gang, i’m looking into an off road commuter bike or a mtb. something to have some fun with, and be able to run around my neighborhood shopping for groceries and the like. these would mostly be short trips, and also used for riding around and playing in snow and things like this.
it certainly doesn’t have to be fancy (read: i don’t want to spend alot of money), and my husband brought up the idea of pannier bags for the local market trips.
You probably don’t need to go full suspension (look into hardtails); that should save you a few dollars. It would be a lot easier to mount panniers as well.
Kitty - I agree with TrevorS about the Gary Fisher. I have a Gary Fisher MTB which I play in the snow/mud (BTW, call me in the winter - we’ll have some fun!) and get movies, etc.
Montgomery Cyclery carries them I think - they have models that are plenty reasonable
The Fisher Rig or the Bianchi SASS or PUSS, or GUSS
Single speeds are great for commuting and great off road as well (as long as you don’t live in the mountains where you have to climb for 4 miles at a time) You live in Ohio right? That’ll work. No mechanical difficulties and you can get back to concentrating on riding. “The best bike is the one that disappears when you ride” The simplicity of a single speed helps you get back to grass roots. If it gets to you too much, you can throw on a Rolloff or Nexus internally geared hub and still have a bomb-proof drivetrain with a few more gears.
The Rig - has 29" wheels which is a smart thing on single speeds (keeps you rolling better) AND for the commuter in you, a 29" rim is the same as a 700, so you could put cyclo-cross/hybrid, or even 25-23mm slicks on there if you wanted. Disc brakes also cool for commuting in all weather conditions.
The SASS and PUSS - The SASS is a fully chromed chromoly (comfy) frame spec’ed with silver stuff so it definately rates a 9.0 on the looks factor. Great bike. It comes rigid, but the frame is suspension corrected for an 80mm fork. If you threw on a good fork you’d still be under $1100. You’ll love the PUSS - it’s pink. availible as a frame or complete bike. This one’s super light and fast (alluminum). The GUSS comes with suspension as a complete bike
Fisher also has a possibly vaporware steel mountain bike with an eccentric bottom bracket, but outfitted with a multi-speed drive train. look for it in 06
Cyclo cross may not be too bad of an idea either, but it is hard to do real off-raoding with one.
Surley Cross-check - Chromoly frame, ugly and beefy. QBP has a great build kit that runs about $1400
Bianchi Axis - cool looks, well spec’ed, and super fast and fun to ride
'06 Lemond Poprad Disc - That’s right, lemond is coming out with a cross bike with discs… and it’s steel!! No skimping on parts either. very well done.
Dude, who are you? I agree that the Fisher makes cool bikes and the super caliber was a great one, but no bike brand is the end-all, hands-down greatest-best-for-everyone bike. There’s lots of cool stuff out there and just because you’re in love with your bike doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be just as happy on (gasp!) another bike. Some marketer is laughing his ass off at how tightly he has you wrapped around his finger.
Yup, done on purpose for going uphill! With the high hed tube, upright bars, etc.
Actually no… Fisher claims the “genesis geometry” has short chainstays to put more weight over the rear wheel for better climbing. They claim the “Genesis geometry” longer top tube places the rider farther behind the front wheel and improves descending.
Curiously both JHK and Willow Koerber (who now race for Fisher) climbed and descended better last year on their Litespeeds painted as Tomacs (with better results as well).
Dude, who are you? I agree that the Fisher makes cool bikes and the super caliber was a great one, but no bike brand is the end-all, hands-down greatest-best-for-everyone bike. There’s lots of cool stuff out there and just because you’re in love with your bike doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be just as happy on (gasp!) another bike. Some marketer is laughing his ass off at how tightly he has you wrapped around his finger.
Ya, Fisher is laughing is ass off. I’m riding my 2001 super caliber and checking ebay everyday to get a good deal on another new “old” one. Herbert and Pre-Owned bikes made the money off my first one.
My Caliber is as light as my P3. 
