Mountain bike or Road bike - Training

Eeyore

01/08/2008 at 17:47

Can anyone help me choose a bike for cross training. I am torn between a mountain bike or a road bike. I will be using the bike to cycle to work maybe twice a week, a distance of about 17 mile on roads and good cycle paths but I like the idea of off road cycling as well. Any suggestions ?

M...eldy

pirate

01/08/2008 at 17:48

get yerself a hybrid

Eeyore

01/08/2008 at 17:52

Is a hybrid the same as a town and trail bike I hve seen on the 'Halfords' site ?

eM.milou

pirate

01/08/2008 at 18:19

The Specialised cyclo cross bike is a good one. Not as thin as road tires and not like riding a tractor on the road as like a mtb.....

eM.milou

pirate

01/08/2008 at 18:21

what's your price bracket?

eM.milou

pirate

01/08/2008 at 18:23

Hubby has this one and it'll take some abuse over multi terrain

Edited: 01/08/2008 at 18:23

Tom Tom T. Barrow

01/08/2008 at 19:49

I've got one of these and it copes with mild offroading but the wheels and gear ratios of a bike this size dont suit proper cycle-cross.

The flip side is a bike with smaller wheels and suspension is less effiecient so it will feel like more effort getting to work.

That said I get overtaken by the cycle "hardcore" on their mountin bikes everyday

cougie

pirate

01/08/2008 at 21:27

I would go for road really - they can take off road pretty well unless you do serious off roading.

Fell Liker

01/08/2008 at 22:06

And I'd go for a mountain bike, something like the Specialized HR XC as it's a lightweight, but tough bike. If you're cycling to work, you'll be carrying kit and I feel so much more stable when riding my mountain bike (not got it yet!), plus it's more stable when riding over potholes and on wet roads.

popsider

01/08/2008 at 23:21

On the road the most expensive MTB will be rubbish compared to a cheap road bike, off road the best road bike will be rubbish compared to a MTB. If you really want to go MTBing on it then there's only one choice - but 17 miles (is this one way) is a fair commute and you really wouldn't want to make it any harder by doing it on a MTB. I've actually got a specialized HR without any suspension and I absolutely hate it on the road - it's just so much slower for the same effort. Either way for commuting mudguards are pretty much essential - or at least once you've had them you wouldn't commute without.

Eeyore

02/08/2008 at 13:37

eM.milou : I only wanted to spend around £300, a bit limited on choice as the 'bikescheme', as far as I understand it, only allows you to purchase from 'Halfords'.

popsider : the 17 miles is one way, total 34 mile each day, only planning to use the bike for this twice a week and probably not at all during the winter months!

Sounds like I should start with a road bike and get an MTB at a later date if I am still interested in going off road.

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