Thinking about a new Specialized Mountain Bike.....

[tmht]

Personally I ride the Hardrock Pro. I got it for $500, but the disc brakes were worth the extra money. Actually I rode it to work today. I'm 6'2" and ride a 21" frame and actually feel a little stretched out. I would go for a test ride on the 21 and see how it feels. Also check out mtbr.com for user reviews.

 

[buster]

buster- B.C is the best place to do downhill riding in Whistler! DAMN i love that place.
Guys in B.C are nuts though, i see everyone riding the top of the line DH Bikes.

Yeah, I try not to take living here for granted. The riding is pretty much second to none in this neck of the woods for technical singletrack and the amount of it. It is funny how I have become comfortable with riding a 35lb freeride bike and leg armour. If you ever go to Whistler again, hook up with some locals and get them to drag you to some of the lesser known trails, SCARY!

 

[chuyler1]

I'm 6'3" and I've always used a 21" frame on a Mountain Bike. I do most of my riding at local state parks on fire roads and dirt-bike trails. My last bike was a Gary Fischer Big Sur, real nice, but it got stolen off my balcony at college. I haven't ridden since. But now that I'm working full time I should be able to afford a new Bike.

My suggestion is to buy a bike with a front shock if you plan to ride offroad. Its more a control thing than a confort thing, and once you own one, you'll refuse to ride anything that doesn't have one. Its worth the extra money.

 

[Swope]

I recently just got into mountian biking and couldn't be happier with my GIANT NRS. I previously had a hybrid TREK bicycle and always found myself yearning for either a real road bike or a real mountain bike. But honestly, if you see any rigorus riding taking place in your future I would opt for a real mountain bike, they work just fine on regular roads too ...you really can't go wrong with a TREK, GIANT, GARY FISHER, SPECIALIZED...just find a professional bike shop that you'd like to do business with and go from there.

 

[turboge]

Go with a huffy or a bmx, don't need all those gears, just pedal harder!

 

[chuyler1]

Huffy...hah

thats like saying, "buy a Chevy Metro and commute on the autobahn every day"

 

[AGR]

It looks like I am going with the Specialized Hardrock Comp in a 23" frame. That is a sweet bike. I test rode a 21", but both shops agreed, I needed a 23".

http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkMod...=10020&san=03HardrockComp&bl=mountain&my=2003

I appreciate all the input!!