I'm hoping to get some feedback on my first mountain bike in about 15 years. I'm mostly a recreational road rider, but am interested in buying a mountain bike. My oldest is almost 7 and becoming pretty skilled on his 16" bike and I think it'd be good for us to go out together, first on fire roads/doubletrack and on some easy single track. We live in the Fruita area, so there's not that much 'easy' singletrack, though. I'll think about buying him his first 20" mountain bike this summer.
So I'm thinking of what to buy for myself. I don't like spending a ton of money. My current road bike is a 10 year old surly pacer that's kind of a jack of all trades bike. I'm thinking of the goblin and the goblin evolution. I suspect the evolution would better match my riding style, but I'm really looking to be as economical as possible. I have to balance my thriftiness with the fact that I'm a big guy, 6'4" 245#. As a new mountain biker, what differences would I notice between the trail and xc bikes? I've so far focused my efforts on thinking about the goblin and evolution, is it worth thinking about the seeker?
So I'm thinking of what to buy for myself. I don't like spending a ton of money. My current road bike is a 10 year old surly pacer that's kind of a jack of all trades bike. I'm thinking of the goblin and the goblin evolution. I suspect the evolution would better match my riding style, but I'm really looking to be as economical as possible. I have to balance my thriftiness with the fact that I'm a big guy, 6'4" 245#. As a new mountain biker, what differences would I notice between the trail and xc bikes? I've so far focused my efforts on thinking about the goblin and evolution, is it worth thinking about the seeker?