bike

does any one mountain bike here what type of bikes do u have i had a white full suspenchen 21 gear steel frame but it got stolen yester day

If you try out a decent aluminum frame bike you'll be amazed - there is that much performance difference from the weight reduction and by almost any measure the non-department store aluminum frame bikes are stronger frames than the chromolloy steel frames.<br><br>We just have moderately priced bikes: A couple Giant XTC2 and the rest Gary Fisher Big Sur. We have a couple of nice, fairly recent chromolloy framed bikes as loaners, but they are not our personal rides anymore.<br><br>We've avoided full-suspension bikes as they are more difficult to ascend with than a hard tail. Racing downhill is not part of alternate travel plans for us... but mountain bikes are. Just my opinion, and I've seen a FEW folks who can climb pretty well with soft tails.<br><br>You can usually dicker a pretty good deal on a new last year's model (or even 2 years ago model) at a decent bike shop. The honest guys will tell you how much they have in a bike before they offer you the deal in those cases - they deserve to make some profit, but let them propose a price. Sometimes the best deal is to combine a decent price on the bike with some deeply discounted accessories tossed in for an over all package price that is a very good deal - depends on if you need/can afford the whole package.<br><br>Be sure to get it sized right, too. Most folks get too large a frame for bonafide off-pavement bikes.<br><br>How that helps!<br><br>Tom

On a lighter note, I had a small kid's bicycle that went missing in a mountain resort. So I guess it is a mountain bike? :-)

Tom's right about the light aluminum alloys, I had an old Royce Union MB and it was a good bike, then i picked up a Raleigh M50 and the light frame makes a world of difference. (It was like going from 40+lbs to 24lbs)<br>I wasn't looking for a $4k high end ride, but the M50 had pretty good hardware and front suspension. I'm not doing much downhill in Louisiana so the hardtail was my best choice. Of course I may make a few mods to the hardware before I head off for the cross country ride.<br><br>Hope that helps.<br><br>David

What i find useful is to buy a spare set of wheels and put some slick tyres on one set and some knobbly tyres on the other wheels with quick release levers so you can use the bike for both road and off-road withe the upmost of ease!!!!<br>Just one of my ideas!