mountain bike opinions

On Tue, 26 Sep 2006 13:24:29 -0600, "rockymtn" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I've been a road biker for years and just recently decided to try mountain
biking. So, I found an old used 87 hardtail stumpjumper with rock shox in
pretty good shape.

Hard core Mountain bikers encountered on my first ride suggested I put my
old bike in the basement because it's a classic and spring for the moola for
a new mountain bike.

I'm 55 years old so I'm never going to do the xtreme thing the young guys
do. I just want to get good enough to do moderate singletrack and climb a
few jeep roads. Is my old bike okay for that? Or, are the guys on the trail
right, would it be worth it to get more modern equipment.

Go ride and have fun. The forests haven't changed in the last twenty years, the
bike will be fine. OTOH, suspension forks have become much better and you might
be more comfortable on a higher tech ride. I got back into riding off-road with
an 88 Fisher. It's been replaced as my main woods bike, but is still a fun ride
and now sports fat semi-slick tires and fenders.

Ron

Quoted message said:

I've been a road biker for years and just recently decided to try mountain
biking. So, I found an old used 87 hardtail stumpjumper with rock shox in
pretty good shape.

Hard core Mountain bikers encountered on my first ride suggested I put my
old bike in the basement because it's a classic and spring for the moola for
a new mountain bike.

I'm 55 years old so I'm never going to do the xtreme thing the young guys
do. I just want to get good enough to do moderate singletrack and climb a
few jeep roads. Is my old bike okay for that? Or, are the guys on the trail
right, would it be worth it to get more modern equipment.

Thanks,

Stan

Despite your inexperience, Stan, you are better equipped to answer your
question than anyone else. Ride your bike, and if the lack of rear
boing bounces you around too much, then consider a full-suspension frame.

Bicyclists are notorious for insisting that any equipment older or
different than this week's model is hopelessly outdated. Ignore them.

Ted

--
Ted Bennett

RonSonic said:

On Tue, 26 Sep 2006 13:24:29 -0600, "rockymtn" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I've been a road biker for years and just recently decided to try mountain
biking. So, I found an old used 87 hardtail stumpjumper with rock shox in
pretty good shape.

Hard core Mountain bikers encountered on my first ride suggested I put my
old bike in the basement because it's a classic and spring for the moola for
a new mountain bike.

I'm 55 years old so I'm never going to do the xtreme thing the young guys
do. I just want to get good enough to do moderate singletrack and climb a
few jeep roads. Is my old bike okay for that? Or, are the guys on the trail
right, would it be worth it to get more modern equipment.

Go ride and have fun. The forests haven't changed in the last twenty years, the
bike will be fine. OTOH, suspension forks have become much better and you might
be more comfortable on a higher tech ride. I got back into riding off-road with
an 88 Fisher. It's been replaced as my main woods bike, but is still a fun ride
and now sports fat semi-slick tires and fenders.

Ron

Having recently gone to a a "soft tail" I can recommend them.

Friday

rockymtn said:

I'm 55 years old so I'm never going to do the xtreme thing the young guys
do. I just want to get good enough to do moderate singletrack and climb a
few jeep roads. Is my old bike okay for that? Or, are the guys on the trail
right, would it be worth it to get more modern equipment.

IMO, ride first and decide later. If you find that what you have is
working for you, then you don't need something else. As your skills
and/or habits change, you may find that you need something with more
of some sharacteristic that the current bike lacks.

Personally, I think you'll probably still be riding the Stumpjumper a
year from now. If they look at you funny on the trails, just say
"Classic bikes for classic riders."
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Group: rec.bicycles.tech
Date: Tue, Sep 26, 2006, 1:24pm (EDT-2)
From: [email hidden] (rockymtn)

Quoted message said:

I've been a road biker for years and just
recently decided to try mountain biking.
So, I found an old used 87 hardtail
stumpjumper with rock shox in pretty
good shape.

Quoted message said:

Hard core Mountain bikers encountered
on my first ride suggested I put my old
bike in the basement because it's a
classic and spring for the moola for a
new mountain bike.

Quoted message said:

I'm 55 years old so I'm never going to do
the xtreme thing the young guys do. I
just want to get good enough to do
moderate singletrack and climb a few
jeep roads. Is my old bike okay for that?
Or, are the guys on the trail right, would
it be worth it to get more modern
equipment.

Quoted message said:

Thanks,
Stan

Not "Hard Core" eh? Ironic then, that you should choose the handle
"RockyMtn." (inside joke).

Seriously though, your 87 StumpJumper may be a classic, I wouldn't know,
but unless you're willing to find a collector who's willing to shell out
big $$$ for it, pass it along to your kids, or you intend to get real
extream in the future, forget what the geeks tell you.

For what you're doing, the StumpJumper is fine. I had an 85 Schwinn
Sierra rigid frame (NO suspention other than a SoftRide stem and a
Brooks sprung saddle) when I was in California riding only fire trails
and moderate singletrack and it worked fine.

BTW, I still have that saddle on my new Rocky Mountain (Also a hardtail)
and I'm riding some pretty tricky stuff here in the Carolinas with it.

- -
Comments and opinions compliments of,
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Messages sent to the above "E" addy will be lost forever!

to E-mail me:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net

My website:
http://geocities.com/czcorner

Group: rec.bicycles.tech
Date: Wed, Sep 27, 2006, 4:25pm (EDT+4)
From: [email hidden] (Werehatrack)

Quoted message said:

Personally, I think you'll probably still be
riding the Stumpjumper a year from now.
If they look at you funny on the trails,
just say "Classic bikes for classic riders."

HEY! I like that, can I use it? :-3)

- -
Comments and opinions compliments of,
"Your Friendly Neighborhood 'Pushing 50' Wheelman"

Messages sent to the above "E" addy will be lost forever if you want to
E-mail me:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net

My website:
http://geocities.com/czcorner

On Wed, 27 Sep 2006 20:55:25 -0400, [email hidden]

(Chris Y.F.N.W.) said:

Group: rec.bicycles.tech
Date: Wed, Sep 27, 2006, 4:25pm (EDT+4)
From: [email hidden] (Werehatrack)

Quoted message said:

Personally, I think you'll probably still be
riding the Stumpjumper a year from now.
If they look at you funny on the trails,
just say "Classic bikes for classic riders."

HEY! I like that, can I use it? :-3)

Soitenly! Nyuk nyuk nyuk.

--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

rockymtn said:

I've been a road biker for years and just recently decided to try mountain
biking. So, I found an old used 87 hardtail stumpjumper with rock shox in
pretty good shape.

Hard core Mountain bikers encountered on my first ride suggested I put my
old bike in the basement because it's a classic and spring for the moola for
a new mountain bike.

I'm 55 years old so I'm never going to do the xtreme thing the young guys
do. I just want to get good enough to do moderate singletrack and climb a
few jeep roads. Is my old bike okay for that? Or, are the guys on the trail
right, would it be worth it to get more modern equipment.

Thanks,

Stan

Of course it's alright...geezzz, if ya talk to some shop or rider that
is enthralled with the new gadgets and gizmos, of course they will tell
you to opt for some of these new gadgets and gizmos but clipless
pedals, front suspension, lever mounted shifters(which I'll bet the
Stumpjumper will have) and go ride.

Thanks for all the different opinons. FYI, I'm sticking with the old bike.
I've had a chance to take it out a couple more times and I think it will do
the trick. I did gear it a little lower. Replaced the original 28 tooth
biopace granny with a circular 24 tooth chainring. Now, if my back holds
out......

"rockymtn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've been a road biker for years and just recently decided to try mountain
biking. So, I found an old used 87 hardtail stumpjumper with rock shox in
pretty good shape.

Hard core Mountain bikers encountered on my first ride suggested I put my
old bike in the basement because it's a classic and spring for the moola
for a new mountain bike.

I'm 55 years old so I'm never going to do the xtreme thing the young guys
do. I just want to get good enough to do moderate singletrack and climb a
few jeep roads. Is my old bike okay for that? Or, are the guys on the
trail right, would it be worth it to get more modern equipment.

Thanks,

Stan

rockymtn said:

Hard core Mountain bikers encountered on my first ride suggested I put my
old bike in the basement because it's a classic and spring for the moola for
a new mountain bike.

"Those are really a lot better? Can I try yours?" <g>

Hard core is doing it in your 50's with a rigid rear. --D-y