talk me out of buying a new bike

[fastdogs]

I've only been riding about a year. My folder serves me well during the week, for short hilly rides during lunch break. On weekends, when I can, I ride my trek hybrid. I love it, but don't do the kind of miles many of you do, I'm pretty proud of myself if I do 10 or 12. I usually ride pavement or crushed limestone, or sometimes a quarter mile dirt and grass trail around my property, to exercise the dogs. So the bikes I have are fine for me. For some reason I have been craving a mountain bike. Not much of a mountain bike, just a low end one.
Today I took the folder by the bike shop where I got my trek, hoping they'd tune it up for me and check the brakes. They took it right in, even though I didn't buy it there. While they had it, I pulled out a trek 820 in a matte bluish color. My downtube bike was ready in no time, for no charge, but I still wanted to ride- so I took the trek out for a ride. I can't say it's better than my hybrid, but it was a lot of fun, and I really liked the bike. It's $349.00- not too much, but certainly not planned. I don't have a bike rack on my car, so it was easy to not walk out with it. I still had some time, so on the way home I stopped at another shop and rode a GT outpost, same price. Which is the better bike?
Why am I even looking at bikes, I am a waste of a good bike. ANyway, I have to take my hybrid in because the bottom bracket is creaking and I get free service. To take it in, I'll have to take a bike rack, and my bike rack holds 2 bikes.....
stop me. Tell me these are horrible el cheapo bikes that will fall apart under my weight. Tell me there's no reason to have a new hybrid, a perfectly good folding bike, and a new mountain bike. Somebody talk some sense into me.

[mimitabby]

you're not seriously expecting US to talk you out of a bike are you??

[fastdogs]

well, maybe just say some bad stuff about the bike.

[mudmucker]

stop me. Tell me these are horrible el cheapo bikes that will fall apart under my weight. Tell me there's no reason to have a new hybrid, a perfectly good folding bike, and a new mountain bike. Somebody talk some sense into me.

Uh-uh. Nope.

[mimitabby]

If it gives you joy and makes you want to ride it, what's it going to hurt? it's your money right?
But isn't there a slightly better bike that would be even better?

[fastdogs]

ooo, that's good. Talk me out of this one by talking me into a better one!! Ok, what's the recommendations for cheap mountain bikes?
for grass and dirt trails, probably hilly, but not the tough real rocky stuff.
The trek I rode was an 18", the GT was a small frame (didn't feel quite as good as the trek, maybe too cramped?
vickie

[sundial]

Somebody talk some sense into me.

Why?

[Blueberry]

Sense? What's that?

Must. Buy. More. Bikes.

CA

[fastdogs]

I was just afraid of making a mistake since it would have been kind of an impulse purchase. I can't spend a lot, and have been watching craig's list. But I'm so new at this that there is some comfort in a good bike shop, not to mention the free lifetime service you get at this one. But they don't have a lot to choose from- they do a lot of time trial bikes and really high end road bikes. I just couldn't get past the toy bike blue color of the trek 820 when I bought my hybrid, and the cool color caught my eye. I enjoyed the ride, but I don't know cheap components from good ones, so worry more about color and the fact it had no chain guard and almost got my jeans. But if I really start shopping I drift upward; if 340 is doable, what about 420? then hey, that one has disc brakes for 529... it goes on and on.
it's kind of fun just looking. I may avoid getting my bike serviced just to avoid being in the same shop with that bike until I look into it more.
vickie

[crazycanuck]

Do you mean dollars & sense..

[NbyNW]

Can't help you.

I think an mtb would be a beautiful complement to your current stable. Especially if you've got some nice trails near you.

I've got a bottom-of-the-line 1997-1998 GT mtb that is probably a bit long in the top tube, really heavy, and incredibly ugly . . . and I couldn't bear to part with it. I've had tons of fund rec rides on it, it's been a workhorse, and I've carted it across the country twice, to four different cities. It was my first big purchase to celebrate getting out of debt.

A mountain bike will open up so many new possibilities to you . . . actually I've been meaning to put the knobbies back on mine . . .

Sorry, still not helping.

[fastdogs]

thanks- you all actually have helped. the one comment...
"But isn't there a slightly better bike that would be even better?"
helped me back off and look more carefully. After all, part of the fun is the shopping. I took my trek 7200 in to the shop today and didn't even glance in the direction of the beautiful matte blue bike, got a pair of gloves instead and will pick up my trek sunday. That means to ride today it's me and the folder.
I stopped in at a bike shop I'd never been to and talked to one of the guys there. They had some bikes in stock, and some good sales (the touring cyclist in st louis) but the bike he recommended is one they didn't have in stock- a fuji nevada 1.0. So I'd like to see and ride one of those.
so, it would have been fun to have a new bike just because, I'm going to shop around a little and ride a few more mountain bikes, since I know so little about them. That's why recommendations help too- you can tell me whey you like the one you've got (I really liked the photo of the olive green giant rincon that was posted here).
vickie
__________________