When I started bicycling in the middle of the summer of 2007 I only had one bicycle. It was the bicycle my parents bought me when I was 14 or 15 years old. A Schwinn Traveler. I had it hanging in my garage and one day I decided I needed to start working out again so i filled the tires with air and went for a bike ride. I was really enjoying bicycling but the weather was getting colder and I was wondering how I was going to continue riding during the winter. Plus I knew a road bike wouldn’t work for winter riding. So I went to my local bike dealer and asked them which bike they recommended.

The salesman recommended the 2008 Specialized Hardrock XC Disc. I really wanted disc brake (because they look really cool - I know that isn’t a good reason but that’s who I am). They recommend the bike because it was in my price range, it has an aluminum frame so it should hold up during winter riding, it had disc brakes which work better in the snow because the braking system is up and out of the snow and it has front suspension.

Now I have to tell you about a stupid decision I made. The salesman recommended a 17 inch frame for me. I rode the bike and I liked it. But I also bought a bike rack that connects to the spare tire of my Jeep. I put the bike rack on my Jeep when I got home and tried to put my new bike on the rack. The new bike didn’t fit on the bike rack. Plus when I looked at the bike it just looked small (It may have had something to do with it not fitting on the bike rack). So I took the bike back and got the next size up - 19 inch frame. This was a mistake. I should have stayed with the 17 inch frame. I now know that they make a bar that goes across from the handle bars to the seat post just for such situations.

Now it’s time to take the bike for it’s first ride. At this time I was riding LRT trail in Eden Prairie. I was riding my road bike 20 to 22 miles at a time with little difficulties. I was amazed at how much harder this bike was to ride. I could barely ride it 6 miles the first time I tried it. I thought something was wrong with the bike. I filled the tires up to there maximum air pressure (80 psi) but that had little effect. I just assumed that mountain bikes were just that much more work than a rode bike.

I bought the bike in the middle of October of 2007. And I rode the bike at least every other day and worked my way up to riding 20 miles at a time. I would have to say I was very happy with the bike. I rode it all winter, assuming the temperature (windchill) was above 5 degrees.

Then in the spring I went for a bike ride with one of my friends. I assumed he would have a hard time keeping up with me. I had been riding all winter and I was back to riding 20 miles at a time (because of the snow and cold I was riding 12 to 15 miles at a time during the winter). When we went for a ride I couldn’t keep up with him. I was embarrassed and couldn’t figure out why I was so slow. I eventually found out it was the bike. It is very heavy and has cheap components. I guess you get what you pay for.

One problem I had with the bike was that I kept braking spokes in the back. The second time I brought the wheel in to get new spokes they said they would upgrade the wheel for me. I guess they had problems with the rear wheel on this bike. I haven’t had any trouble with the bike or rear wheel since it was upgraded.

I feel that overall I’m satisfied with the 2008 Specialized Hardrock XC Disc. Yes it is heavy and I cannot keep up with my friends when I ride it. But that wasn’t why I bought it. I bought it as a reasonably prices mountain bike to ride during the winter. And it has served that purpose well. Plus I like to ride it when I’m riding alone on the trails by my house. I have to work much harder on this bike and I use it for training so when I do ride with other people on my road bike or other mountain bike it’s easier to keep up.

But if you are looking for good mountain bike for off roading or are riding with other people (espcailly if they are as competitive as some of my friends), I would not recommend this bike. It’s just too heavy and that makes it too dificult to keep up with people.