W8N2SKI
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I'll start by saying that I know nothing about mountain bikes. I wouldn't even know what I'd want to try out if I were to go into a bike shop. I don't know styles and I don't know brands.
This is a gross generalization that may turn out to be completely fallacious, but I'm assuming that most bike shop guys/gals are going to see an overweight (but shrinking) 50-something walk into the shop and want to sell me a granny bike. So I want to be somewhat armed when I go in. I can/will look around online for info, but I value younze's input more.
I've ridden road bikes for years (triathlon, centuries, multi-days), but arthritis in my neck makes long distance riding too painful and I've had to sell my beloved Felt . Luckily, the more upright position on a mountain bike is manageable. I don't know what to look for however. Are some MB styles more upright than others? Do I want to look at sport, trail, recreation? I don't know the lingo.
The type of riding I'd like to do would involve a lot of dirt and gravel roads, wooded trails w/the usual rocks and roots. I was always a good climber on the road bike, but I don't see myself doing any aggressive downhill riding. I'll be a rank beginner on a MB, so any advice re starting out would be much appreciated.
Right now I'm riding one of the folders we use on the boat.
This is a gross generalization that may turn out to be completely fallacious, but I'm assuming that most bike shop guys/gals are going to see an overweight (but shrinking) 50-something walk into the shop and want to sell me a granny bike. So I want to be somewhat armed when I go in. I can/will look around online for info, but I value younze's input more.
I've ridden road bikes for years (triathlon, centuries, multi-days), but arthritis in my neck makes long distance riding too painful and I've had to sell my beloved Felt . Luckily, the more upright position on a mountain bike is manageable. I don't know what to look for however. Are some MB styles more upright than others? Do I want to look at sport, trail, recreation? I don't know the lingo.
The type of riding I'd like to do would involve a lot of dirt and gravel roads, wooded trails w/the usual rocks and roots. I was always a good climber on the road bike, but I don't see myself doing any aggressive downhill riding. I'll be a rank beginner on a MB, so any advice re starting out would be much appreciated.
Right now I'm riding one of the folders we use on the boat.