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Mountain Bike

9.6K views 41 replies 27 participants last post by  n0mad  
#1 ·
I am looking at a hybrid Giant brand mountain bike and was wondering what people think are important Urban Survival features for a bicycle?
 
#3 ·
I agree with the above poster, comfort is a must. Don't be afraid to spend a couple bucks on a quality seat.

Make sure to put together a tool kit to keep your bike rolling, it should include all basic tools (wrench,allens,tire levers,etc.)as well as spare tubes.

Have you thought about a trailer, how much do you plan on hauling?
 
#4 ·
When I was a teen I had a Giant brand mountain bike, I put that thing through hell and back, the bike never missed a lick. I actually seen that bike at my mom's house this A.M. I might go back and get it.
 
#5 ·
Giant is an excellent brand of bike, they actually make the frames for a large portion of the bicycles sold right now.

As far as features important to survival:

- no plastic pedals they will eventually break

- tubes with slime or solid foam tubes if you can find them

- learn how to correctly tighten spokes to keep your wheels in good shape

- no "grip shift" I'm not sure if they really make this anymore but it is garbage and will fail quickly compared to other shifting mechanisms

- Good, comfortable seat

- air pump, tool kit and spare tubes that stay on the bike at all times

- a good light on the handlebars and a blinking light on the back

- I would also consider getting a 29er, they roll so much smoother than a standard 26" wheel which equates to a much easier ride IMO

- If it has rear suspsension make sure it "locks" this helps dramatically in climbing, a lot of newer bikes you can "lock" the forks too
 
#6 ·
I'm not totally sure what you mean by hybrid, is that a cruiser/mountain bike? I have a Giant, I like it a lot. If you are looking for SHTF, make sure you get lots of spare tubes, some tires, and a good book on maintenance. Learn how to do all your own repairs.
 
#8 ·
I always keep my bike in excellent condition. and I keep a extra set of "wheels" with solid rubber tires for it. and once a week I go for a short ride on it. If the SHTF that is what will be the frist thing to go is the transportation.
 
#10 ·
By hybrid I mean the tires will work well for urban environments but I can still take the bike into the woods. Good point with the locking rear suspension and I'll have to try out a 29er. I've heard good things. Thanks for all the suggestions fellow survivalists.
 
#23 ·
My 29er
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If you are looking for a bike to only have for running errands for SHTF, I would buy a 26 inch wheeled mountain bike, front suspension only. 26 inch because it is cheaper and you are not likely to get your money out of a 29er while times are good. Also, no rear suspension for three reasons: less parts to go bad, it's a lot cheaper and it is easier to mount a rear rack for carrying goods. Make sure you buy a bike with braz-ons for a rear rack, meaning that it has threads welded on for rack hardware.

Supplies:
The least you should own for SHTF occasional riding:
Extra set of tires
Several inner-tubes
Pump
Tire levers
Riding gloves
Helmet
Water bottle
Tools to work the hardware
Chain tool
Chain lube
Extra set of brake pads

It is truly amazing what a name brand bike will put up with. The pounding I have put on this bike is amazing. If you buy a Wally World bike, it WILL screw up often and you will hate the sport. It will weigh a ton and be frustrating. You can get a nice entry level mountain bike for $350 on up, you don't have to spend $2,000.00. If you spend $99.99 you will be disappointed. I had a Trek that I pounded for ten years and the frame finally gave up. Trek warranted my ten year old frame. Other manufactures may have similar warranties. Good luck.
Road Tires
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#12 ·
think of bikes like this, road bike = sports car; cruiser = Lincoln; hybrid = crossover or city focused SUV; mountain bike...I mean a MOUNTAIN BIKE is an old FJ Land Cruiser or take your pick off road machine.

Hybrids are great go to bike for an urban setting where you will see a little of everything or the occasional/minor offroad. The big thing that decided it for me is this, Mountain Bike is the only thing that can do all of the above, not as well but it can be done. Ex: how many sports cars, Lincolns, and cross overs are hoofing it through a good double track trail, fire road, etc.? How many off road able trucks do you see going through the streets, highways, and getting groceries?

I am currently rocking a 2011 Specialized RockHopper, and does more than I can or practically ever need with a light enough package to carry it if need be. Oh and I may get crap for this but mechanical disc breaks are a must. You can repair them easily especially if something goes wrong, with hydraulic if you run out of fluid you got no brakes. On a side note if you have a GOOD set of mechanical brakes any benefit over them is just splitting hairs and work just as well for all practical purposes.


I love my dads Trek Hybrid and yes we have done some crazy double track on it but thats just going out being dumb. It is not designed for the abuse. For urban stuff it would be all you need, going down trails, paths, yards, steps, off road if you need it. Just know the bike isnt a Mountain Bike and its chance of failing goes way up.
 
#13 ·
Apart from my SUV, I have a Diamondback Mountain Bike and a Dahon Foldable as my secondary BOV. I worked overseas 2/3 of my time, therefore my Dahon Foldable is stored aboard in my overseas office together with my other BOB.

Things to go with a bike may be: spare tube, tube replacement tool, punctual repairs, front and rear lights, bell, speedometer, a travel rack, a good lock, water bottle plus holder, portable air pump, bike repair tools, helmet etc.

A would say a reasonable good MTB should have a pair of good brakes, 27 speeds to allow one to climb hills, ride on dirt tracks and also run smoothly on flat metal roads with reasonable speed, rigid or suspension fork etc.

Hybrid are more for road actually, with a different gear ratio, frame, wheelset (diameter), tyres and tyre width as compared to MTB and Road bikes - choose wisely as to what kind of terrain your route may be.

Lastly do choose the right bike frame for your Body/Height.

Train and practice with the bike.......biking is serious business when u actually load it up and carrying a BOB.

Hope my limited knowledge helps, Cheers!
 
#14 ·
I'm a year now into a Specialized brand XL frame hybrid .

fits my long legged self very well...my typical riding is campground fun..so some country 2 lanes to get into a state/national park or other area where we're gonna get off-road.
I'm 54 so while I ride with my son/son-in-law.. I am not as aggressive on the trails...so my hybrid tires help me be more efficient on pavement and yet the bike can handle what I am willing to risk on the trails.

I keep a pump strapped to the tube, a bag of tools, mounted on the rear rack, a comfy seat and I will be upgrading to flipper gear shifts this Fall season instead of the grip shifts that it came with.

definitely avoid the moutain bikes that have just ridiculous suspension platforms that you can't lock out...they suck so much energy that you'll feel like you've lost 30% of your strength and stamina trying to ride the things.

lastly..shop used..there are tons of good Treks and others out there that have very little use on them going for cheap.
 
#15 ·
I have set up my old cyclocross bike with tires that are smooth in the center with side knobs. It is an excellent compromise, as it is a good bit faster than a mountain bike on the road, and it is fairly off-road capable. It won't climb the steep stuff, but that is going to be walked in a bug out anyway (as it makes no sense to wear yourself out simply to 'clean' a climb, and you will be taking a good bit of weight with you). I am not currently carrying it in my daily driver, but will do so if things begin to get a bit more dicey.
 
#16 ·
Get a nice pair of bike shorts, they doin't have to be the skin tight ones like pro riders and foot ball players have. They make baggy ones that look like normal shorts or pants. I would buy the mesh inners if I were you they don't get hot like the others.
 
#20 ·
just a few off the top of my head.....Santa Cruz, Turner, Ritchey, Gary Fisher, cannondale.

GT, Haro, Giant, Mongosse etc thge list goes on these guys sold out to the company called Pacific ( I belive ) aka Huffy over seas company. its sad they were good bikes back in the day, but like I mentioned above There are a few proud MADE IN THE GOD D@!& U.S.EFFIN A......
 
#18 ·
honestly? i would consider the 29er mtb and just but some good sized road type tires on it ... or at least a hardpack tire on it ...

that would be the best all around bike for the buck ... take a look at most messengers and the bikes they ride which are all in the city .. a majority of them are MTB's ...

with a mtb you get a stouter rim that can handle some bumps and jarrings ... you get a larger tire for a little more stability if the need arises .. you do loose a little top speed (ok a fair amount depending on your condition) but you gain a lot in durability ...

and honestly if you are thinking about it from a survival standpoint .. a single speed would be much more fitting ... with less efficiency loss that happens through the gear changing mech's .. to a little less weight ... plus the old saying of the less moving parts the better ...

for any bike though i would recommend getting side saddle packs or a front and rear rack ... fenders would be nice but not really needed ..
 
#19 ·
From a survival stand point the reliability and weight reduction of a single speed just simply cant be beaten. If you consider a 29er they have many strengths but just test one first since height and proportions can make a big diff on the trail. Just like anything on a bike ride it first, it maybe the best but you just may not like it. I am thinking my next bike will be a single speed maybe a 29er with mechbrakes (as always). The one issue with the 29er is that if you need to scavenge parts the 26er is much more available and their geometry is different.
 
#25 ·
Giant is not in the same category as Mongoose and Huffy (someone lumped them together above), they are not a $99 walmart bike. Giant mas made and still does make parts for many of the other real bike brands. Yes they are made overseas but are not crap like walmart bikes.
There is no hybrid mountain bike, there are hybrid and mountain, they are similar, mountain is typically a 26" wheel where hybrid are typically 29", the frames are very similar.
I have a giant hybrid and a specialized mountain bike. My specialized is from 1996, I bought it from a guy who rode the local mountain bike trails and it was muddy and scratched. I cleaned it up and rode it to work a few times. My Giant I bought new, wife and I both have them. I put handlebar bags on both have things like a toolkit, spare tubes, maps, etc that stay with the bikes at all times.
Our hybrids are heavy, you don't want to have to pick them up and carry them. My mountain bike is nice and light but the knobby tires really kill me on pavement.
I have a couple trailer bikes (trail-a-bike is the most known brand), the hybrid handles them better being larger and heavier than the mountain bike, less tail wagging the dog there.
Don't bother with rear suspension, its only useful in extreme downhill racing. Front suspension doesn't suck up your energy as bad as rear but i still wish mine had lock outs on it for times when you really want to get on it.
 
#28 ·
I agree with that even GT makes 1 good bike still the I-drive and I think it is still made here in the US. who knows Hans Rey could be building them :D:. But regardless where they are made "most" of the mid to lower high end bikes are all the same material just a different sticker on the frame and a miss match of parts..even pro rodies just about all ride the same frame they just put stickers of who ever pays them, thats with any sports I guess.

I guess we can have this battle all night bottom line IMHO and I'm sure that the other bikers here (rode,mtb) will agree that for mid range bikes you can get a good bike for around 400-600$ where ever it was made. but I'm bias to the santa cruz heckler because I have one and love it..:p
 
#29 ·
http://www.redlinebicycles.com/bikes/mtb/2012-monocog-flight-29er

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gravity/g29ss.htm

the redline would be my main recc for anyone considering just buying one .. the second one is a cheaper one but the brakes i would ditch and get a better set ...

for the bike you linked .. just glancing at the components ... i would honestly not bother ... esp the front fork ...

for durability a good solid frame is best ... chromoloy over aluminum when taken care of ... it will at least bend some when you wipe out .. where as aluminum will eventually stress and just crack ...

with any suspension on a bike you loose power .. the front fork you loose power each time you pedal down with a foot ... esp when climbing a hill and standing up on the pedals ... that is why most good suspension forks have a lock out on them ...
 
#30 ·
Ya you gotta be a hipster nut to want to ride fixie, especially in the city. I guess this would be my SHTF bike set up would be a rigid or a hardtail.

Shtf build for hardtail.
Lockable front fork that can take either rim or mechanical disc brakes with matching 26er wheels, a lightweight durable frame or maybe chromoly(cheaper) for durability..depends what you think you will need, good mtb tires, single speed with sprockets, and all extra wear and tare parts.

For a shtf and had the money I would look at what surly has been doing, the pugsley, black ops pugley, and moonlander. They are off roading monster bulletproof trucks!! check out their reviews and specs....crazy....

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#31 ·
the pugslies are nice for sure but my only reason for not recomending them is the fact that the tires are extremely rare ... and you will not find them just hanging up in a shop someplace when you are 'browsing' about once all h@ll has broke loose...
 
#32 ·
Several years ago I purchased a Trek 820 and some type of diamond back off an individual for a crisp hundred dollar bill. One of the best purchases I have ever made.

My mother owns a nice Giant Road bike that she bought at a bike store. $400, I think. While the bike itself is still nice, My Trek 870 that I beat the snout out of and DO NOT take care of is so much smoother and handles nicely. If i'm not riding it she forgoes her Giant to take out my Trek. And when we ride, who ever is on the Trek, pedals less.

I will be making a new bike purchase next year and it will probably be a Trek. Or a Specialized bike. My SIL has one and it weighs next to nothing!


And do not get me wrong, the Giant is a nice bicycle. I just love the Trek.
 
#35 ·
Very good point about not being able to find much 29" stuff after SHTF, I didn't really think about that.

So for straight SHTF purposes I'd go with a 26"

BTW I have a 20+ year old Trek that is still going strong with all the original components, it has new tires, seat, grips and pedals is all. It has no suspension which is perfect for running around town, this will be my primary bike post SHTF.