Juan Foote

I posted a few days ago about my looking at buying a new entry level MTB. I have been looking at the Felt Q520 (26") and a Specialized Rockhopper comp disk 29. I had originally looked at the Hardrock, but they all rode like toys so I looked at others and found a comparable ride on that level (to the Felt).

Between the two there is honestly very little to compare, aside from the fact that they ride really similarly, and one costs almost half what the other does. The brakes and components on the Rockhopper are a bit better with a large difference in the brakes, being hydraulic rather than mech. I could actually even add hydraulic brakes to the Felt and still be under the cost of the Specialized.

Everyone I talk to tells me to go with the 29er. I simply cannot feel it ride wise. I know part of it is infamiliarity with the profile, as I have ridden 26" before, even recently. The components aren't really far enough apart to justify concern, but if I found the group on the Felt to be lacking it would cost me more than just buying the more expensive bike up front. Especially considering I plan to put on the different brakes anyway a short time after purchase.

The worst part is the fact that the more I read, the more I look, the more I am lulled into buying a bike that I really don't need and will never use at the level it is intended to be used for. I already have a nice road bike, and will be spending most of my riding time on it anyway. I will not be riding the MTB on anything outside light to barely intermediate trails anyway. I could likely ride my road bike on most of it without damage (and have on one of them).

Dannihilator

29ers are not for everyone, some times it is just best to go with what feels right to you.

SlimRider

Personally, I think you're a roadie at heart. You just love cycling!

Do yourself a favor, buddy! Just go with your heart and let these temporary feelings go.

$...You'll be all the richer for it!...$

- Slim

PS.

Why don't you just upgrade your road bike instead?

ShimmerFade

I have a 2010 Felt Q620. I am very happy with the bike as a whole for what I initially paid for it (400 euro). The frame seems to be very good quality for the price (it is the same as they use all the way up to the Q920, and has a fairly beefy headtube, top tube, down tube joining). That said, I bought the Felt as an introduction to the sport not knowing how much riding I would do. Over 3,000km and less than a year later only the frame, seat post, handle bars, front wheel, and brakes (it came with hydraulic Tektro Auriga comps) are the same. Knowing what I know now I would have been better off getting a better bike to start with, but I didn't know. Anyways, the Q620 has been a great introduction into the sport, and even though I have dropped quite a bit of cash into it, it continues to be a great investment (many, many hours of fun and I'm almost as healthy as when I played soccer for 14 years).

My plans for the future will be to swap everything off of it onto a Ragley Blue Pig. Everything will swap perfectly as the seat tube, head tube, bb, etc are all compatible sizes. My main reason for this is that I probably bought a size too big for the kind of riding I like to do, and the aluminum has got to be starting to fatigue a bit. I'll probably wait for it to break, but the AM geo of Blue Pigs sure sounds fun..

I would recommend maybe going up to the Q620. If I remember right, and they are both still similarly specced, it is quite a bit more bike for the money than the Q520. Whatever you do, have fun!

pablosnazzy

I think Dannihilator and Slimrider together gave the best advice, go with your heart and what feels best.

if you want a mountainbike for light trails, between the two, i would get the Felt.

Daspydyr 

I think most of us have more bike than we need. It is a heart kinda buy thing. Don't be surprised what tomorrow brings when it come to Biking. Someone is going to invite you on a bit tougher ride someday. The bug will bite you and before you know it you will be looking at dropper posts and shin shreddin platforms.

Juan Foote

Thanks all. It really isn't a matter of the desire to do harder terrain on my rides, it is an inability. I can barely stand on my road bike to pedal, with clipless, on a smooth road. I am a bit afraid to go clipless on the MTB as I cannot release my left "foot" until after the right. I would likely stay on platforms, which would make me completely unable to stand at all. That is the reason I keep thinking about light to low intermediate trails.

Slim, I have thought long and hard on the nice set of wheels I could get with this same money, believe me. Working for a LBS brings all manner of nice equipment suddenly into reach.