newbie question

"PackFan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am interested in getting into biking and I have a few questions.

How much do you weigh? What kind of trail riding will you do? Are you going to be biking at
Hardwood Hills?

Check out skiis and biikes...great place to buy a bike...but don't buy anytning else there its too
expensive, go to mountain equipment coop for that www.mec.ca . Skiis and biikes are also good at
servicing the bike but make sure you get your old parts back when they replace them and shop around
for your parts because they tend to be pricey on that too.

I'm surprised steel is more expensive than aluminum, and aluminum is not necessarily better than
steel...Most bikes you'll find will be in aluminum though.

Don't know about the Jamis...

What do you mean by cross country bike and a regular hardtail? Most people you'll see out on the
trails around here will be riding hardtails for cross-country...Get a hardtail for your price range.

I've said it a couple of times lately.. oryx bikes www.oryx.ca are an amazing value...you can
find dealers on their website. I know the skiis and biikes on don mills sells them..not sure
about barrie.

Its getting to be a good time to buy bikes...the longer you wait the cheaper they will be now. If
its not urgent you can wait until the Toronto Bike Show this spring for great deals.

Word

I'm 6'2 and weigh 185lbs. I will be mainly riding trails around here like Horseshoe and sometimes
hardwood hills (pricey). What size of frame should I get?

Thanks, Chris.

"SDC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"PackFan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am interested in getting into biking and I have a few questions.

How much do you weigh? What kind of trail riding will you do? Are you

going

Quoted message said:

to be biking at Hardwood Hills?

Check out skiis and biikes...great place to buy a bike...but don't buy anytning else there its too
expensive, go to mountain equipment coop for that www.mec.ca . Skiis and biikes are also good at
servicing the bike

but

Quoted message said:

make sure you get your old parts back when they replace them and shop

around

Quoted message said:

for your parts because they tend to be pricey on that too.

I'm surprised steel is more expensive than aluminum, and aluminum is not necessarily better than
steel...Most bikes you'll find will be in aluminum though.

Don't know about the Jamis...

What do you mean by cross country bike and a regular hardtail? Most

people

Quoted message said:

you'll see out on the trails around here will be riding hardtails for cross-country...Get a
hardtail for your price range.

I've said it a couple of times lately.. oryx bikes www.oryx.ca are an amazing value...you can find
dealers on their website. I know the skiis

and

Quoted message said:

biikes on don mills sells them..not sure about barrie.

Its getting to be a good time to buy bikes...the longer you wait the

cheaper

Quoted message said:

they will be now. If its not urgent you can wait until the Toronto Bike Show this spring for
great deals.

Word

"PackFan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm 6'2 and weigh 185lbs. I will be mainly riding trails around here like Horseshoe and sometimes
hardwood hills (pricey). What size of frame should

I

Quoted message said:

get?

Thanks, Chris.

You should try different sizes out and see what feels most comfortable. I am 6'3 and have a 20.5"
frame. Now that I've been riding it a while, i would say that a 20"..maybe even 19.5" would have
been ideal.

Height is one thing..inseem height is another. Get fitted at your LBS. Remember that for
trail-riding, you will likely want a lower seat and frame than for non-trail riding to lower your
center of gravity and basically fall less.

SDC

"PackFan" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

What is the difference between the cross country bikes and the regular hardtails?

The difference is how big a poser the rider is.

Quoted message said:

I thought that an aluminum frame was supposed to be good....but I just went to a few dealer
websites and they have steel framed bikes for a much higher price.

It used to be that aluminum frames were an exotic material for bike frames, and were accordingly
expensive. Things have changed. Most very low-end bike frames are still made of cheap steel, but the
mid-range is mostly occupied by aluminum, which give a good light frame for not much money. A very
high-end frame might be made of anything, Alu, steel, or Ti, since a very good frame can be made
from just about anything if you apply enough skill and money to the problem.

Quoted message said:

I have looked at a few bikes in my local shops and the best deal seems to be a Jamis Durango Sport
SX for $649 Canadian. It is regularly $749.

I'm not familiar with the Jamis in particular, except that they have a good general reputation as a
brand. But a hardtail in this price range is an excellent choice for a beginner. A hardtail is a
good choice, period, in my opinion, but I am in the minority among the fashion-conscious these days.

CC

"Corvus Corvax" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"PackFan" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

What is the difference between the cross country bikes and the regular hardtails?

The difference is how big a poser the rider is.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I have looked at a few bikes in my local shops and the best deal seems to be a Jamis Durango
Sport SX for $649 Canadian. It is regularly $749.

I'm not familiar with the Jamis in particular, except that they have a good general reputation
as a brand. But a hardtail in this price range is an excellent choice for a beginner. A hardtail
is a good choice, period, in my opinion, but I am in the minority among the fashion-conscious
these days.

CC

I gave up my hardtail several years ago. However, they do still have their place, and are a great
starter for someone just getting into trail riding. I put many miles on mine before I went FS. If it
wasn't for the fact that I live in western WA, I may have stayed with the HT even longer. But the
only reasonably smooth trails around here are paved. And they're bumpy, too. :-) Nothing quite as
enjoyable as cruising along the root-strewn Burke-Gilman on a road bike... ouch....

If he decides to get more aggressive, upgrading to FS is still an option (if his budget allows). If
he simply wants more butt comfort, a suspended seatpost would cost a whole lot less. I say that it
boils down to the type of riding he wants to do, and how far into the sport he wants to go.

--
Cameron

On 7 Aug 2003 18:33:34 -0700, [email hidden] (Corvus Corvax) wrote: [snip]

Quoted message said:

A hardtail is a good choice, period, in my opinion, but I am in the minority among the
fashion-conscious these days.

CC

Well said.

Now all we need is a powerwash post by some anal, fashion-conscious, lame-ass poser

Slack will you oblige?

Peace, Bill

The mind serves properly as a window glass rather than as a reflector, that is, the mind should give
an immediate view instead of an interpretation of the world.
:-]

On Fri, 08 Aug 2003 02:48:32 GMT, "Cameron" <[email hidden]> wrote:

[snip]

Quoted message said:

If he decides to get more aggressive, upgrading to FS is still an option (if his budget allows). If
he simply wants more butt comfort, a suspended seatpost would cost a whole lot less. I say that it
BOILS down to the type of riding he wants to do, and how far into the sport he wants to go.

Sure does, that's why a fully rigid SS is what's boiling in the pot.

Peace, Bill

The mind serves properly as a window glass rather than as a reflector, that is, the mind should give
an immediate view instead of an interpretation of the world.
:-]

"PackFan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am interested in getting into biking and I have a few questions.

What is the difference between the cross country bikes and the regular hardtails?

I thought that an aluminum frame was supposed to be good....but I just

went

Quoted message said:

to a few dealer websites and they have steel framed bikes for a much

higher

Quoted message said:

price.

I have looked at a few bikes in my local shops and the best deal seems to

be

Quoted message said:

a Jamis Durango Sport SX for $649 Canadian. It is regularly $749. Does

this

Quoted message said:

sound like a decent deal and is that a good beginner's bike? Are there better bikes in that price
range? I live in the Barrie, Ontario area.

Anyone

Quoted message said:

know of a great place close to here to purchase a bike? I will be using it mainly on trails and
the odd family bike ride.

This would likely be an excellent bike for you. SWMBA (She Who Must be Adored) just bought one at an
end of season sale for much the same purpose. A well specc'd beginners bike for the price. The
CD$649 sounds OK to me although I'm not 100% on exchange rates.
--
Westie

have a look at Brand Giant. XC and normal (recreational) bike differerances are slight. XC racing.
would use upmarket parts for weight reduction. Perhaps different frame Geos. i dont see what the
fuss is about you jump on a couple of hardtails see which one is comfortable for your body
size/weight. and comfortable for your wallet. spend more than 10 minutes on the test bikes. because
when you get home you might be in for a fright. you might not like the the way the bike does a
certain thing. oh well happy hunting.

"PackFan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am interested in getting into biking and I have a few questions.

What is the difference between the cross country bikes and the regular hardtails?

I thought that an aluminum frame was supposed to be good....but I just

went

Quoted message said:

to a few dealer websites and they have steel framed bikes for a much

higher

Quoted message said:

price.

I have looked at a few bikes in my local shops and the best deal seems to

be

Quoted message said:

a Jamis Durango Sport SX for $649 Canadian. It is regularly $749. Does

this

Quoted message said:

sound like a decent deal and is that a good beginner's bike? Are there better bikes in that price
range? I live in the Barrie, Ontario area.

Anyone

Quoted message said:

know of a great place close to here to purchase a bike? I will be using it mainly on trails and
the odd family bike ride.

Thanks, Chris.

Im a Beginner. I got a 2004 Giant yukon. Had it just over a month now. and I am starting to grow
into it quite nicely. The hayes mech disc brakes took their time wearing in. but they are about 80%
worn in now. and they feel terrific. cant wait till all of the moving parts are worn in and it gets
that Smooth 'run-in' feel.

"Westie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"PackFan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am interested in getting into biking and I have a few questions.

What is the difference between the cross country bikes and the regular hardtails?

I thought that an aluminum frame was supposed to be good....but I just

went

Quoted message said:

to a few dealer websites and they have steel framed bikes for a much

higher

Quoted message said:

price.

I have looked at a few bikes in my local shops and the best deal seems

to

Quoted message said:

be

Quoted message said:

a Jamis Durango Sport SX for $649 Canadian. It is regularly $749. Does

this

Quoted message said:

sound like a decent deal and is that a good beginner's bike? Are there better bikes in that
price range? I live in the Barrie, Ontario area.

Anyone

Quoted message said:

know of a great place close to here to purchase a bike? I will be using

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

mainly on trails and the odd family bike ride.

This would likely be an excellent bike for you. SWMBA (She Who Must be Adored) just bought one at
an end of season sale for much the same

purpose.

Quoted message said:

A well specc'd beginners bike for the price. The CD$649 sounds OK to me although I'm not 100% on
exchange rates.
--
Westie

PackFan said:

I thought that an aluminum frame was supposed to be good....but I just went to a few dealer
websites and they have steel framed bikes for a much higher price.

The "steel" bikes are Wal-mart are "high-tensile" steel - very heavy and easily broken. The "steel"
bikes that are more expensive are an alloy with chromium and molybdium and perhaps some other stuff
(you'll often hear them termed "chro-moly"😉. They can be fairly light as well. My '94 Marin is
chro-moly and its still lighter than the alum bikes than many shops sell in the mid-$500 (US) range
(e.g. that Jamis Durango).

Quoted message said:

I have looked at a few bikes in my local shops and the best deal seems to be a Jamis Durango Sport
SX for $649 Canadian. It is regularly $749. Does this sound like a decent deal and is that a good
beginner's bike?

I have a co-worker who bought one of those. Its worked great on the ~3 rides he's actually taken it
on (!). His girlfriend, this mild-mannered thing who turns into a maniac when she gets a bike on a
trail, has one too and she's put it through several crash tests. It looks to be a decent bike for
day-to-day trail riding, and $650CAN is a decent price.

--
-BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

"Bill Wheeler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 08 Aug 2003 02:48:32 GMT, "Cameron" <[email hidden]> wrote:

[snip]

Quoted message said:

If he decides to get more aggressive, upgrading to FS is still an option (if his budget
allows). If he simply wants more butt comfort, a suspended seatpost would cost a whole lot
less. I say that it BOILS down to the type of riding he wants to do, and how far into the sport
he wants to go.

Sure does, that's why a fully rigid SS is what's boiling in the pot.

Well that would make an interesting homebrew recipe....

--
Cameron

"Westie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"PackFan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am interested in getting into biking and I have a few questions.

What is the difference between the cross country bikes and the regular hardtails?

I thought that an aluminum frame was supposed to be good....but I just

went

Quoted message said:

to a few dealer websites and they have steel framed bikes for a much

higher

Quoted message said:

price.

I have looked at a few bikes in my local shops and the best deal seems

to

Quoted message said:

be

Quoted message said:

a Jamis Durango Sport SX for $649 Canadian. It is regularly $749. Does

this

Quoted message said:

sound like a decent deal and is that a good beginner's bike? Are there better bikes in that
price range? I live in the Barrie, Ontario area.

Anyone

Quoted message said:

know of a great place close to here to purchase a bike? I will be using

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

mainly on trails and the odd family bike ride.

This would likely be an excellent bike for you. SWMBA (She Who Must be Adored) just bought one at
an end of season sale for much the same

purpose.

Quoted message said:

A well specc'd beginners bike for the price. The CD$649 sounds OK to me although I'm not 100% on
exchange rates.
--
Westie

You can't go wrong with Jamis bike packages. I have four (three, plus a spare frame), built
from frame up.