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Originally Posted by jeff parker
Gary Fishers are good bikes. Another choice in your budget is a Raleigh M80. That was what I was going to get before I decided to go full suspension. There have been some guided mountain bike tours of the new state park near San Antonio. Government Canyon? I can't remember the name, but it is a way to see the park before it's open to the general public.
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Government Canyon State Natural Area - its off of Gaum or Gaulm road. - there were 3 dates in January [the 17th, 24th & 31st] I'm not sure what future dates for mtn biking clinics may be out there, or if there will be any at all. but the reservation number for the January dates was 210-688-9055- perhaps whomever answers the phone might have more info. I'll ask around about future dates next time I see the folks who gave me the info in the first place.
my 2 cents on mtn biking: I started out mtn biking up in New England. I liked the challenge of it. I liked technical single track trails, especially the thrill of finding out that I wasn't dead yet. I also enjoyed cruising around old fire roads, climbing up mountains on a bike on a dirt path- you can get a lot further into the woods a lot faster that way- quicker access to breath taking vistas. I liked the smell of the trees and the dust and mesmerizing sound of the flywheel spinning. Then I hurt my back (separate incident)- and am basically afraid now to hop the logs and the rocks and the streams I used to enjoy. Well, that, and I moved down here to Texas where its a lot hotter. I have gone since I moved down here, but I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I used to.
After I hurt my back, I needed to rehab. I switched to road biking (after a period of non-activity, like walking), and because of the health benefits of that, I am in better shape now than I was while I mtn. biked. When I mtn biked, it seemed as though a little extra padding was sometime a bonus. now, its just extra weight. I think this year, I may try and shift back towards mtn biking, at least until it gets really hot. When I do, I'll focus more on taking my time, and leave the speed rush for the road
[I hit 43 MPH on my road bike in NJ 2 years ago
THAT was a rush] I think that I probably wont enjoy mtn biking as much down here- there aren't really any forests around that have babbling brooks running through them. For my [1st] honeymoon we packed up our camping gear and mountain bikes and drove up to Acadia NP in Maine (in October- BEAUTIFUL)- they have these "carriage roads" which are like glorified fire roads (actually part of roosevelts old estate?) that run up and down hills/mtns all over the island- a whole network that goes on and on for miles. That wasn't really Mtn biking- more like dirt road touring... but it was beautiful.
ok, ok, i'll shut up now