bestburson

First off, I've been a road cyclist for a few years and I want to expand my biking ability. I just started my first semester of college and I left my nice road bike at home for fear that it would get stolen in the first week. So I brought my old cyclocross bike. Which is a piece of junk. I mean I love all things bike related but this thing just sucks. The bottom bracket feels like it's going bad and I'm not sure how much longer it will last. Everyone seems to think it's a nice bike because of the drop handlebars but in reality it's worth about $40 dollars, maybe. Anyways I've been thinking about getting a mountain bike. I'm new to this are and I'd like some advice, I won't be riding too many trails, just need a bike to get around campus that I could also put some abuse on. I've looked at a few models and I want to know what would be the best bet for me, I'd probably have to wait until Christmas for the new bike so I have some time to decide.

Save Up to 60% Off Mountain Bikes - 29er Multi Speed - Dawes Haymaker 2900
Trail 7 - TRAIL - TRAIL HARDTAILS - MOUNTAIN - BIKES - 2015
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Specialized Bicycle Components
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intransit1217

I'd say yes, for your particular application. And there's such a variety in brands and models, you can probably find a closeout at a killer price right now.

intransit1217

I just looked at the options you posted. For that price range, I'd drop the dawes because you can test ride and check fitment from a bike shop on the other brands.

I hope someone chimes in on the quality of forks at this price point. I'm betting they're not much better than the rst vita on my dual sport.

higgins617

I would suggest you look into older fully rigid mountain bike for what you're looking for. Suspension is really going to do nothing but take away some of your momentum when you're just riding on pavement. If you were looking to hit the trails it would be a different story.

tk1971

+1 on this.

Get something like an early 80's Rockhopper (full rigid). Slap some 26x1.5" hybrid tires (which should cost more than the bike) and you'll be good to go. Keep it rusty and ugly to deter theft.

I bought a Hardrock for $40 and I'm about to completely rebuild it. The first thing that'll go are the cheap indexed shifters (replacing with Suntour Thumbshifters - friction). Should be sweet for the fire roads.

bestburson

I have a friend who has an old Gary Fisher that would do the job but I may ride on trails because of where I live so front suspension might be necessary, I would like to kill two birds with one stone by buying one new bike instead of getting a commuter and mountain bike. I've always bought used bikes from Craigslist and that's worked great so far but sadly the Craigslist in this area doesn't have much of a selection in bikes.

bananafruitcake

Just do whatever you can to deter full theft or partial theft (saddle/wheels) on any new bike you decide to buy.
I live in a big bike riding college town, sadly I've sold a bunch of fixed up 90's cro mos to students who had bikes stolen (stories were just plain sad...)
Switch out your Quick Release for skewers and bolts...
and a new trend is to put a hodge podge of stickers over the logos (stickers that will be removed in the future)....
and if you can do without disc brakes... that feature screams to thiefs ("steal me, I cost a lot....")
and don't assume an older mountain bike will not have front shocks...
I just posted this one for $70 today


Or maybe your friends Gary (I love old Garys...) could be upgraded with a new/used suspension fork?

bestburson

The theft is what's deterring me from a nice or new bike, I had a friend get hers stolen the other week from her apartment. And some people don't even know how to lock up bikes around here, it's a little sad, I can probably get away with a nice bike, I just need to lock it securely. and I think I'll hit the Gary up for a test ride, it's worth a shot. I found this on a somewhat local craigslist and it looks okay to me. I have a hard time finding bikes that fit me since I'm only 5'5"

Jamis
and this one...
Specialized Rockhopper

higgins617

Sweet deals can be had if you keep an eye out, I got a Univega Alpina 550 with STX drivetrain and Rock Shox Indy up front for 25 bucks. Needed tires and a seat, which most people change anyway. Something like that would probably fit your bill perfectly. But honestly I would take a good look at the Fisher, lets not forget that mountain biking was started on rigid bikes. The Fisher is made durable enough to handle the trails, so chances are you could definitely ride some XC on it. Suspension is more a luxury than a necessity, though a luxury I quite enjoy.

bananafruitcake

26' Speacialized HardRock

ah damn, I called the seller for ya... and asked the frame size, he needed a couple hours and edited the post to a 17" frame...

hurry

and just sold the bike I pictured above for $70 (in hours)...sadly he was a student replacing a just stolen $500 bike all locked up....

and... IMO seeing the condition of the jamis, I think it's overpriced but the Specialized has been up 10 days... a lifetime on craigs...if you like it better than the gary... offer $60 and pay $70 if the tires are ok....

bestburson

Gary Fisher is a no go, too many problems and it's much too big for me, and @bananafruitcake, thanks for the call! I'll definitely check that one out, it looks pretty good to me.

bestburson

I found two potential bikes at a local pawn shop but they are both overpriced by quite a bit. One is an old Gary Fisher Mako Silver Series Aluminum but it's in poor shape. The other is a Schwinn Fracas, it is in good shape but it desperately needs a new front tire and the front disc brakes don't work, It has Shimano Acera shifters and looks to be in great shape.It also has a Rock Shox 1 front fork, is this bike worth anything at all? The listed price for the Schwinn is $125 and the Gary $235, which is very overpriced for me.

bananafruitcake

Sorry but NO to both..... and watch out for first edtion rox shocks... most cannot be serviced....

bestburson

What's wrong with them? Anything is an upgrade from my current bike I use to commute around campus, it's an 80's steel Murray "road bike" It's pretty beat up and I'm able to flex the frame with my hands, so I'm thinking most bikes would be an upgrade.

bananafruitcake

They are both overpriced and still need repairs....
Of course buy whatever you want and makes you happy...

Was the Specialized too big? because that is a $100 bike fully functional...
and much better than the Murray...
Now that his ad has been up a couple days and the fact it was part of a storage bin buy...he might accept $30 and that still gives you $70 for repairs/upgrades



I really doubt these will sell for $225 as they were only ... Maybe... $400 new in 2012... but one looks like it might have a smaller frame... wait a couple days and offer them $100-$150 (lol of course they'll take the $150 but you give them a win with the range offer...) and at least where I live, taller bikes are harder to find and go faster...

https://springfield.craigslist.org/bik/4657164680.html

roccobike

Hey you like to live dangerously. I had one of those 80's Murray "road" bikes. It was a heavy steel, POS with a curved handle bar that made it a "road" bike. It refused to go in a straight line. I rode it once, then decided to use it to learn how to disassemble a bike. For that it purpose it worked out well. You're correct, any LBS mountain bike is going to feel like you're riding on a TDF bike. Hope you find one.
For what its worth, I bought an old Trek 800 when my son went to college. I removed both quick release axles and replaced with bolt on. Then we replaced the quick release saddle with a collar and bolt. We touched up any rust with Rustoleum, and coated the chain with auto engine oil because we knew the bike would be stored outside. We purchased a good lock and it all worked because we brought it home when he was done with it. Those old rigid fork MTBs are ideal for your application and they are the least attractive to thieves.

bestburson

The longer I ride it the more I hate it, and whenever I go home and ride my Cannondale Synapse it feels like the fastest bike in the world. The Murray is in pretty bad shape right now after a minor collision with a pole (it just popped up in front of me) so the sooner I can find a decent bike the better.

roccobike

I know what you mean. I hate it when poles or trees move into my path (LOL)!

bestburson

Ended up purchasing the Schwinn Fracas for $100 dollars, I think it was a great price, after replacing the front brake pads and making a few adjustments all around, along with a new seat I am quite happy with my purchase. Although riding around campus on a hardtail would have been better I've taken it to the local mountain bike trails about twice a week and it performs great! Now to think about what bike to buy next...