I’ve been looking at a mountain bike for a few weeks, mostly just kicking tires in the shop, but today I took one out on a ride, almost the same ride we did last week (which is good for comparison). Last week I rode a friend’s Specialized S-Works Elite (from 2005) and this week I took out the Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp. They are similiar, but not identical. Least of all there are several thousand dollars separating the bikes. I like how Specialized paints their test bikes a very ugly aquamarine colour — hard to miss them on the trail, surely that’s what they want.
I have to admit that at my fitness level and experience level (both moderate to low right now) I had a hard time telling these bikes apart in a practical way. The S-Works was decidedly better in many detectable ways, but the bigger question is – are these ways material to how I want to ride?
I really started out thinking I was going to purchase a Santa Cruz Mountain Bike, specifically the Heckler or even the Superlight; but the Specialized bikes seem to offer a lot more at a given price. Too bad, since I really would rather by a bike from the local factory. (Not that Specialized is far away – they are just up in Morgan Hill – so I’ve been told.)
Stay tuned for more tales of me getting re-aquatinted with Mountain Biking.
If money was no object, I’m sure I’d buy something built to that level, but I think I can manage with the mid-level kit on the Stumpjumper Comp FSR.
Some photos and a map follow.