Opinions on a good MTB please



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Brenton Spear

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I want to get fit again and thought that riding a bike is a good way to go.

I am thinking of a mountain bike as I will only be riding on roads and light park type trails.

My budget is up to $500.

What should I be looking at? 2nd hand is an option also.

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Brenton Spear Email: brenton dot spear at defconsystems dot com Web: www.HostingLegends.com
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I would recommend the Avanti Blade. http://www.avanti.co.nz/bikes_detail.asp?id=137&t=6.

Its around $500. Very nice bike, don't own one myself but saw it at a local shop recently.

Its pretty much a mountain bike frame with gearing and flat-bar handlebars to match. Wheels are normal 700c road bike style which would fly on the road and bike paths.

You can put mudguards and a rear rack with a pannier bag on it as well which would make it a good commuter for going to the shops, and more importantly an extra reason to get out and ride.

Alot of older 2nd hand bikes have less gears, worn bearings and everything else and can be a bit of a nightmare. Although hard to find a good used bike will probably ride alot better than alot of el cheapo new bikes.
 
On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 18:53:15 +1100, "Brenton Spear" <[email protected]> wrote:

>I want to get fit again and thought that riding a bike is a good way to go.
>
>I am thinking of a mountain bike as I will only be riding on roads and light park type trails.
>
>My budget is up to $500.
>
>What should I be looking at? 2nd hand is an option also.

Just don't opt for a good looking, super cheap bike from K-Mart! Spend the whole $500 on something
that is not junk, otherwise you will not actually want to ride the thing!

The Avanti that Gescom recommends looks quite good. Shoguns are popular too, which means they are
good value with bits easy to come by. Allow at least another $100 for some reasonable lights, a
helmet, and lock.
---
DFM
 
if your only riding on roads and light trails i'd recommend getting a flat bar road bike rather than a mountain bike - why burden yourself with the extra weight of front suspension and a heavy frame when you don't need it. in addition to Avanti, there are a number nice Specialised products on the market at the moment, starting at around the $750 level.
 
I had a look at an Avanti Escape FX today. $450.

What are these like? I couldnt see much difference between the $50 bikes and the $600 bikes.

What would one of these Avantis weigh?

--
Brenton Spear Email: brenton dot spear at defconsystems dot com Web: www.HostingLegends.com
Projectors: www.ProjectorSpecifications.com Radio Control Trading: www.RCTradingPost.com "gescom"
<[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I would recommend the Avanti Blade. http://www.avanti.co.nz/bikes_detail.asp?id=137&t=6.
>
> Its around $500. Very nice bike, don't own one myself but saw it at a local shop recently.
>
> Its pretty much a mountain bike frame with gearing and flat-bar handlebars to match. Wheels are
> normal 700c road bike style which would fly on the road and bike paths.
>
> You can put mudguards and a rear rack with a pannier bag on it as well which would make it a good
> commuter for going to the shops, and more importantly an extra reason to get out and ride.
>
> Alot of older 2nd hand bikes have less gears, worn bearings and everything else and can be a bit
> of a nightmare. Although hard to find a good used bike will probably ride alot better than alot of
> el cheapo new bikes.
>
>
>
> --
> >--------------------------<
> Posted via cyclingforums.com http://www.cyclingforums.com
 
Brenton and Group,

Check out www.mtbr.com for reviews from all over the world regarding bikes.

I paid $550 AUD for a 2003 Specialised Hardrock (SEE www.specialized.com) on a bargain deal with the
LBS.Had a 1993 Specialised Hardrock for 10 years doing over 10k klm per year so wanted a bike to
last that time again.Excellent level entry bike,looked at similiar Trek,Giant and Fuji but liked the
look of the Hardrock and like I said got an excellent deal.

cheers booma

"waffle" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> if your only riding on roads and light trails i'd recommend getting a flat bar road bike rather
> than a mountain bike - why burden yourself with the extra weight of front suspension and a heavy
> frame when you don't need it. in addition to Avanti, there are a number nice Specialised products
> on the market at the moment, starting at around the $750 level.
>
>
>
> --
> >--------------------------<
> Posted via cyclingforums.com http://www.cyclingforums.com

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Obviously that should have been $500 and $600 bikes :)

--
Brenton Spear Email: brenton dot spear at defconsystems dot com Web: www.HostingLegends.com
Projectors: www.ProjectorSpecifications.com Radio Control Trading: www.RCTradingPost.com "Brenton
Spear" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I had a look at an Avanti Escape FX today. $450.
>
> What are these like? I couldnt see much difference between the $50 bikes
and
> the $600 bikes.
>
> What would one of these Avantis weigh?
>
> --
> Brenton Spear Email: brenton dot spear at defconsystems dot com Web: www.HostingLegends.com
> Projectors: www.ProjectorSpecifications.com Radio Control Trading: www.RCTradingPost.com "gescom"
> <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > I would recommend the Avanti Blade. http://www.avanti.co.nz/bikes_detail.asp?id=137&t=6.
> >
> > Its around $500. Very nice bike, don't own one myself but saw it at a local shop recently.
> >
> > Its pretty much a mountain bike frame with gearing and flat-bar handlebars to match. Wheels are
> > normal 700c road bike style which would fly on the road and bike paths.
> >
> > You can put mudguards and a rear rack with a pannier bag on it as well which would make it a
> > good commuter for going to the shops, and more importantly an extra reason to get out and ride.
> >
> > Alot of older 2nd hand bikes have less gears, worn bearings and everything else and can be a bit
> > of a nightmare. Although hard to find a good used bike will probably ride alot better than alot
> > of el cheapo new bikes.
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > >--------------------------<
> > Posted via cyclingforums.com http://www.cyclingforums.com
 
One shop said that I need a frame size of 20" and the other said 23". I am 6'1" with a long torso
apparently. What sounds right? Do the size of the wheels make any difference?

--
Brenton Spear Email: brenton dot spear at defconsystems dot com Web: www.HostingLegends.com
Projectors: www.ProjectorSpecifications.com Radio Control Trading: www.RCTradingPost.com "Brenton
Spear" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I want to get fit again and thought that riding a bike is a good way to
go.
>
> I am thinking of a mountain bike as I will only be riding on roads and
light
> park type trails.
>
> My budget is up to $500.
>
> What should I be looking at? 2nd hand is an option also.
>
> --
> Brenton Spear Email: brenton dot spear at defconsystems dot com Web: www.HostingLegends.com
> Projectors: www.ProjectorSpecifications.com Radio Control Trading: www.RCTradingPost.com
 
I bought a Diamondback Response for $500 down from $600 which i reckon is awesome. I also have only ready great of it also.
 
Originally posted by ozclimber
I bought a Diamondback Response for $500 down from $600 which i reckon is awesome. I also have only ready great of it also.

That should be i have only read great REVIEWS of it also..
 
I looked at a Giant Farrago and took it for a ride today. Nice bike. It was ~ $620 with a helmet.
This is a 2003 model. Is this a good bike?

--
Brenton Spear Email: brenton dot spear at defconsystems dot com Web: www.HostingLegends.com
Projectors: www.ProjectorSpecifications.com Radio Control Trading: www.RCTradingPost.com "ozclimber"
<[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I bought a Diamondback Response for $500 down from $600 which i reckon is awesome. I also have
> only ready great of it also.
>
>
>
> --
> >--------------------------<
> Posted via cyclingforums.com http://www.cyclingforums.com
 
Brenton Spear wrote:
> I looked at a Giant Farrago and took it for a ride today. Nice bike. It was ~ $620 with a helmet.
> This is a 2003 model. Is this a good bike?

Yes, but it aint an MTB. Are you in the wrong thread?
 
Im pretty sure its a bike and so aus.bicycle is an appropriate place to talk about it.

--
Brenton Spear Email: brenton dot spear at defconsystems dot com Web: www.HostingLegends.com
Projectors: www.ProjectorSpecifications.com Radio Control Trading: www.RCTradingPost.com "Mike"
<[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Brenton Spear wrote:
> > I looked at a Giant Farrago and took it for a ride today. Nice bike. It
was
> > ~ $620 with a helmet. This is a 2003 model. Is this a good bike?
>
> Yes, but it aint an MTB. Are you in the wrong thread?
 
Brenton Spear wrote:
> Im pretty sure its a bike and so aus.bicycle is an appropriate place to talk about it.
>

I said "thread", not newsgroup. Heck, he aint even changed the subject line. Open your eyes. BTW,
why did you put your .signature _after_ the quoted text? Really screws up the newsreader
auto-quote-on-reply.
 
Originally posted by Mike
Brenton Spear wrote:
> Im pretty sure its a bike and so aus.bicycle is an appropriate place to talk about it.
>

I said "thread", not newsgroup. Heck, he aint even changed the subject line. Open your eyes. BTW,
why did you put your .signature _after_ the quoted text? Really screws up the newsreader
auto-quote-on-reply.

I started the thread so Im pretty confident I am in the correct one.
 
"BrentonSpear" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > I said "thread", not newsgroup. Heck, he aint even changed the
subject
> > line. Open your eyes. BTW, why did you put your .signature _after_
the
> > quoted text? Really screws up the newsreader auto-quote-on-reply.
>
> I started the thread so Im pretty confident I am in the correct one.

Chill guys.. slight misunderstanding methinks. The bike is a "comfort" bike a.k.a. "hybrid", so
technically it's not an mtb.

When Mike said "thread", he means this particular topic of discussion, not the entire group
'aus.bicycle'.

To clarify, are you after a mountain bike or a hybrid, Brenton?

The Giant Farrago you mention "looks" like an mtb due to the frame design, but actually uses 700C
wheels, which are typical road wheels - hence the name "hybrid".

One of these would be fine for roads and your typical council bike paths. If you wanted to do more
bouncing around on off-road terrain, then perhaps a mountain bike with 26" wheels is more
appropriate?

hth hippy
 
hippy:

> The Giant Farrago you mention "looks" like an mtb due to the frame design, but actually uses 700C
> wheels, which are typical road wheels - hence the name "hybrid".
>
> One of these would be fine for roads and your typical council bike paths. If you wanted to do more
> bouncing around on off-road terrain, then perhaps a mountain bike with 26" wheels is more
> appropriate?

Cyclocross events show that 700c wheels can be used just as well offroad as 26". 29" wheels are also
now legal in MTB events (at least in USA).
 
I get what Mike was saying but it started out as a MTB thread, who cares if a hybrid is mentioned.
Its all good discussion.

People should worry less about the correctness of peoples posts and more about offering
constructive advice.

Anyway I have now purchased a Giant Farrago "Hybrid" and should pick it up tomorrow.

Enough said.
--
Brenton Spear Email: brenton dot spear at defconsystems dot com Web: www.HostingLegends.com
Projectors: www.ProjectorSpecifications.com Radio Control Trading: www.RCTradingPost.com "hippy"
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "BrentonSpear" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > > I said "thread", not newsgroup. Heck, he aint even changed the
> subject
> > > line. Open your eyes. BTW, why did you put your .signature _after_
> the
> > > quoted text? Really screws up the newsreader auto-quote-on-reply.
> >
> > I started the thread so Im pretty confident I am in the correct one.
>
> Chill guys.. slight misunderstanding methinks. The bike is a "comfort" bike a.k.a. "hybrid", so
> technically it's not an mtb.
>
> When Mike said "thread", he means this particular topic of discussion, not the entire group
> 'aus.bicycle'.
>
> To clarify, are you after a mountain bike or a hybrid, Brenton?
>
> The Giant Farrago you mention "looks" like an mtb due to the frame design, but actually uses 700C
> wheels, which are typical road wheels - hence the name "hybrid".
>
> One of these would be fine for roads and your typical council bike paths. If you wanted to do more
> bouncing around on off-road terrain, then perhaps a mountain bike with 26" wheels is more
> appropriate?
>
> hth hippy
 
Brenton Spear wrote:
> I get what Mike was saying but it started out as a MTB thread, who cares if a hybrid is mentioned.
> Its all good discussion.

Sorry, I thought you were unintentionally confusing things by bringing up a different subject in the
discussion. I didnt realise you were the original poster, and it was just a misunderstanding of the
term 'MTB'. I'm sure you'll be very happy with the Farrago.

You cant really expect useful advice without saying what you intend to use the bike for.
 
"Jose Rizal" <_@_._> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > One of these would be fine for roads and your typical council bike paths. If you wanted to do
> > more bouncing around on off-road terrain, then perhaps a mountain bike with 26" wheels is more
> > appropriate?
>
> Cyclocross events show that 700c wheels can be used just as well
offroad
> as 26". 29" wheels are also now legal in MTB events (at least in
USA).

"Just as well"? If that's the case then why do I only see 700C wheels in CX events? Why don't the
XC racers, the DH racers or for that matter most of the mtb riding population use 700C? I don't
disagree with the fact that they can be used, but I don't think they are _as good_ as the
smaller/wider wheels. That could just be mtb'ers not wanting to associate in any way with
roadies? :)

hippy
 
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