New Bike Purchase - Specialized?

bill2345 said:

I'm new to biking, and I'm never going to be doing 4-5
days a week. I'll be lucky to get in 2. I'm never going to
be doing all these upgrades weekly, learning the detailed
terminology, or joining a club where people sit around
talking about biking all day. I'm just wondering about a
good bike selection. I've read enough mixed feelings about
a lower-end bike such as a Mongoose, but I'm not wanting
to go 4 figures either. I'm a bigger guy (6'1 / 240), and
I'm going to be doing both paved and some rougher terrain.
After looking, talking, and researching, I've settled on
the Specialized Hardrock Comp. What I'm wondering is...I
know this is a good choice, but is there anything out
there comparable to this selection(options, durability,
reputation, price, etc.). I don't care one iota about
looking "cool", "trends", etc. I just want a good bike.
I've been told that this is probably the best selection
(make, model, and style), but I wanted to see if anyone
had any other info. I'd be willing to pay a bit more for
the Hardrock Pro (Disc) if there were a compelling reason.
Also, the SS is about the same price as the comp. Any
suggestions?

--

Whatever fits you best in you price range - try all of them!
As far as disc, you will NOT need them unless you plan to
ride in wet conditions.

--
- Zilla Cary, NC (Remove XSPAM)

bill2345 said:

I'm new to biking, and I'm never going to be doing 4-5
days a week. I'll be lucky to get in 2. I'm never going to
be doing all these upgrades weekly, learning the detailed
terminology, or joining a club where people sit around
talking about biking all day. I'm just wondering about a
good bike selection. I've read enough mixed feelings about
a lower-end bike such as a Mongoose, but I'm not wanting
to go 4 figures either. I'm a bigger guy (6'1 / 240), and
I'm going to be doing both paved and some rougher terrain.
After looking, talking, and researching, I've settled on
the Specialized Hardrock Comp. What I'm wondering is...I
know this is a good choice, but is there anything out
there comparable to this selection(options, durability,
reputation, price, etc.). I don't care one iota about
looking "cool", "trends", etc. I just want a good bike.
I've been told that this is probably the best selection
(make, model, and style), but I wanted to see if anyone
had any other info. I'd be willing to pay a bit more for
the Hardrock Pro (Disc) if there were a compelling reason.
Also, the SS is about the same price as the comp. Any
suggestions?

Don't have mixed feelings about mongeese from a department
store. They're [censored]. My LBS had a Hardrock or Rockhopper SS
(don't recall which). Its a brick. I'd stick to the geared
bike, especially since you're new to the sport. For what
you'd pay for a new Hardrock, you could find a much nicer
bike that's sat in a garage for four years. More of a
hassle/risk, but worth the thought. Maybe whoever told you
the Specializeds were a good choice could help you check out
the used market. I mountain biked for 19 years without disk
brakes, you can probably test the waters of the sport
without them if you don't want to pay a premium.
:-)
That said, the Specialized bikes are fine. Find a bike you
want to ride, and a shop that will make sure it fits.

Shawn

"bill2345" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

What I'm wondering is...I know this is a good choice, but
is there anything out there comparable to this
selection(options, durability, reputation, price, etc.).

Literally, anything within your general price range at the
LBS. Especially in the range you're looking at.

Whatever fits you, from a bike shop you like.

Specialized is as good as any.

Pete

bill2345 said:

I'm new to biking, and I'm never going to be doing 4-5
days a week. I'll be lucky to get in 2. I'm never going to
be doing all these upgrades weekly, learning the detailed
terminology, or joining a club where people sit around
talking about biking all day.

That's what we all said.

BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAH!!!

Bill "fresh blood" S.

" S o r n i" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

bill2345 said:

I'm new to biking, and I'm never going to be doing 4-5
days a week. I'll be lucky to get in 2. I'm never going
to be doing all these upgrades weekly, learning the
detailed terminology, or joining a club where people sit
around talking about biking all day.

That's what we all said.

BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAH!!!

Bill "fresh blood" S.

Exactly, Bill. First thing I thought was, "Yeah, right!"
If anyone continues to ride any length of time at all
(sometimes it does take years,) eventually he or she
will find the need to upgrade something, maybe the bike
itself, maybe just a part here or there, but be warned,
newbies, once it begins, you WILL find reasons to
upgrade. You WILL learn that there's a good reason to
buy some of those more expensive parts. You WILL
experience a sea-change in attitudes. I, for one, was as
stubbornly set on _not_ getting hooked into the money-
sucking schemes of all the "lighter, stronger, stiffer,
smoother" components and bikes. I definitely was (and
still am in most regards) a cheap scrooge. I started out
on a discount store "ATB" about 15 years ago. But guess
what? Mountain biking ain't cheap, even if you only ride
2 days a week. And the more you enjoy it, the more you
will pay for function and performance, [or should I say
Performance.com? :-) ] I'm still not swayed much at all
by cool factor, whether it be aesthetics or even minor
function, unless it means something in MY particular
riding experience. But if something offers me truly
superior performance or durability, it'll definitlely
open my pocketbook wider than I once thought anything
could. Case in point: I have a friend who has been into
flying for a long time. He's a physician and can afford
it. He has also been biking with a mountainbike for
several years, but mainly just tooling around his farm
and woods and on a few country roads near his home. He
managed to run smack over his Cannondale last year,
totally ruining the frame and fork, so he called me for
advice on a new bike. (He should have done that before
buying the C-dale.) I know of another buddy who buys
nice bikes, tinkers with them and builds them up, then
eventually parts with them at very reasonable prices
(_far below retail.) I suggested we go see what he had
on hand, though I warned the doc that we would have to
bump up a few hundred over what he had paid for his
Cannondale, which was quite low-end but still ran him
near $700 two years earlier, I think. (He did overpay at
that rather sorry LBS.) So we found him a Diamondback,
full suspension (helpful at 50 years old), Hayes
hydraulic disc, Marzocchi air front end, good setup of
mostly XT components. Yes, a bit heavier than his old
bike, but still reasonable. And all for about a grand, I
think. So now he has had it for not-quite a year. About
a week ago, for his birthday, his wife gets him to an
LBS and he got his first biking specific jersey and, oh
yes, the lycra shorts and tights too. (I'll be getting
him into biking socks next.) He observed recently that,
"this mountainbiking isn't cheap, is it? I've always
known I had an expensive hobby in flying my plane, but I
never thought biking could be so expensive." I nodded in
knowing agreement, and thought of how much stock I own
in PerformanceBike, or at least should after the last 6
years of frequent purchases. Doc had some vacation last
week, so I finally got him off the farm and out to
Douthat State Park for some real trail-riding. We took a
long (for him) ride, with a big climb and then off into
some National Forest that is a bit wilder and less-buff
than in the park. We were coming back through a hollow
alongside a beautiful creek, and doc noted, "You know,
this is pretty fun. I'm going to have to take some more
vacation and do this again." Another one hooked on the
greatest sport known to mankind!!!
--
D N I E T S Off to R the M __, D H

Reply to group. (Detestible spammers!)

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by bill2345
I'm new to biking, and I'm never going to be doing 4-5 days a week. I'll be lucky to get in 2. I'm never going to be doing all these upgrades weekly, learning the detailed terminology, or joining a club where people sit around talking about biking all day. I'm just wondering about a good bike selection. I've read enough mixed feelings about a lower-end bike such as a Mongoose, but I'm not wanting to go 4 figures either. I'm a bigger guy (6'1 / 240), and I'm going to be doing both paved and some rougher terrain. After looking, talking, and researching, I've settled on the Specialized Hardrock Comp. What I'm wondering is...I know this is a good choice, but is there anything out there comparable to this selection(options, durability, reputation, price, etc.). I don't care one iota about looking "cool", "trends", etc. I just want a good bike. I've been told that this is probably the best selection (make, model, and style), but I wanted to see if anyone had any other info. I'd be willing to pay a bit more for the Hardrock Pro (Disc) if there were a compelling reason. Also, the SS is about the same price as the comp. Any suggestions?

OK, now that I've done more research, talking to buddies, two LBS's, I'm looking not so much at the Specialized anymore, as the Pro Disc is an 8 speed, not a 9 speed. I've been told that C-dale can't compare. The Kona is great, but has V-brakes (I really do need disc - wet, I'm a big guy, and some trails around here are steep). So, I'm looking now to get a Giant - either the Iguana or the Rainier. The Rainier supposedly has top of the line disc brakes, and a much better fork. Any thoughts?

Quoted message said:

Subject: Re: New Bike Purchase - Specialized?
From: bill2345 [email hidden]
Date: 5/2/2004 2:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id: <[email hidden]>

bill2345 said:

I'm new to biking, and I'm never going to be doing 4-5
days a week. I'll be lucky to get in 2. I'm never going
to be doing all these upgrades weekly, learning the
detailed terminology, or joining a club where people
sit around talking about biking all day. I'm just
wondering about a good bike selection. I've read enough
mixed feelings about a lower-end bike such as a
Mongoose, but I'm not wanting to go 4 figures either.
I'm a bigger guy (6'1 / 240), and I'm going to be doing
both paved and some rougher terrain. After looking,
talking, and researching, I've settled on the
Specialized Hardrock Comp. What I'm wondering is...I
know this is a good choice, but is there anything out
there comparable to this selection(options, durability,
reputation, price, etc.). I don't care one iota about
looking "cool", "trends", etc. I just want a good bike.
I've been told that this is probably the best selection
(make, model, and style), but I wanted to see if anyone
had any other info. I'd be willing to pay a bit more
for the Hardrock Pro (Disc) if there were a compelling
reason. Also, the SS is about the same price as the
comp. Any suggestions?

OK, now that I've done more research, talking to buddies,
two LBS's, I'm looking not so much at the Specialized
anymore, as the Pro Disc is an 8 speed, not a 9 speed. I've
been told that C-dale can't compare. The Kona is great, but
has V-brakes (I really do need disc - wet, I'm a big guy,
and some trails around here are steep). So, I'm looking now
to get a Giant - either the Iguana or the Rainier. The
Rainier supposedly has top of the line disc brakes, and a
much better fork. Any thoughts?

The Rainier does come with Avid Mechanical disc brakes,
which many would agree, are the best of the best in
mechanical disc brakes. Some may even say they are better
then some hydraulic discs. I owned a 2002 Rainier and my
only complaint was that it did not climb well.

Which Kona model are you looking at? Kona makes the Caldera,
which is in the Rainiers price range, and comes a bit better
spec'd then the Rainier.

Quoted message said:

and some trails around here are steep). So, I'm looking
now to get a Giant - either the Iguana or the Rainier. The
Rainier supposedly has top of the line disc brakes, and a
much better fork. Any thoughts?

Giant always builds lot's of value into their bikes, either
of those two will do you just fine. They aren't the lightest
at that price point, but if your starting out the
quality/price isn't bad at all.

bill2345 <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

bill2345 said:

I'm new to biking, and I'm never going to be doing 4-5
days a week. I'll be lucky to get in 2. I'm never
going to be doing all these upgrades weekly, learning
the detailed terminology, or joining a club where
people sit around talking about biking all day. I'm
just wondering about a good bike selection. I've read
enough mixed feelings about a lower-end bike such as a
Mongoose, but I'm not wanting to go 4 figures either.
I'm a bigger guy (6'1 / 240), and I'm going to be
doing both paved and some rougher terrain. After
looking, talking, and researching, I've settled on the
Specialized Hardrock Comp. What I'm wondering is...I
know this is a good choice, but is there anything out
there comparable to this selection(options,
durability, reputation, price, etc.). I don't care one
iota about looking "cool", "trends", etc. I just want
a good bike. I've been told that this is probably the
best selection (make, model, and style), but I wanted
to see if anyone had any other info. I'd be willing to
pay a bit more for the Hardrock Pro (Disc) if there
were a compelling reason. Also, the SS is about the
same price as the comp. Any suggestions?

OK, now that I've done more research, talking to buddies,
two LBS's, I'm looking not so much at the Specialized
anymore, as the Pro Disc is an 8 speed, not a 9 speed.
I've been told that C-dale can't compare. The Kona is
great, but has V-brakes (I really do need disc - wet, I'm
a big guy, and some trails around here are steep). So, I'm
looking now to get a Giant - either the Iguana or the
Rainier. The Rainier supposedly has top of the line disc
brakes, and a much better fork. Any thoughts?

Don't get stuck on name brands, that is for fools and
wannabes. Usenet is full of people who pretend to know what
they are talking about, but don't know jack. As a couple of
other people have said, buy the bike that fits you the best.
Also, at your weight be sure the wheelset has double wall
rims and good name brand spokes. Some of the cheesier brands
like to hide cheap chinese spokes on their wheelsets to save
themselves a buck and snapping the head off of a spoke on
your ride is obviously not their concern. One last thing,
you don't *need* disc brakes. People mountain biked for
years without them, just as they did without suspension.
Listening to media hype is just as lame as blind brand
loyalists.

JD

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

Quoted message said:

bill2345 <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bill2345 said:

I'm new to biking, and I'm never going to be doing
4-5 days a week.

I'll

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

be lucky to get in 2. I'm never going to be doing
all these upgrades weekly, learning the detailed
terminology, or joining a club where people sit
around talking about biking all day. I'm just
wondering

about

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a good bike selection. I've read enough mixed
feelings about a

lower-end

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bike such as a Mongoose, but I'm not wanting to go 4
figures either.

I'm

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a bigger guy (6'1 / 240), and I'm going to be doing
both paved and

some

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

rougher terrain. After looking, talking, and
researching, I've

settled

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

on the Specialized Hardrock Comp. What I'm wondering
is...I know

this is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a good choice, but is there anything out there
comparable to this selection(options, durability,
reputation, price, etc.). I don't

care

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

one iota about looking "cool", "trends", etc. I just
want a good

bike.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I've been told that this is probably the best
selection (make,

model,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and style), but I wanted to see if anyone had any
other info. I'd be willing to pay a bit more for the
Hardrock Pro (Disc) if there were

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

compelling reason. Also, the SS is about the same
price as the comp.

Any

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

suggestions?

OK, now that I've done more research, talking to
buddies, two LBS's, I'm looking not so much at the
Specialized anymore, as the Pro Disc is an 8 speed, not
a 9 speed. I've been told that C-dale can't compare. The
Kona is great, but has V-brakes (I really do need disc -
wet, I'm a big guy, and some trails around here are
steep). So, I'm looking now to get a Giant - either the
Iguana or the Rainier. The Rainier supposedly has top of
the line disc brakes, and a much better fork. Any
thoughts?

Don't get stuck on name brands, that is for fools and
wannabes. Usenet is full of people who pretend to know
what they are talking about, but don't know jack. As a
couple of other people have said, buy the bike that fits
you the best. Also, at your weight be sure the wheelset
has double wall rims and good name brand spokes. Some of
the cheesier brands like to hide cheap chinese spokes on
their wheelsets to save themselves a buck and snapping the
head off of a spoke on your ride is obviously not their
concern. One last thing, you don't *need* disc brakes.
People mountain biked for years without them, just as they
did without suspension. Listening to media hype is just as
lame as blind brand loyalists.

If you can, find a mtn bike with a lifetime warranty on the
frame. Of course, fit and performance are the most important
things, but if you can get this with w/a lifetime warranty
then why not? It gives me a little piece of mind knowing
that I won't have to purchase a new frame if I get a little
too roudy with mine.

Dave

earlier ...

"OK, now that I've done more research, talking to buddies,
two LBS's, I'm looking not so much at the Specialized
anymore, as the Pro Disc is an 8 speed, not a 9 speed."

i don't think i'd get hung up on 8 versus 9 speeds,
especially as a new rider. i started mountain biking back
when we had 5 speed hubs, and kind of saw the progression to
"more" as useful at first and then a bit crazy.

with my current 9-speed hub, i can make fine adjustements to
my gear ratio, but i also seem to spend a lot of time
shifting through gears to get a big change in ratio.

is suspect (for me) the optimum would be a bit less than 9
... maybe 7 or 8.