Its been awhile and I need advice..

Quoted message said:

Looking for a new bike. Last bike I bought was a bmx (about 15 years ago).
Looking to do about 50/50 offroad/onroad. Looking to spend between 500-800
USD. Things sure have changed..

Any pointers on the mountain bikes that offer the best bang for the buck
(quality and qty)?

Original poster here,
I have found a good deal on this bike at a local bike shop:
http://www.harobikes.com/2003/ics4.html
Any comments? Can get it for about $550-600 USD including taxes..

kmf said:

Quoted message said:

Looking for a new bike. Last bike I bought was a bmx (about 15 years
ago). Looking to do about 50/50 offroad/onroad. Looking to spend
between 500-800 USD. Things sure have changed..

Any pointers on the mountain bikes that offer the best bang for the
buck (quality and qty)?

Original poster here,
I have found a good deal on this bike at a local bike shop:
http://www.harobikes.com/2003/ics4.html
Any comments? Can get it for about $550-600 USD including taxes..

I've seen worse for more money. At that price range, the spec isn't bad.
I've got no clue about the frame itself, but I've seen a similar component
group on bikes costing hundreds more.

Tom

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Looking for a new bike. Last bike I bought was a bmx (about 15 years
ago). Looking to do about 50/50 offroad/onroad. Looking to spend
between 500-800 USD. Things sure have changed..

Any pointers on the mountain bikes that offer the best bang for the
buck (quality and qty)?

Original poster here,
I have found a good deal on this bike at a local bike shop:
http://www.harobikes.com/2003/ics4.html
Any comments? Can get it for about $550-600 USD including taxes..

I've seen worse for more money. At that price range, the spec isn't bad.
I've got no clue about the frame itself, but I've seen a similar component
group on bikes costing hundreds more.

Do you think it would be good for the type of riding I originally described
above, about 50/50 offroad/onroad?

kmf said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Looking for a new bike. Last bike I bought was a bmx (about 15
> years ago). Looking to do about 50/50 offroad/onroad. Looking to
> spend between 500-800 USD. Things sure have changed..
>
> Any pointers on the mountain bikes that offer the best bang for the
> buck (quality and qty)?

Original poster here,
I have found a good deal on this bike at a local bike shop:
http://www.harobikes.com/2003/ics4.html
Any comments? Can get it for about $550-600 USD including taxes..

I've seen worse for more money. At that price range, the spec isn't
bad. I've got no clue about the frame itself, but I've seen a
similar component group on bikes costing hundreds more.

Do you think it would be good for the type of riding I originally
described above, about 50/50 offroad/onroad?

As it's configured right now, no I don't think it would be your best bet.
The bike you show appears designed to be a low-end mountain bike. It
probably relatively heavy and not the best thing to put in miles on the
road. The suitability of it for your need depends more on what type of "off
road" riding you want to do and how much road riding you want to do. If
you're talking gravel paths and groomed but unpaved bike trails, you're
probabaly better off looking at a hybrid machine. If you are talking about
standard off-road mtb terrain (hehehe, whatever that is?) then you may want
to sacrifice some road-riding efficiency for better performance off road.

The bottom line is that you can always ride a MTB on the road, but not
vice-versa. The question you need to ask is what you'll give up in the way
of speed and effiiciency in favor of comfort and off road performance. You
can always "roadie-ize" a mtb with slick wheels, changed the stem and fork,
etc.

My advice -- go talk to a well regarded bike shop. Let them show you the
type of bike that meets your needs in the price range you want. Then have
them make sure whatever you buy fits.

Tom

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Original poster here,
> I have found a good deal on this bike at a local bike shop:
> http://www.harobikes.com/2003/ics4.html
> Any comments? Can get it for about $550-600 USD including taxes..

Do you think it would be good for the type of riding I originally
described above, about 50/50 offroad/onroad?

As it's configured right now, no I don't think it would be your best bet.
The bike you show appears designed to be a low-end mountain bike. It
probably relatively heavy and not the best thing to put in miles on the
road. The suitability of it for your need depends more on what type of

"off

Quoted message said:

road" riding you want to do and how much road riding you want to do. If
you're talking gravel paths and groomed but unpaved bike trails, you're
probabaly better off looking at a hybrid machine. If you are talking

about

Quoted message said:

standard off-road mtb terrain (hehehe, whatever that is?) then you may

want

Quoted message said:

to sacrifice some road-riding efficiency for better performance off road.

The bottom line is that you can always ride a MTB on the road, but not
vice-versa. The question you need to ask is what you'll give up in the

way

Quoted message said:

of speed and effiiciency in favor of comfort and off road performance.

You

Quoted message said:

can always "roadie-ize" a mtb with slick wheels, changed the stem and

fork,

Quoted message said:

etc.

My advice -- go talk to a well regarded bike shop. Let them show you the
type of bike that meets your needs in the price range you want. Then have
them make sure whatever you buy fits.

Tom

Tom, thanks for the advice, its appreciated. I would probably sacrifice some
road riding ability for better offroad performance. I am not looking to do
any long hauls on the road with this bike, mainly it would be used to ride
around with my small kids when I am not off on a trail someplace. We live in
BC and on top of that we live up on a mountain, lots of opportunities to go
offroad around here.