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*New* Mountain Bike
Last Post 05/27/2018 04:25 PM by Nicholas Arenella. 4 Replies.
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Nick A

Posts:625

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05/21/2018 10:01 AM
I haven't had a mountain bike in almost 20 years. Decided to get a "new" one to give it another shot. Didn't want to spend a lot, in case this try goes like the last (not far). So I picked up a late '80's /early '90's steel mountain bike with Deore components and some aftermarket suspension fork. Put on some tires and a saddle, cleaned up to make it my own. Tooled around with my wife for a joy ride to see what was what. Pretty fun! Diamond Back Ascent, if that means anything to anyone. Period purple. I'm man enough for a purple bike, but insecure enough that I had to take off the flower stickers. Nick
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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05/21/2018 09:22 PM
Welcome back to dirt riding. So many pleasures. No cars to fear. Fun. Friendly. If I could do only one, asphalt or dirt, that would be an easy choice for me.
Now forgive me for showing a little attitude: you are riding the bicycle equivalent of a junk yard Fiat. Your inner luddite may protest, but off road cycling has evolved more than road bikes since the 90s. Take a chance, see what the current era offers. Your smile may get wider.
Nick A

Posts:625

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05/23/2018 07:55 PM
I spent a whopping $120 (probably worth $80-100, but I'm a bad negotiator). I bought a chain and tires. So I figure, if I actually ride it, I can get something better in a year and give this one to Goodwill.

The last time I had a mountain bike, I actually lived in Manhattan. It was this wild challenge. I'd ride up through Central Park, hit Riverside Park, then Van Cortland Park, then rails to trails along a highway. It was wild. Off roading in a dense urban area. Finding these strips of dirt was half the fun.

I used to hate the position on a mountain bike. I was so used to a road bike. But since I've been using my grocery getter a lot, I've grown used to sitting so upright on a bike, arms further apart, longer cranks, etc.

Nick
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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05/23/2018 10:10 PM
I sold a crap ton of Ascents back in the day....pretty damn good bike back then. A bit outdated today, perhaps....

Have a blast, Nick...but if you enjoy it, you’ll be amazed at how much more you’ll enjoy it with better tech!!
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Nick A

Posts:625

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05/27/2018 04:25 PM
Ride report: I have longer legs for someone my height, but it's below the knee, so I tend to sit a little more forward than most, and spin less than when I was younger, but still try too. I know for stability on a mountain bike you need to be further back, and had my seat further back than normal. On a "real trail", I need to move it back even more. My only other mountain bike (Gary Fischer Super Caliber) didn't even have a suspension fork. I thought I'd hate the suspension, but it was nice, and now I see why people have rear suspension too.

Most mountain bike and trail people are nice. Most. We came up behind some folks, the one in the back said, "there's bikes behind us", the one in front said, "goody for them".

Took about half the ride to stop trying to find an apex to a turn, and read the trail for ruts and high spots to use for turning. Also took about that long to realize that I had t pay attention and not sight see.

Regretted not bringing my camelbak and trying to handle a water bottle that, when I drank from it, was nice 'n' gritty.

It was fun, and I'll likely do it more. But for me, it's just (almost) a completely different activity than road riding.

N
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