Conference noted::bicycle

    Don't get hung up on frame size.  If you go with a Fischer, there 21"
    is HUGE, especially for single track.  Think more in top tube length.  
    Stay away from the Quadra 10, it does little.  Probably the Rudy, or 
    Mantou would be best...even though my preference is for Cannondale
    headshock...The new Fischers look great, be aware the model you are
    looking for isn't expected into dealers until January. 
    steve

  
    
    What I'd like:  Durable/quality front suspension bike, LX or better, 
    clipless pedals, bar-ends.  Lean towards chrom-moly and away from 
    aluminum.  Since I'm 6'3", 190 lbs., need a long top tube and probably 
    a 21" frame.  (The Diamond Back was 22")  
    
    I'll spend up to $1,100.  Or maybe a little more.   :>)
  
This sounds like exactly what I'm looking for, and the price is what
I'm planning to pay, so I thought my comments might be relevant.  My
only difference is that you couldn't pay me to have clipless pedals.
I tip my hat to those who know and love SPDs and their clones, but...

<begin mild tirade>

...many riders find them difficult to get used to, a pain in muddy 
conditions, they are expensive, unless you already have SPD-compatible
shoes they will require you to buy new ones, SPDs require an odd-sized 
little allen wrench for adjustment that is used on no other part of your 
bike.  I contrast this with my clips and straps that work perfectly well 
for me and have none of these drawbacks.  Get SPDs if you want, of course, 
but don't assume every new Shimano gizmo is an improvement (take the U-brake 
they gave us in 1987, for example). 

<end mild tirade>

Re: the bar-ends, don't sweat them.  I actually prefer many of the after 
market bar-ends to those included with most bikes.  So these can be cheaply 
and easily installed later.
  
    New '95 models I've heard about but haven't riden yet:  
    
(Be sure to ride before you buy...)

    Rock Hopper FS (around $700 with STX/gripshifter;  steel frame (whose
    tubes?) Rock Shock Quadra; would have to add pedals and bar-ends)
    
Nice bike, but not the same caliber as the Stumpjumper, and I am not
fond of Rock Shox.  My current top contender is a '95 Stumpjumper rigid fork
model with Manitou Fours added afterwards...total price is $1150.  ('95
Stumpjumpers are suspension compatible, but the '94s are not.)  The
Stumpjumper is a much better match for your price range than a Rockhopper.

    Marin Eldridge Grade ($1100; "Marin-specified Tange butted chrome-
    moly [?]; Manitou 3 fork; not sure on group?; bar-ends)
    
Marin makes a fabulous bike, but with an equally fabulous price tag.  I 
found that I would pay $400-$500 more for a Marin equipped similarly to a
Specialized Stumpjumper.  I like Manitou forks better than any others on
the market.

    Trek 970SHX ($970; True Temper chrome-moly; Rock Shox Quadra 21 fork; 
    Deore LX-C/gripshift and LX RapidFire+ [aren't those mutually 
    exclusive?; bar-ends)
    
I don't know squat about Trek.  But as I said I'm not fond of Rock Shox.
Also, I prefer Gripshift over RapidFire+.

    Fisher Cronus ($1200; triple butting True Temper; Judy XC Rock Shox 
    (way cool!); XT/LX gripshift; Onza clipless pedals; bar ends; Tioga
    Psycho-K tires [?].  Leaning towards this because it is "complete.") 
    
Sounds hot!  I've heard of them but haven't ridden one.  Judy's are supposed 
to be really something.

    Questions:  Comments on the above?  Are there others I should consider?  
    (I'm especially interested in the Judy shock; heard good things about 
    it, and I believe a Rock Hopper model comes with...any experiences 
    with Judy?  ;>)
    
You won't find Judy on anything but the *top* of the line bikes.  No chance
on a RockHopper.

    Any comments on Gary Fisher bikes?  Seems like the best value to me...
    
The only bikes that are a good value are the ones you like after you
ride them.  Taking a test ride will quickly trim down your list of
finalists above.

    
    
    re:-1
    
    Although have not tried the Fisher bike, but looks like the best
    combination of components. The Trek would be my least favourite. 
    Simply because I am not found of Rock Shox Quadras. I  have the 
    quadra on one of my bikes, it is great for little bumps and small
    pebbles and such but for higher speeds, going down hill or over 
    bigger bumps, the fork bottoms out in the softer settings. When I 
    tighten the setting making it firmer, it has a jerky movement that
    irritates me.  This compared to my Manitou 2 on the KHS, no comparison.
    If you are close to a Rodgers ski and bike, (Hampton, NH) or Lincoln,
    or any other KHS dealer, check out the KHS bikes the Pro FZ is 
    great bike, I love the KHS frames, very light but strong, you get 
    the manitue 3 forks, and XT/XTR group set. for around $12,000. 
    
    Shaw

    
    re:-1
    
>>    great bike, I love the KHS frames, very light but strong, you get 
>>    the manitue 3 forks, and XT/XTR group set. for around $12,000. 
    
       $12,000 8^o  ...  I'd expect better than XT/XTR components!

PR

    
    Sorry that was 12,000 drakma's  ;-) 
    
    I realy meant $ 1,200 , but you already knew that ;*)
    
    Shaw

    I'll second .2's recommendation/review of a Stumpjumper + shock +
    grip shifts + rollerblader skewers... er, bar ends.  I've had pretty
    good luck with mine (although a stick just munched the rear XT
    derailleur; 2nd one this year); the bike was about $1200.  I tried SPD,
    but put titanium pedals on... my 4E wide feet couldn't deal with the SPD
    shoes.  The bike saw over 2000 miles this year; @6000 miles on it total.
    No major screwups, although the headset, chain rings, XT shifters, a
    front brake (pin sheared), a wheel (brakes wore thru its side), and the
    usual stuff (chain, cluster) have needed replaced... oh, and the fork
    got recalled.
    Kratz

    I've been looking at bikes lately and one that seems like a good 
    idea in theory and price are the Proflex fully suspended bikes
    that use use an "elastomeric foam spring". I've talked to some
    people that ride these, but most of them work for bike shops 
    that sell them....has anyone ridden this type for any period of
    time. I would be using this on all kinds of conditions including
    like Sunday River.
    
    Thanks Saul

    	Saul,
    
    	I don't own a Proflex and I don't ride one on TV.
    
    	However, Ed Kross rode a Proflex road bike this year for
    	the Race Across AMerica.
    
    	Scott

    I have had a Proflex 854 for a few months, and have had it on a few
    rough rides.  I like it a lot.  It is a much more stable and forgiving
    ride than my previous Stumpjumper FS.  Really handles the washboard and
    rocks well.  I'm not a very fast rider, so I can't really comment on
    how it handles large bumps going fast, but the bike doesn't seem to
    have any handling flaws at all.  I think the fork allows more precise
    steering that the FS/Rock Shox fork.

    
    I got some more information on the Trek 970 this past weekend, and
    it looks pretty good.  (The 970 is the same bike as the 970SHX without
    bar-ends and shocks...and the 970 has GripShift).
    
    It is comparable to the Stumpjumper in price and componentry...now I
    just have to find one to ride.  I'll report on how it compares to 
    the Stumpjumper after I give one a whirl.
    
    Jim
    

    
    Well, I rode a Trek 970 last weekend at Gregg's Greenlake Cycle in
    Seattle.  Nice bike.  So nice that it has eclipsed the Stumpjumper,
    and I liked it as much as the Marin Pine Mountain I rode.
    
    It is steel, $30 less than the Stumpjumper, weighs less than 24 pounds, 
    and is built in the U.S...even the frame!
    
    I will go back when I get closer to buying, so that I can do a good
    A/B comparison (Gregg's sells both Trek and Specialized), but 
    right now it's gotta be Trek.
    
    Jim
      

    I'm still looking at bikes, but more seriously now that I have money,
    I sold my landcruiser yesterday. Anyway, I've kinda narrowed it down
    to Proflex 555 or 755 about a $300 difference. A Biancchi Grizzly.
    I'm pretty sure I want full suspension and there doesn't seem to be
    much available in the Boston area in the $1000-1400 price range to
    try out.
    
    Saulf

    Here's what I got.  Yesterday.

    All XT (front, rear, crank, BB, cassette, brakes, hubs, chain).  
    DiaComp SS-7 levers were put in place of the XT levers when I upgraded 
    to X-Ray gripshift.  Was told they were as good or better as the XT 
    levers (?? any comments??)  (Isn't a lever a lever here?)

    Cro-moly, double-butted frame.  Bontrager BCX-1 and -2 (rear) rims and 
    Panaracer Dart HC  and Smoke HC Comp (rear) tires.  Added Onza bar-ends
    and Performance clipless pedals.

    Weighs a *very* light 23.8 lbs for a 21" frame (with a stiff fork). 
    Under their special offer, I'll add the Judy XC for only $220 (reg. 
    $400) when it arrives in two weeks, and that should top it out at 
    ~25.3 lbs.

    Great fit.  Kool components.  Probably 6 lbs. lighter than my
    DiamondBack.  Unbelievable price:  $1025 with the Judy.
    
    Guesses?  

    I got a 1994 Performance M104.  I had pretty much decided on the 
    Fisher and went into the local Performance store for shoes.

    Ha!  Well worth the wait.

    It'll be mondo muddy on Sunday.
    
    :>)

    I finally broke down and bought a Fisher Paragon. Buying a bike is like
    buying a PC....you can look forever and know what your buying will be
    obsolete or something better will come out next week. So I bought
    what fit my needs best today. This one comes with clipless pedals 
    standard and I got the shoes for free. So far I'm still gettin'
    the hang of them. About half the time I stop when I'm in the woods
    I fall over.....kinda like that old guy on LAUGH-IN who rode the 
    tricycle. If any one wants a new TREK or Cannondale catalog send me
    mail..
    
    Saul