hardrock disc 29 and I think I'm going to look at the 29ers also. I'm really happy with the LBS as they are more help then any book I've read. They set all the basic stuff up on the bike (seat, handlebars, brake levers, etc.. ) before you test ride. Infact they told me (and this might be everywhere but) to ride everbike in the store intill I found the right one. The are about 1/2 mile from a bike trail and they always say go put some miles on it. Anyway I'm just very please with them.

Sounds like you found an exceptional shop that is doing everything right (and no, they aren't all like that - - fell blessed). Congrats - - you're off to a very good start.

Holy crap. Thanks for that comment. Even with all the experience I have with different kinds of bicycles, I think you solved a dilemma for me. I was considering replacing my old, cheap 26 inch wheel mountain bike with another mountain bike for winter riding. If 29 is easier on grass then it must be easier on snow.

I ride a 29er everyday, but I am building a 26 inch for winter this year... I figure it'll be less distance to fall on the ice/snow