Follow the heart or use my brain

[BJ]

Hi all,

Thanks and apprecitation in advance.

I now find myself without a pushie and would like to head back to the Darkside.

My dilema is this; I would like a MTB, Giant Alias is a particular bike that I have shown interest in. However I think I have a tendancy towards visions of granduer, and my well meaning plans to take such a bike out to the hills and throw it along with my self down a hillside somewhere.

Then the realism sets in, you see I am a Dad of 2 boys, my eldest loves the idea of sitting in a seat strapped to a bicycle while poor ol' dad does the leg work. Also said bike would be more of a commuter to work and home etc.

Given a MTB traditionally is heavy and I by no means plan to invest in any bike over $1k couple of hundred either way would be acceptable, but def no more. To get something lighter, I am thinking a Hybrid, or flat bar roadie of some descript.

Is a hybrid frame based on a MTB frame that could in time become the eqivelant of a bike as mentioned above should the day come that I can deliver myself unto the Mountain...or am I dreaming. Any ideas?

Apologies for the long post, but I gave myself creative licence.

Cheers

BJ

[MountGower]

Error. This post can no longer be displayed.

[Kalgrm]

G'day BJ,

Welcome aboard.

I'd also recommend the mountain bike. With road-going slicks, it will easily provide a "weekend-with-the-kids" bike for getting around the local paved tracks. Swap the tyres out for some decent off-road knobbies and you're out there, ready to endanger your income and health!

A hybrid bike won't be much lighter and you'll be essentially stuck with a road or bike path bike.

Cheers,
Graeme

[Bnej]

I have a Giant Alias, it's a solid entry level MTB and a bit heavy at 14kg, but I think the new ones might be a bit lighter. A lot (~2.7kg) of that is in the decent but low end Dart 2 fork.

The stock Hutchinson Scorpion tyres I got are lousy for road, rocks, and sand as they are soft compound and wear quickly. A set of slicks for road use would do well.

Most hybrids are not well suited for any serious off-road riding - they tend to be more comfort oriented in set up and will not be as strong. You can ride a trail on most hybrids but have to be somewhat more careful. Flat bar road definitely not for off road.

[Kalgrm]

PS - don't worry about the length of your post. Richard will come in shortly and make a mockery of your brevity with another novel. He's probably already composing it as I type.

Cheers,
Graeme

[BJ]

Thankyou all for the replies, again the spark for a MTB has arised.

Cheers

BJ

[Deanj]

Hi Bj,

Go with the heart, get the MTB. It gives you so many more options as Graeme points out. If your keen to do some off roading its the only real way to go.

[thomas_cho]

Forget hybrids ...

If you are intending to commute, it might be worth checking if they have lugs to mount a rack.

Depending on the type of off-road trails ... a cyclo-cross bike might do it for you. However, they are not cheap ... and may not fit into the 1K budget.

[toolonglegs]

PS - don't worry about the length of your post. Richard will come in shortly and make a mockery of your brevity with another novel. He's probably already composing it as I type.

Cheers,
Graeme

Funny how that was the first thing that sprung into my mind too .
Go the mountain bike...sorry if you want to go to the darkide a hybrid isn't really going to cut it

[Kalgrm]

Yeah, it must be an epic saga - he still hasn't posted it yet!

[europa]

I'm trying to work out why he's talking about the darkside but then starts talking about mtbs. Maybe he's planning to go fixed gear mountain biking

Richard

[s-s-a]

What Kalgrm said first up!

Get the mtb and put slicks on it for everyday use. Maybe keep an eye out for a cheap wheel set so you don't have to fiddle with tyres and tubes when you want to go and play off road?

My original rigid mtb has done way more km on road than off (including several thousand km touring and travelling) and since I started taking my daughter on the bike is about the only one I get a chance to ride.

Steph

[Mulger bill]

G'Day BJ, welcome outside

Go the MTB mate, they're way more versatile when you're starting off, the roadie will prolly come later

Giant build a top bike, I've got two ... but (Golden Rule) you've gotta try them out before you buy, make sure they feel "right" under your bum, a poorly fitting bike is a huge turn off.

Good luck with the hunt.

Shaun

[Birdman]

Hey BJ,

+1 more vote for the MTB, I ride a MTB nearly everyday, from bashing up to the shop, cutting some grass/dirt around the place or riding the 40km to work twice a week.

If you get some slicks it will make the ride alot smoother, but you can also use them on dirt if you get a good set (continentals are good).

Also for the young one they do the childseats which mount onto the bike by the wheel lugs. The seat slides onto a rack so when you want the seat off you hit a few things and it slides off, perfect to put your bag or whatever on for your trip to work.

Just my opinion.

Mitch.

[BJ]

Thanks again to all. Some good points an advice.


BJ