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
Edited by AyersTG (08/12/02 07:59 PM)