New bike for Dad

[ERCougar]

My dad was one of the original mountain bikers. Problem is, he STILL is riding the same bike. Thirty years later, my mom and I have decided it's time for an upgrade. I was feeling him out the other day to see what kind of bike he'd switch to if given the chance (I somehow pulled this off without him suspecting anything, I think...) and he mentioned some place in Lehi that does custom "hybrid" bikes (he couldn't remember the name). When I asked what he had in mind, I get the sense he'd be more interested in a mountain bike for the road (with slicks or something) than a beefy road bike.

I've always bought used 1 or 2 yo bikes from gearheads who always have to have the latest thing, and given that he's been riding the same GT beast for this long, I think he'd be totally satisfied with something gently used in the $500 price range. But I haven't really looked at the "hybrid" market at all, so I don't know what there is to offer. Any ideas off the top of your collective head?

[old_gregg]

is he primarily going to be riding on the road? how often does he ride? any component preferences?

[ERCougar]

is he primarily going to be riding on the road? how often does he ride? any component preferences?

He likes to think he still rides trails, but really, he's 64 and doesn't. In the summer, he probably rides 3 times a week, hour at a time. No component preferences (cmon...30 yr old GT mountain bike...really?).

[old_gregg]

not sure about his size, but is this something like you were thinking? are you interested in just throwing slicks on a 2-3 year old specialized with some decent shimano components)

[FN Phat]

not sure about his size, but is this something like you were thinking? are you interested in just throwing slicks on a 2-3 year old specialized with some decent shimano components)

That looks perfect! Good find, cam.

[ERCougar]

not sure about his size, but is this something like you were thinking? are you interested in just throwing slicks on a 2-3 year old specialized with some decent shimano components)

Yeah, that looks about perfect, except that it might be a little small (he's about 6'4). And yeah, I was thinking of just getting a hardtail with slicks, but I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about hybrids.

[John McClain]

Try and get him dual suspension if he rides trails.

I too have been riding mountain bikes for 30 years. If your dad still rides trails, and if his neck and back have taken the same abuse mine have, a dual suspension is warranted. A bike that is 3-5 years old will still have decent suspension if it has been maintained. My friend rides a Gary Fisher Cake which is probably 5 years old and other than it being a little heavy in comparison to some dualies, it rides extremely well.

[bluegoose]

Welcome McClain! Its good to have another cyclist in the fold. Give us an intro when you get a chance.

[John McClain]

A little bit about me

Thanks for the welcome. I have two major passions in life outside of my family - they are BYU sports (primarily football and basketball) and cycling of all kinds (road, mtn, cyclocross). My cycling addiction goes back to my first bike at age 5 (an AMF Roadmaster) which I used to ride all over Salt Lake County before the traffic started to resemble SoCal. When I was a freshman in college, 4 friends and I biked from SLC to Bryce, Zion's and back home. I still have a nice scar on my shoulder from running into the wall of the Zion's tunnel in the pitch black. I still like to do multi-day epic bike rides. I started mountain biking when mountain bikes first came into general production. My first mountain bike was a Ross Mt. Hood. I still have it; it is in great condition as I keep it as a collector's item. My current mountain bike is a Maverick Durance, which I absolutely love - best ride ever. I live in New Mexico, which affords me great trails and year round weather for biking, so if any of you are passing through and need to go for a ride, let me know - I can direct you and perhaps, time permitting, accompany you. Outside my life as a wannabe Eddy Mercx / Ned Overend, I work as a lawyer in Albuquerque.