Quote Originally Posted by RolliePollie View Post
Wow, this is a timely thread! I, too, am a roadie looking at buying a hardtail MTB. I'm just really messing up my beautiful white Trek Madone by riding it in the winter, so I want a lower-end MTB that I can ride on dirt roads and *easy* trails, as well as winter wet/muddy/sandy/salty paved roads.

My LBS carries Gary Fisher, and so far I'm liking the looks of the Wahoo. It has a Deore rear derailleur and Altus front: http://www.fisherbikes.com/bike/model/wahoo

Does anyone have any good/bad feedback about this bike and its components? I don't know much of anything about MTB components, so I feel a bit lost!

Now I just have to wait for my tax refund...
If it fits, very good first mountain bike (I started on a bike of the same component level). A word of warning with the Fishers. The top tubes are LONG even for some men. Be careful. You shouldn't feel stretched out like you do on a road bike; you should feel almost upright and more compact (it will probably feel odd to you, as a roadie, if it fits right).

Unless you are long torso'd I'd look at the WSD Fishers, ie: Genesisters (still long in the top tube compared to other WSD's but shorter than their men's) or look into the trek line (4500 should roughly compare to a Wahoo and comes in unisex and WSD). Trek and Fisher are the same company.