Northern California - Sacramento guy with questions.

I'm fairly new to cycling, though not new to riding a bike.

I'm looking into getting a mountain bike, as they can be had at a cheaper cost then a road bike, from what I've seen. Then I'll get some nice road tires and start training to getting in shape for some easy flat rides in the area. I'm hoping to get to do a circumnavigation of Tahoe at the end of September.

At any rate, my main question is, would a mountain bike be suitable as a hybrid mountain/road bike? Is there anything I can do to make it a comfortable bike for short distance road rides? (I'm assuming something like 50 miles is a short distance.)

If not, I'll just have to make due until I can get the funds together for a entry level road bike, and for go any rides until that point.

Thanks!
Chris

How much are you budgeting? You can buy good used road bikes on craigslist for pretty cheap. If you can spend more, I just saw a new Specialized road bike on sale at an LBS for $700. I'm thinking you'll probably spend the same if you start off with a mtn bike then outfit it like a road bike.

At this moment, I can't spend more then $200.00 on a bike, and even $200.00 is pushing it. I'm not getting a serious bike for a bit. I was looking at buying a mountain bike on e-bay and basically just changing out tires and MAYBE gears if I needed to. I just want something at this moment that will allow me to ride comfortably and build back up leg muscle and endurance. A $600.00+ road bike is currently out of the question until I can get rid of some garbage and free up funds. (I'm looking to see my X-box, Playstation and some transcription equipment that I have....)

If a mountain bike can't comfortably be used as a road bike, I'm just outta luck for a bit. (Or, perhaps I can get a buddy of mine to loan me a bike for a while till I get something...)

To make my wife's old mtb more comfy I got cheap road type tires from Performance for about $8/ea. She never goes off-road so now she doesn't have to deal with the "buzz" from knobby tires.

Other than that, maybe a suspension type seat post like you see on many hybrids. That should make that $100-$150 craigslist mtb comfy for about $100 more or so.

But if you are on a tight budget and you aren't too picky you can find mtb's for as little as $50 on craigslist.com. and with smooth tires it's be a good commuter/training bike for the time being.

Good luck!

To make my wife's old mtb more comfy I got cheap road type tires from Performance for about $8/ea. She never goes off-road so now she doesn't have to deal with the "buzz" from knobby tires.

Other than that, maybe a suspension type seat post like you see on many hybrids. That should make that $100-$150 craigslist mtb comfy for about $100 more or so.

But if you are on a tight budget and you aren't too picky you can find mtb's for as little as $50 on craigslist.com. and with smooth tires it's be a good commuter/training bike for the time being.

Good luck!

Yeah, I'm currently looking into two bikes right now for $110. One for me, one for the wife. The only issue that I can think of would be that they are suspension bikes... <shrug> I figure I'll swap out to road tires, and MAYBE change out the bars to something with drops.... Maybe. Then get in shape and wait till the funds come in for a good road bike. A guy I know suggested Bianchi as a good brand, what are some other nice brands for road bikes?

Hey Chris. I'm also a Chris from Sacramento, and I use a FS mtb on the road. I get a lot of weird looks from roadies, but I say hell yeah to the idea! It's not as fast or efficient but I like to ride good distances with it (25-30 miles regularly). Great workout, and I can hit the trail every couple of weeks. Heavy hybrid. :D

As for finding a full suspension bike for $110 though... UGH! Run away (my humble opinion). The guy would probably pay you $110 to take it away. My suggestion: Search craigslist starting Friday afternoon and I'm sure by Sunday evening you will have the most bike for your buck. I always see ridiculous deals on the weekends, you just have to jump on it and not wait.

Good luck.

By coincidence, I'm also a Chris from Sacramento (and I know of another one who frequents the SS/FG boards...). Anyway, when you say a circumnavigation of Tahoe do you mean on the road or on the Tahoe Rim Trail? Because if you mean on the road, the best bet is a road bike.

Agree with the other Chris that craigslist is a good place to look. You may see a nice older road bike that would meet your budget.

Hey Chris. I'm also a Chris from Sacramento, and I use a FS mtb on the road. I get a lot of weird looks from roadies, but I say hell yeah to the idea! It's not as fast or efficient but I like to ride good distances with it (25-30 miles regularly). Great workout, and I can hit the trail every couple of weeks. Heavy hybrid. :D

As for finding a full suspension bike for $110 though... UGH! Run away (my humble opinion). The guy would probably pay you $110 to take it away. My suggestion: Search craigslist starting Friday afternoon and I'm sure by Sunday evening you will have the most bike for your buck. I always see ridiculous deals on the weekends, you just have to jump on it and not wait.

Good luck.

Two things: What is wrong with a full suspsension bike? Also, this is two bikes for $110.00. I.E. $55.00 a bike. Are full suspension bikes really that bad? I know another guy that wants to unload two Bridgestone MTBs with Shimano 500LX running gear for $300.00, would this be a better offer? (Though $300 might be a bit more then I want to spend.. He will give me one for $150 if I want though.)

Thanks for all the responses guys. I already feel at home here, and I don't even have a bike! Next up... training for the 72 mile Tahoe run, then training for a Century run... Maybe I'll be ready in a year or so! :D

By coincidence, I'm also a Chris from Sacramento (and I know of another one who frequents the SS/FG boards...). Anyway, when you say a circumnavigation of Tahoe do you mean on the road or on the Tahoe Rim Trail? Because if you mean on the road, the best bet is a road bike.

Agree with the other Chris that craigslist is a good place to look. You may see a nice older road bike that would meet your budget.

It is the road... I didn't realize the trail was a mountain bike trail. Most of the guys in my office doing this run are all roadies. So, yeah, the trail is out of the question. So, it looks like a 72 mile road run! I might rent a bike for the Tahoe trip, if I don't have a road bike by then! :D

Two things: What is wrong with a full suspsension bike? Also, this is two bikes for $110.00. I.E. $55.00 a bike. Are full suspension bikes really that bad?

Full suspension bikes are great. But a FS bike worth a darn is going to cost you quite a bit more than $55, unless the FS bike was just stolen out of a garage and the guy rrrreally needs a fix like oh RIGHT NOW (?), YIKES!!! It's gotta be a MAGNA or some other department store fodder for $55. I'm just saying that a junk bike with 1000's of moving parts is a bad idea. You want to ride it right? ;) A well-built hardtail like a bridgestone would probably be a better call if you plan on upgrading before tomorrow. That's all.

Full suspension bikes are great. But a FS bike worth a darn is going to cost you quite a bit more than $55, unless the FS bike was just stolen out of a garage and the guy rrrreally needs a fix like oh RIGHT NOW (?), YIKES!!! It's gotta be a MAGNA or some other department store fodder for $55. I'm just saying that a junk bike with 1000's of moving parts is a bad idea. You want to ride it right? ;) A well-built hardtail like a bridgestone would probably be a better call if you plan on upgrading before tomorrow. That's all.

Ahh... I see what you mean. I'm always wary of sales on CL for that exact reason. The guy had two Mongoose (I think dept. store) full suspension bikes for sale for $110. Which would get my wife and I on the road right now... while I get fitted and then find a road bike in the near future... I'll have to look into this a little closer.

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/371578363.html

Dude! I have your $55 deal beat already...
:D

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/371578363.html

Dude! I have your $55 deal beat already...
:D

I've got you beat already. E-mail into the guy and waiting answer as we speak. :rolleyes: :p

Today would be a great day to get started... Man! I'm trapped looking out of my 7th floor office window... :(

Good luck. A good deal you will find.

All that suspension weighs more, and you're pushing that extra weight around, when you shouldn't need it on pavement. If you really need to absorb the bumps, get a suspension seatpost.
I have a Specialized Nimbus Armadillo 26 X 1.5 tire on the back of my recumbent, and love it. It's good flat protection, and rolls along nicely. They are $35 each, though.
Instead of changing out your handlebars, get some bar ends that are curved and put them on the flat bar. This will give you two more hand positions for longer rides.

and MAYBE change out the bars to something with drops.... Maybe. Then get in shape and wait till the funds come in for a good road bike. A guy I know suggested Bianchi as a good brand, what are some other nice brands for road bikes?

If this is just an interim/get back in shape bike I'd skip the extra expense and hassle of putting a drop-type bar on the mtb. Although you can tell them it's an old Cannondale! hehe! j/k! The trigger shifters may pose a problem when trying to mount them cleanly on drop bars along with brake levers.

I'm sure you can find a decent front suspension bike in your price range and just go to town with that for a while until you can afford a good road bike that suits your needs.

As for good road bikes... you have so many options... Trek, Specialized, LeMond, Fuji, Novara (REI brand), Bianchi, Giant, etc... What I did was ride everything I could and went with what felt best and was in my price range. I ended up with a Specialized Allez Elite.

Good luck in your search!

Are you talking about these bikes?

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/371086838.html

I would suggest that you look for something with NO SUSPENSION for the type of riding you will be doing. The bikes listed above, and any x-mart dual suspension for that matter, will be heavy as a tank and built very cheap. You get what you pay for I guess.

Be patient and keep searching CL for the right deal to come along. I found a nice early 90's Specialized Crossroads (my errand bike) for $95.

Ideally, you should be looking for a bike with 700mm or 27" wheels.

Good luck!

Mountain bikes with slick tires would be the "faster" option as compared to most hybrid bikes because of the sportier position one has to use ( can be less "comfortable" though). However this is only true for real mountain bikes, not for the walmart junk. Suspension is completely useless on the road, weighs extra, needs maintenance and good suspension costs. In your pricerange any bike with suspension is very likley more trouble than you would like. Stay clear of suspension bikes - it would be great if you could find a hardtail mountain bikes with rigid forks. Fat tires will be very comfortable anyhow.

If you decide to do the loop around Lake Tahoe, be sure to go clockwise -- it is a couple of miles shorter due to the fact that you are on the side of the road closer to the Lake!