Thinking about a new bike...

[Veronica]

There is nothing wrong with my current mountain bike. It's a Specialized Stumpjumper with front suspension.

http://tandemhearts.com/coppermine/albums/umpqua-2006/umpqua-011.jpg
Here I am on the Dread and Terror section of the Umpqua Trail two years ago. It's a great bike.

So what's wrong... After my accidents last summer, I've become afraid of the bike. It sounds crazy and that's why I've never put it out there before, but I am afraid of this bike now. It's crazy because the bike had nothing to do with me falling off a cliff.

I miss mountain biking. I want to get back to that "place" I was in, in the picture, willing to try new things, not afraid of every little bump in the trail. I don't know why, but I think a new bike will help.

I want a more interesting bike. This bike never got named. I always felt like it had no soul. My Rivs and my MB1 all got named.

So, tell me what mountain bike you'd get. If you could get any mountain bike you wanted. :D

V.

[CarbonCandy]

So, tell me what mountain bike you'd get. If you could get any mountain bike you wanted. :D

V.

Trek Fuel Ex 9.5
Full carbon goodness :]

[bike4ever]

Gary Fisher Superfly - carbon, hardtail 29er

[Veronica]

No carbon - it's just not me.

Two lugged steel road bikes and a Bridgestone MB1 (lugged steel mountain bike turned into commuter) are what I have now. I want a mountain bike with soul like that. It's tempting to add a decent fork to the MB1. But I think I'd also have to change out the entire drive train to get more modern gearing which I'd need for the trails around here.

V.

[bike4ever]

Well you did ask for dream bikes! I'm currently on a Salsa Ala Carte - nice True Temper steel. I'm running SRAM X.9 and am very happy with the ride.

[Veronica]

But not YOUR dream bike - MY dream bike. :p

V.

[CarbonCandy]

It's true! You did ask for not your dream bike! Must I quote it again? lol... So are you going for something a bit more simple? In the ways of a Redline Monocog? Rigid chromoly. Sounds like its right up your ally...

[yellow]

So, tell me what mountain bike you'd get. If you could get any mountain bike you wanted. :D

I've been intrigued by the Scott mtn bikes. But of course I'm pretty happy with my current bike.

Have you though about this one (http://www.gunnarbikes.com/rockhound.php)?

[Veronica]

That's nice Yellow. It's on my list now. :)

V.

[KnottedYet]

My Waterford (here in my bedroom, I sleep with my bike) just whispered in my ear that you should look at the Gunnar.

Meanwhile my Surly Cross Check is whooping out in the livingroom at the top of her rowdy lungs (where are a bikes lungs, anyway?) hollering that you should look at Surly Instigator http://www.surlybikes.com/instigator.html and Karate Monkey http://www.surlybikes.com/karatemonkey.html

(sometimes my bikes have too much personality)
(or maybe sometimes I just have too much coffee)
:D

[Veronica]

My honey says the Surly is too heavy.

Slightly off topic, but I feel really lucky to have a partner who really understands how I feel about biking. Of course it helps that he prefers mountain biking to road and will do pretty much anything to get me wanting to mountain bike more.

I've always been more of a roadie, but I do enjoy both. Or at least I did once upon a time.

V.

[bouncybouncy]

I love my Gunnar Roadie!!! I have been wanting a Rockhound like nothin' else (but I wanted a full suspension that FIT a wee bit more!) BEGGED them to make a custom Rock Tour with 29r wheels but they said I was too short (so I kept my Surly Karate Monkey) I understand their reason but I have my reasons for wanting big wheels.

Gunnar is an awesome ride!!!

[SalsaMTB]

While I know you like the nice lugged steel frames for your road and commuter, I think a FS bike would be best for your off-road bike. You're in CA, right? The riding out there can be pretty crazy, I would def. go FS. It smooths out the trail and will definitely help to build your confidence. A FS bike can have a lot of character. I'm currently riding fully rigid and trust me, the bike knocks you around everywhere....it would be terrible to try and build your confidence off something like that. A hardtail is good, I love mine, but I honestly think a FS bike even in MI is nice, it just beats you up less. Unless you want to build a light racing bike, you should consider FS.

So, MY dream bikes for full suspension are....

Moots Zirkel http://www.moots.com/#/product/bicycles/mtb/zirkel/

Turner Flux http://www.turnerbikes.com/08flux.html (the candy blue color is SWEET!! We've had a couple in our store and people's mouths drop at the beauty of this frame in this color)

[sundial]

Veronica, sorry to hear about your spill and subsequent reluctance to return to your old steed. :(

The Giant Trance XO (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/mountain/1288/29373/) has received many favorable reviews. I didn't have the opportunity to test ride on of these babies but I've heard nothing but good things from bike mechanics.