SScheetz
Cracking frames since '88
Specialized Hard Rock Sport, $360.
$360 is about what I recently spent on a rigid fork, or half of my brake set, or one stinking wheel.
I’ve been mountain biking for 18 years. Over time you eventually upgrade your equipment standards to higher and higher levels. Until now, I assumed that the low end of the MTB food chain couldn’t be used for anything more hard core than a smooth fire road and the occasional curb drop. You know … a heavy duty grocery getter.
Well … I just returned from an extended weekend vacation up in Cannon Beach, OR. There is only one real bike shop in the area, Mikes Bike Shop. Fortunatly, he rents real (on the low end) MTBs, has maps and knows the local trails. The forest up there is absolutely amazing. We spent a couple a days exploring some local single track and logging roads through dense rain forests. The more technical trails are steep, narrow and littered with slippery roots.
It was interesting to ride a “low end” bike and discover how much fun can be had for very little money. The bikes were Specialized Hard Rock Sports that you can usually get for around $350. I thought the ride would suck but instead I discovered that these things can really tear it up without a flinch. So, how did the “one step above dime store wonders” handle real (XC) mountain biking?
I had no idea that RST forks, Tektro brakes, and low end SRAM preformed so well. These babies are heavy for hard tails, but who cares, we weren’t racing. They took a good beating and handled great. The beefy frame should last through years of upgrades (opps, there I go again). For anyone getting into the sport on the cheap, I can highly recommend this bike. The unimpressive component list worked incredibly well. It was far better than the crap I was expecting. I can’t judge long term durability. I should mention that it was a perfectly adjusted and maintained rental.
I now wonder how many people I might have scared away from the sport by telling them they need to spend at least $800 for an entry level bike. :?:
$360 is about what I recently spent on a rigid fork, or half of my brake set, or one stinking wheel.
I’ve been mountain biking for 18 years. Over time you eventually upgrade your equipment standards to higher and higher levels. Until now, I assumed that the low end of the MTB food chain couldn’t be used for anything more hard core than a smooth fire road and the occasional curb drop. You know … a heavy duty grocery getter.
Well … I just returned from an extended weekend vacation up in Cannon Beach, OR. There is only one real bike shop in the area, Mikes Bike Shop. Fortunatly, he rents real (on the low end) MTBs, has maps and knows the local trails. The forest up there is absolutely amazing. We spent a couple a days exploring some local single track and logging roads through dense rain forests. The more technical trails are steep, narrow and littered with slippery roots.
It was interesting to ride a “low end” bike and discover how much fun can be had for very little money. The bikes were Specialized Hard Rock Sports that you can usually get for around $350. I thought the ride would suck but instead I discovered that these things can really tear it up without a flinch. So, how did the “one step above dime store wonders” handle real (XC) mountain biking?
I had no idea that RST forks, Tektro brakes, and low end SRAM preformed so well. These babies are heavy for hard tails, but who cares, we weren’t racing. They took a good beating and handled great. The beefy frame should last through years of upgrades (opps, there I go again). For anyone getting into the sport on the cheap, I can highly recommend this bike. The unimpressive component list worked incredibly well. It was far better than the crap I was expecting. I can’t judge long term durability. I should mention that it was a perfectly adjusted and maintained rental.
I now wonder how many people I might have scared away from the sport by telling them they need to spend at least $800 for an entry level bike. :?:
