Steel mountain bike?

[Catrin]

....
I ended up buying a new 13" Jamis Dragon complete for $1k. It was an '09 model at a pretty good discount...

I have heard good things about the Jamis Dragon, know several who have one. I guess they use Reynolds 843 steel for it's weight and strength. Niners use the same steel, but of course they are all 29ers - which I suspect are all too large for me.

There is a Midwestern Women's Mountain Bike clinic next June in Brown County State Park - and many of the women who come are either at the beginner level or have never been on a mountain bike before. They also have free mountain bike rentals if you register early enough and they have certified and professional instructors. I am thinking this would be the best/safest way for me to get a taste of things.

They start with a "fun skills assessment" to make sure you are with the right group. My fitter is one of the instructors, so he told me all about it. From the sound of the clinic, it would also enhance my road cycling skills - a winner all the way around!

Surlypacer, I see you have a Gunnar Sport as well as the LHT. How do they compare with each other? Is the Gunnar Sport a full touring bike like the LHT or is it different?

[indysteel]

The clinic sounds like the way to go. I can't tell you how overjoyed Brian would be if I took that myself. He'd love to MTB with me, but being the Nervous Nelly that I am, I have long thought that it just wasn't the sport for me, although my road skills are just fine.

Hmmmmm. Food for thought.

[Irulan]

Maybe a clinic would give you some confidence. I've said it a hundred times. The basic skill set for mountain biking is simple to learn, yet for a lot of folks it's not intuitive. You don't have to be all aggro and all that to enjoy trail riding. I've seen gals go from completely freaked out about riding over a foam noodle to totally confident beginners in a matter of hours.

[indysteel]

Maybe a clinic would give you some confidence. I've said it a hundred times. The basic skill set for mountain biking is simple to learn, yet for a lot of folks it's not intuitive. You don't have to be all aggro and all that to enjoy trail riding. I've seen gals go from completely freaked out about riding over a foam noodle to totally confident beginners in a matter of hours.

You're probably right. Generally speaking, I'm an athletic person, but there are a few things that easily freak me out. I love to hike, for instance, but I'm very extremely afraid of falling, slipping, tripping, etc. That's why I've always assumed that I just wasn't mentally set up for MTBing.

[Catrin]

For me the clinic gives me a safe place to learn the basics - while the skill set might be "simple" the odds of my getting hurt by heading out there to learn on my own are pretty high...

Indy, it sounds like we both could benefit from this - and with Jonathan as one of the instructors that says very good things about the caliber of the instructors!

[eofelis]

I have heard good things about the Jamis Dragon, know several who have one. I guess they use Reynolds 843 steel for it's weight and strength.

Surlypacer, I see you have a Gunnar Sport as well as the LHT. How do they compare with each other? Is the Gunnar Sport a full touring bike like the LHT or is it different?

My Jamis Dragon is 531 steel. Either the older models or the higher end models are 853 steel.

The Gunnar Sport is much more like a road bike than a full touring bike. It has the relaxed geometry like a touring bike (very long wheel base, slacker angles to seat tube and head tube) but it has a lighter weight frame (853 or OX platinum steel) and is built with road bike components. It's a luxo sport touring bike, extremely comfy ride.

The LHT is very comfy, and will carry anything I can manage to strap on it, but is like a tank - slow and heavy. I think my LHT rides better with a full load on it.

[Catrin]

My Jamis Dragon is 531 steel. Either the older models or the higher end models are 853 steel.

The Gunnar Sport is much more like a road bike than a full touring bike. It has the relaxed geometry like a touring bike (very long wheel base, slacker angles to seat tube and head tube) but it has a lighter weight frame (853 or OX platinum steel) and is built with road bike components. It's a luxo sport touring bike, extremely comfy ride.

The LHT is very comfy, and will carry anything I can manage to strap on it, but is like a tank - slow and heavy. I think my LHT rides better with a full load on it.

Thanks for the comparison on the Gunnar Sport and the LHT. I love Ms. Explorer - and it sounds like the Sport might be a nice choice as a go-faster bike should I go with Gunnar rather than Luna.

[eofelis]

Thanks for the comparison on the Gunnar Sport and the LHT. I love Ms. Explorer - and it sounds like the Sport might be a nice choice as a go-faster bike should I go with Gunnar rather than Luna.

The smallest stock Gunnar Sport frames have 650c size wheels (not 700c size wheels). Gunnar frames cost around $800 retail for stock sizes. They will make custom geometry sizes of their frames for $300 more. So $1100 is not a bad price for a custom steel frame, compared to other custom frame prices out there.

If you are fitting well on a Surly LHT, you might consider a Pacer for a road frame.

My Gunnar Sport is a custom geometry frame, it's a 50cm effective top tube size with 700c size wheels. I was thinking of getting a custom Gunnar in this size, but then this one that was some else's custom size came up on ebay, and it just happened to be the size I need......

[Catrin]

The smallest stock Gunnar Sport frames have 650c size wheels (not 700c size wheels). Gunnar frames cost around $800 retail for stock sizes. They will make custom geometry sizes of their frames for $300 more. So $1100 is not a bad price for a custom steel frame, compared to other custom frame prices out there.

If you are fitting well on a Surly LHT, you might consider a Pacer for a road frame.

My Gunnar Sport is a custom geometry frame, it's a 50cm effective top tube size with 700c size wheels. I was thinking of getting a custom Gunnar in this size, but then this one that was some else's custom size came up on ebay, and it just happened to be the size I need......

Thanks for this information - I want lighter steel than is available for the Pacer. That is why I will go with either a Luna or custom Gunnar for a road bike. I am really looking forward to trying out mountain biking though - and if I do like it then that bike will come before a light steel road bike.

[indysteel]

Tania (or anybody else who knows the answer),

When does registration typically begin for the clinic? Is there a mailing list or listserve that I could get onto so that I would receive any information about the clinic?

Thanks!

[Catrin]

Tania (or anybody else who knows the answer),

When does registration typically begin for the clinic? Is there a mailing list or listserve that I could get onto so that I would receive any information about the clinic?

Thanks!

I know there is a website for it here, if there is another resource for information it would be great information to have.

[tjuillerat]

Tania (or anybody else who knows the answer),

When does registration typically begin for the clinic? Is there a mailing list or listserve that I could get onto so that I would receive any information about the clinic?

Thanks!

Looks like you found the info! Registration normally starts in March, but if I open it any earlier I will be sure to post here. A newsletter will also go out for when registration begins.

If you're on Facebook, you can also keep tabs at www.facebook.com/midwestwomensclinic.

[limewave]

Thanks for the comparison on the Gunnar Sport and the LHT. I love Ms. Explorer - and it sounds like the Sport might be a nice choice as a go-faster bike should I go with Gunnar rather than Luna.

I don't have much to add other than DH has a Gunnar. He's had it for 12+ years and its still his favorite bike to ride on the trails.

[Catrin]

I don't have much to add other than DH has a Gunnar. He's had it for 12+ years and its still his favorite bike to ride on the trails.

Good to know this, thanks! I have heard many good things about Gunnar. With Margo not taking any new orders, at least for now, I may well wind up with a Gunnar (at least for a go-faster road bike). Time will tell on the mountain bike.