anyone mountainbike?

[bmwannabe]

Ive got a few Q's about a bike i just bought. Its a 2001 Cannondale F500 that I will be using for some road/local trails around here. Its gonna be multi-duty pretty much. What are the weakest components of this bike? Is the headshok a pretty stout unit or should i look at upgrading it? I think the bars and stem look pretty shitty quality from what i can see in the pic. Im going for lightness too, so if there are other heavy components on there, i wanna know about them too.

[MattE30]

Just from looking at an online spec sheet, it looks like a pretty good bike. It includes shimano xt components where are a step down from the top of the line xtr components.

If you aren't doing hardcore mtn biking, I don't think you should upgrade anything yet. Learn the basics of the sport and get to know your bike. Wheels and tubeless tires are always great upgrades and save lots of weight.

No mountain bike makes a good road bike. The weight and the knobbies require more effort on the road. If you want to use it on the road, but an extra set of wheels and smoother tires, or tires made for crushed gravel.

[bmwannabe]

Thats what im doin, i think i may buy another set of wheels for this beyotch, then ride it on the road as needed. I wanted a hybrid, but everywhere i searched it came up with some pansy ass old man bike that I wouldnt be caught dead riding.

[Gus]

does the headshock lock out? ive heard good things about them, the only tradeoff with them being the increased stem height, but they are apparently stiffer. my only advice is to ride.....dont worry about the components or your bike.....learn how to ride. if stuff breaks, replace it. if it doesn't, leave it alone! that sort of attitude makes mountain biking (or biking in general) heaps more fun......you dont blame your bike for your riding inability or reasons for not riding....just ride it and have fun, everything else will follow

[MattE30]

If you have money, but an entry model road bike. The giant ocr 3 is very nice for the price, along with the specialized allez triple (I think that is their entry model). The trek 1000 is decent too. You will shitty components with all of them, but that is something you can replace when you get more experianced. The 2005 models are coming out so go to your local bike shop and ask about 2004 models on clearance. I am searching for a road bike now, and not much, if anything, has changed b/w the models.

[bmwannabe]

Btw, im concerned about weight so much because I want to be able to throw the bike around on local trails, but im not too big of a guy, Im 5'8" and about 142lbs, so weight matters to me on the bike.

[Gus]

the heavier the bike, the fitter you will get! best type of training....jumping onto a light bike after a whale is heaven

[jweb]

I don't know much about bikes but I want to get one to ride around on campus. I don't really want to pay retail and I don't want to have to pay shipping. How does this bike look?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=27948&item=7107825562&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

[Skafrog]

not bad. LX components are not too bad, and a Judy TT fork is decent.
Bottom Line:
Pretty decent bike, good price.

[Rob]

my only advice is to ride.....dont worry about the components or your bike.....learn how to ride. if stuff breaks, replace it. if it doesn't, leave it alone! that sort of attitude makes mountain biking (or biking in general) heaps more fun......you dont blame your bike for your riding inability or reasons for not riding....just ride it and have fun, everything else will follow

wow, if only people would use this philosophy with cars......

[MattE30]

I don't know much about bikes but I want to get one to ride around on campus. I don't really want to pay retail and I don't want to have to pay shipping. How does this bike look?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW

Yeah, its looks like a good bike for you.

Disk brakes are unecessary unless you do hardcore biking, and the judy tt is pretty much the entry level rock shox. Go for it though....The price is good.

[jweb]

Have you heard of the brand though, Nordictrack?

[MattE30]

Yes, they make home fitness equipment. Their little ski/treadmile thing was the rage in the 90s.

[e30Matt]

Cannondales are great mountain bikes. I've had a couple in the past. There was an issue with the Headshok needle bearings freezing up on the F600s, but I believe that was resolved.

Another great bike manufacturer is Gary Fisher. Even their lower end bikes are well built, and they behave great on the trail.

I personally own a Gary Fisher Marlin and Supercaliber.

[bmwannabe]

Before I won the cannondale, I almost won a Gary Fisher hardtail w/ a carbon fiber frame.