Show off your Mountain Bike!!!

Do you do any actual mountain biking on trails built specifically for that purpose? If not, I wouldn't really recommend any of these actual mountain bikes at all. They're all pretty inefficient on pavement.

Your best bet may be a gravel bike of some sort with road-like geometry, drop handlebars, "gravel tires," and no suspension. Just something to consider.

Example:
https://surlybikes.com/bikes/straggler

 

There are some trails around here; When I get home from work I will post photos of the Giant I own...

 

You can always ride any bike on the road -- it's simply a matter of efficiency. I'd just hate for you to buy an aggressive mountain bike and then never ride it on actual mtb trails with roots, rocks, jumps, logs, creeks, etc. That would seem counterproductive to me.

Can you provide the name of one of the mountain bike trails you would ride on a regular basis? I can look it up and see what we're dealing with here.

 

I don’t know any around me; It’s been years since I’ve taken a bike off road; I live in the Doylestown, Pennsylvania area though...

 

If your frame is designed to take disc brakes, and you're used to working on your truck (or otherwise mechanically inclined), it's pretty straightforward. Bleeding them once they're on the bike is the toughest part, but there are plenty of youtube videos out there to help you along.

If you watch the buy/sell section on pinkbike, you can pick up a set of used brakes, or brakes that someone took off of a new bike without using.

If you post a picture of your fork where the front axel attaches and the frame where the back axel attaches, we can tell you if it will accept disc brakes. Take pictures of the left side of the bike if you are sitting on it (the opposite side from the chain).

 

Just a quick glance at Trailforks.com. Looks like you have a bunch of easy/moderate options within 30-45 minutes, so you may want to consider a genuine starter mountain bike IF you honestly plan to try mountain biking. Otherwise, go with a gravel bike and never look back.

The good news is that you can still do some of the easier singletrack mountain bike trails on a gravel bike IF you're comfortable doing so. Meanwhile, the gravel bike would certainly be the most comfortable option if all you're doing is hitting the roads and paths in/around your immediate neighborhood -- including the flatter/smoother dirt paths.

 

Here’s my bike; ‘08 Giant Boulder SE that I stopped riding regularly once I got my driver’s license in 2011...

 

Looks like your fork has the mounting holes on it for a disc brake.

 

So it’ll be like a Tacoma? Modern brakes up front and old technology in the back? Or can I do rear disc?

 

Just like that!
My old Marin is sitting like that. Mounted a cable-actuated disc brake (simpler and easier to maintain than hydraulic) to the front several years ago. I have the unit for the back wheel, but haven’t tried installing it. I bought this adapter -
https://www.amazon.com/Zebra-Crossing-Universal-Bicycle-Cycling-Mounting/dp/B01JR5U7K6
Which hopefully will work. Just have to figure out where I put it.

 

It looks like there is no spot on the frame to mount a rear caliper. I’d say it’s not worth it to put a disc on the front only. Put money towards a new bike if you’re considering that.

 

So...?

 

Please don’t this the wrong way, but I would put $0 into that bike.

If you’re considering getting back into the sport, maybe buy some chain lube and watch some YouTube videos on derailleur adjustments and see if that one is rideable as is. All while saving for a replacement.

 

And then sell the Giant for $50-$100 or so? I want to see it go to a good home.

 

Sure man. That or gift it to someone

 

Why don’t you think the Giant isn’t worth modifying?

 

Others have already explained the reasoning pretty well. Not sure what else I could say that will change your outlook.

Bottom line is its way too outdated to be worthwhile to invest in rehabbing.

It sounds like the bike has more sentimental value to you than quantitative value. Nothing wrong with that, just makes any perspective of faceless usernames on the interwebs even less valuable than they already are.

Do what makes you happy man.

 

Well, based on what all of you said, I won’t be paying for anything more than front and rear lights. I don’t feel like buying a new bike now, but I will in the next few years. I don’t need two bikes, and there’s this guy with special needs I know who’s absolutely obsessed with bikes and collects them, so I’ll probably just give it to him because I’m a nice guy.

When my parents bought new bikes, I gave their old bikes to the aforementioned special needs individual.

 

I’m digging that Fathom 29!