My bike is a 1998 Kona Fire Mountain with an 18" frame, which I believe is the equivelant to a 17" for most companies. I'm 19 and 6'2", so when I bought it roughly 6 years ago I was significantly shorter, and the bike was big for me; I bought it because I knew I could grow into it.
Well this year I'm getting more into mountain biking since I have numerous friends that now ride it too. I already bought new forks for it (RS Judy SL), and have been planning to upgrade to a 9 speed setup. Nothing spectacular, but something like Shimano Deore. Derailleur, shifter, cheap back wheel, and cassette wouldn't put me much over $200 if I played my cards right (not necessarily with Deore, I haven't priced that out).
Well back to the point. The frame is small for me, I have been told it even looks small for me, but I'm not exactly in a position to just go out and get a new bike, and anything in the budget I'd like to have would be a downgrade to me for the bike I already have. But what's weird to me is that, maybe it's because I've had and loved it for so long, but it doesn't feel akward riding it.
The only problem I have on the bike is the sometimes my neck and back hurt because I'm stretched out so much, or am leaning low compared to my ass on the seat. I considered riser bars, but after talking to someone at the LBS he said it would help a bit, but not completely. So I'm even thinking maybe the combo of a shorter stem and higher bars would help, at least to elevate my upper body.
I'm not a hardcore XC rider, I ride a few times a week if I'm lucky (I'm more of a BMXer anyways), and don't race. I'm thinking right now that if I got a new bar/stem combo, I'd feel better. I love the feel of my bike already, it's so comfortable and I can handle it so well.
Would a new bike really be worth it, spending $600 or more (anything less feels like a downgrade) instead of just trying to play with what I have. The bar/stem combo would cost me less than $50 since I plan on getting just sale parts, weight doesn't matter much to me at this point. I planned on putting roughly $200 into the bike anyways for the 9 speed upgrade, should I put that towards a new bike instead? I know either way I'll be upgrading parts as time goes on, so is a new bike worth the investment?
Sorry for the long post, I felt like being kind of elaborate.
Well this year I'm getting more into mountain biking since I have numerous friends that now ride it too. I already bought new forks for it (RS Judy SL), and have been planning to upgrade to a 9 speed setup. Nothing spectacular, but something like Shimano Deore. Derailleur, shifter, cheap back wheel, and cassette wouldn't put me much over $200 if I played my cards right (not necessarily with Deore, I haven't priced that out).
Well back to the point. The frame is small for me, I have been told it even looks small for me, but I'm not exactly in a position to just go out and get a new bike, and anything in the budget I'd like to have would be a downgrade to me for the bike I already have. But what's weird to me is that, maybe it's because I've had and loved it for so long, but it doesn't feel akward riding it.
The only problem I have on the bike is the sometimes my neck and back hurt because I'm stretched out so much, or am leaning low compared to my ass on the seat. I considered riser bars, but after talking to someone at the LBS he said it would help a bit, but not completely. So I'm even thinking maybe the combo of a shorter stem and higher bars would help, at least to elevate my upper body.
I'm not a hardcore XC rider, I ride a few times a week if I'm lucky (I'm more of a BMXer anyways), and don't race. I'm thinking right now that if I got a new bar/stem combo, I'd feel better. I love the feel of my bike already, it's so comfortable and I can handle it so well.
Would a new bike really be worth it, spending $600 or more (anything less feels like a downgrade) instead of just trying to play with what I have. The bar/stem combo would cost me less than $50 since I plan on getting just sale parts, weight doesn't matter much to me at this point. I planned on putting roughly $200 into the bike anyways for the 9 speed upgrade, should I put that towards a new bike instead? I know either way I'll be upgrading parts as time goes on, so is a new bike worth the investment?
Sorry for the long post, I felt like being kind of elaborate.
neaky:
