Road Cycling - Mountain vs Road?

Hi all,
first off I'd like to say, yes, I am a newbie and I have questions about what bike I should buy, but I'm not asking about which brand to buy (i've seen several posts from other fellow newbies who are wondering about what bike to buy, and I've seen others get frustrated with such a question since it's rather vague, and i don't want to upset anyone either... I just want some friendly advice is all )

That being said, I do have a dilema about what bike to buy. My dilema is this: I know what I want to do on a bike, and i've been debating between a mountain and a road, but I'm not sure what's truly is going to fit my needs. I mean, there are so many different types of bikes out there. What I want to be able to do with my bike is ride the bike trails (paved) and hopefully commute to work, etc, but I don't want to be restricted to just roads in case i want/need to go off road for some reason. Also, i'm partly intimidated by road bikes because I've never had a one and am more used to a mountain bike style. I'm also pretty sure I don't want a hybrid. Just personal preferance I guess.

I've been recommended by my LBS that I could just get a mountain bike and get slimmer tires on it to be able to go on and off roads alright. My question is is this common? Do others out there do this (commute on a mountain bike)? Does it work well, or am I going to be disappointed because I'd rather have a faster bike that I can ride for longer distances? I've read about others who have bought mountain bikes and then later regretting it after awhile because they've said "in retrospect i should have gotten a roadie", and I don't want to drop money on a bike that i'll "outgrow" in a few months. But I also know road bikes are more expensive, and I don't know if i have the funds for that either.

Does anyone out there have advice for my bike dilema? Is a mountain bike what I'm really looking for, or do I want a "roadie"? Does anyone have and advice/feedback from their own experiences with similar situations? All input is helpful for I want to get a bike as soon as possible but without rushing into it. (i'm getting so anxious!!)

Thanks all!!

I've heard a few times that if you have to ask, "you should probably get a mountain bike."

no, i would say that if youre undecided... get a road bike. theres a higher chance you'll put more riding time in

all of my friends who started with mtb bikes are now riding road

Yep. That's my dilema. I've heard different things. My friend who's been biking forever swears by the road bike and recommends that, but others have recommended mtn. But I don't want to get the wrong bike and be upset with it in 3 months. Also, there are TONS of paved trails around where I live and i'm super anxious to explore them and ride them a lot. That's why I'm worried about in the future wanting a road bike, but maybe not right now. Hmmmm, just so confused!!

What kind of offroading might you want to be doing? Are we talking tight rocky and rooted singletracks, bouncing off boulders and doing five foot drops? Or are we talking some moderate unpaved and light trails? If it's the latter and you want a bike that can handle long distance and fast road riding as well, then you may want to consider a cyclocross bike. This is a bike that's primarily set up like a roadbike but has accomodations for wider knobbier (although not as wide and knobby as pure MTB) tyres, use cantilever brakes instead of road calipers and are geared a bit lower than a roadbike. The frame is usually a bit beefier and a tad heavier than a road racing bike though.

I started on a mountainbike riding trails and after 1 year I convert it to slick tyres riding hybrid and now I ended up with a roadbike. All my friends I know took the same path.

I'm not saying you'll regret buying a mountainbike later, hell if I could afford both I'll keep both. Go with your gut feeling, both riding are fun in thier own way.

Reason I stop mountainbiking

1. Hv to transport bike to the nearest trail.
2. Need company coz its not a great idea to ride alone in tropical forest.
3. Car need washing coz of sweat mud and all other things from me and the bike.
4. After ride being half dead still have to wash my bike before bringing it back to my apartment.

Things I miss about mountainbiking

1. Fresh unpoluted air.
2. No worries from idiotic motorist crashing onto me.
3. DOWNHILL!

Reason I took up roadbike

1. I can ride off from my apartment (even century ride)
2. I can go alone, anywhere anytime that fit my schedule
3. I can go any distant I like coz I can buy water along the way while mountainbiking your limit is the watersupply you brought.
4. Distance you can ride really really far.

These are only my opinion but I can tell you both has thier share of fun you won't regret getting either of them, if you have the space and money, get both!

I've been using a CX bike for the past 4 years and it's great! I have slicks on it now so I use it mostly for road but for light off road use I don't hesitate to dive off the road and hit the trails. My CX bike has probably seen more trail use than the mountain bike everybody buys (unless you actuallt go MTBing). I have an old Miyata MTB that I use for the nasty offroad stuff but if it's dry I usually just use my cyclocross. Look into the cyclocross forum and ask those guys gow versatile a cyclocross bike can be. It may be right up your alley.

Here is my situation, and the path I took. I think it is somewhat similar to yours.

I moved out from my parents house at the beginning of this summer, and as I went, I borrowed my dad's MTB. Its a GT LTS-1 (full suspension, 26 lbs. Knobby Panaracer FireXC meats). My initial plan was to just use it to get my legs and respiratory system in some kind of shape, and hopefully find some fun trails (dirt) to ride around my apartment. I have no bike rack, so I'm forced to ride to and from my trails, which is just fine with me. One thing this transit time did to me though is turn me onto road riding. I would find myself enjoying the transit more than the dirt.

At this point, I ride the MTB full road, except for one route I do (It takes me over a dirt trail that I could never hack on my road bike. The trail is maybe 1/4 mile and it is mandatory in the path of the ride. I will miss it dearly). One of my favorite rides is from my apartment, to a canyon...up it, and back. I think I'm in the best shape I've ever seen myself in, and I am constantly getting smoked by guys on road bikes. I see myself as missing out on a ton of efficiency.


Unfortunately, my situation does differ in a huge way from yours...in that I can go back to the MTB whenever I want to. That point shouldnt take away from the fact that I think I will enjoy the road bike more, and I think you should give one a chance. :D


**p.s. This all being said.....I dont own my roadie yet. Next week :rolleyes:

I have both and ride both... the roadbike is definately more convenient for me as I have to drive to any nearby trailheads for mtn. biking. I started out mountainbiking though and have no regrets. Its pretty fast with some high pressure slicks.

I'm also pretty sure I don't want a hybrid. Just personal preferance I guess.


Why are you so sure? From the situation you describe, the hybrid sounds perfect. What do you mean by "paved trails?" If you are talking about ashpalt trails thru a park, chances are very good some or most of the "pavement" will feel like crap on a road bike.


I don't want to be restricted to just roads in case i want/need to go off road for some reason.

Well, you absolutely canNOT take a road bike off road -- not even for a short ride. That limits you to a hybrid or mtn bike if you can only have one. By contrast, you CAN take a mountain bike on pavement, but you will not be happy trying to do "road riding" on it, such as monitoring and improving your speed/distance performance. I have seen plenty of mtn bikes struggling along roads and trying to ride like road bikes, and although stronger riders keep a good pace, they are seriously compromised.

Oh, and you can't use a hybrid for any serious offroad riding. My intro to "mountain biking" was a hybrid. I thought it was so great I could ride on dirt, but not until I got a full fat-tire bike did I come close to realizing what was possible offroad.



I've been recommended by my LBS that I could just get a mountain bike and get slimmer tires on it.

I did that in college. Had a nice Gary Fisher Supercaliber mtn bike and bought some slicks (treadless tires). Definitely improved my commutes to/from campus, but still a far cry from road bike performance. Switching tires would be a hassle, as would be owning two wheelsets (road/offroad).

One approach suggested has been to buy two bikes. Expensive. If you buy just one, maybe buy the hybrid now for $300-500, and after 6 months you may know better which way you are leaning for a second bike.

I'm a big guy, but I can ease (slowly) my road bike up and down curbs and ride on gravel without a problem (for the 1/2 mile I tried it, anyway). I don't really know what you'll find within city limits that's going to require a mountain bike...at least nothing you can't go around instead of over.

In my humble opinion, based on what you've said, I think you'll feel less inhibited on a road bike.

get a mountain or a road. not a hybrid. anyway you won't regret either the mtb or the road. both have their joys (though all i do is road now -- but occasionally i miss the mtb).

sd

Well, you absolutely canNOT take a road bike off road -- not even for a short ride. bike.

You have to define "off road". Light gravel trails can be handled by roadbikes even with high pressure 700Cx23 tyres. I do this quite often with my roadbike. If you're talking technical singletrack or pure rock gardens then you're correct. I also wouldn't advise you head out with a Trek 5200 and attempt "north shore riding". A roadbike can be ridden on hardpack, fairly smooth fields, and dirt paths fine. Remember this guy?

http://www.lancearmstrong.com/pics/2003/tdf03/st10-oln.jpg

And here's what happened when a ride leader on of my rides decided to take a shortcut through some woods... The blurriness is due to the camera shaking about while I was attempting to take the picture.

http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/albums/early_evening_escapade/PICT0013.jpg

This was on a light gravel and dirt trail much like that of an unpaved driveway or dirt road.

For now, get a mountain bike or a 700c hybrid. If you plan on off-roading the hybrid, just get knobby tires for the 700c rims. If you get a mtn bike and plan on using it for road, get some semi-slicks. Neither will be optimal for either task after that, but they will be more in the middle.

if you can afford it, buy a roadie as the main bike, and later buy an mtb to explore the other side of cycling. if you must have 1 bike, id go for a cyclocross. i wouldnt go hybrid... i suppose cyclo'x are hybrids.. but better built and better stigma

I think you could get by with a mtb. I ride mine on the road sometimes. I live on a dirt/gravel road so don't want a 23mm tire for that reason. I also have Banchi Volpe, it came with 32mm tires and I traded the clipless pedals for clipless one side only for when the dirt is wet and slipery. You might want to look at a Volpe and see if it is a good compromise for you too. Oh I've ridden 2 MS150s and another long ride on it so the 32mm tires aren't too much of a slow down.

Joe

I would say your LBS is backwards. Get the road bike and swap out the wheels and tires for the largest width tire on the most bombproof rim that you can fit in the frame. Make sure the stem is flipped for a rise initially for comfort. this will handle 99% of your riding with only minimal weight and performance penalties. When you realize that you really did want a road bike all along it will be relatively inexpensive to get a new wheelset and tires, and you will have a strong back up set for rain/winter commutes.

One more vote for a Cyclocross bike.
Not as heavy as MTB, 700c tires as opposed to
whatever size MTB's use.
I'd stay away from a hybrid (comfort bike?) almost everyone
I know who has bought one upgraded within 6 months or
started using it as a clothes rack.

Marty

I was in the same dilema. My thought was to spend less on a road bike initially and then buy a mtb later, instead of spending a lot on one bike. But after getting the road bike, I don't really have much desire to get the mtb.

You have to define "off road". Light gravel trails can be handled by roadbikes even with high pressure 700Cx23 tyres. I do this quite often with my roadbike. If you're talking technical singletrack or pure rock gardens then you're correct.

I guess I don't know what the difference between "off road" and on road is. I was assuming ANYTHING off of pavement was off road. Am I wrong? My plans are to hopefully commute. Around the Twin Cities is miles upon miles of VERY smooth paved trails (i blade on them tons, so they're awesome even for that). My biggest concern is if I can travel through light dirt, etc with a roadie? Can I go through grass? I feel like my needs are more distance than rough off roading.

Also, I don't know what a cyclecross is. Like a hybrid?

Thanks for all the wonderful advice. From what i'm seeing, it's a lot of personal preference. I'm also on a bidget, so I want to get the best bang for my buck and not have to "upgrade" in a few months because I'm not happy. How well does it work to get a roadie and change the tires that way?

Thanks again in advice for all the help :)

I'll side with the cyclocross choice as opposed to a hybred. Here are some examples of CX bikes:



http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/cross_bike_sideview(3).jpg

Proof that you can get dirty with a "road" bike.
http://images4.fotki.com/v44/photos/1/103404/506853/CX_11232003_449-vi.jpg

This thread has more pics:
cyclocross forum click here (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=54015&page=1&pp=25)

Now I want one even more than ever.

From what you describe, a road bike would be fine. I definately recommend a cyclocross bike over a hybrid. Here is one that I would like to have...

http://www.bianchiusa.com/axis.html

If that one is too expensive, try this...

http://www.bianchiusa.com/volpe.html


If your rich and want to make roadies and MTBers jealous...

http://www.sevencycles.com/bikes/cyclocross.html

Since you said you're budget minded, I would suggest you check out this brand:

Surly (http://www.surlybikes.com/main.html)

In particular the Cross Check and the Karate Monkey.

I would also suggest you look into a 29" wheel mountain bike like Surly's Karate Monkey. Most Mountain bikes have 26" wheels. 29" wheels are a relatively new thing in the MTB world ...they are basically the same size as a road bike wheel.

Good luck

I guess I don't know what the difference between "off road" and on road is. I was assuming ANYTHING off of pavement was off road. Am I wrong?

Technically you're right. However, there are varying degrees of offroad. A light gravel trail like this...

http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/albums/rattlesnake_lake/PICT0005.jpg

... is much different than rocky technical singletrack like this...

http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/images/cycling/rr/Tiger_Mountain-3Jul2001/Image9.jpg

When mountain bikers think about "off road", they're usually referring to the latter.



My plans are to hopefully commute. Around the Twin Cities is miles upon miles of VERY smooth paved trails (i blade on them tons, so they're awesome even for that). My biggest concern is if I can travel through light dirt, etc with a roadie? Can I go through grass? I feel like my needs are more distance than rough off roading.

A roadbike can handle riding through grass and light dirt trails if you get strong enough wheels however, a cyclocross frame combined with those same wheels will serve you better in that respect.



Also, I don't know what a cyclecross is. Like a hybrid?

Not quite... a cyclocross bike is a high-performance bike. It looks more like a roadbike than a hybrid.

Let's take Trek's lineup of bikes to illustrate the differences...

Trek 2300 road bikehttp://www.trekbikes.com/images/bikes/2004/road/large/2300.jpg (http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/road/2300.jsp)

Trek 7300FX hybrid bike http://www.trekbikes.com/images/bikes/2004/citybike/large/7300fx.jpg (http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/citybike/7300fx.jsp)

Trek XO 1 cyclocross bike http://www.trekbikes.com/images/bikes/2004/road/large/xo1.jpg (http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/road/xo1.jsp)

Tek 520 touring bike http://www.trekbikes.com/images/bikes/2004/road/large/520.jpg (http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/road/520.jsp)

Some things to note is the differences in geometry such as the comparative steepness of the seat angle and head angles and the chainstay lengths and wheelbase. All these affect handling characteristics and how the rider will be positioned on the bike. Notice that the touring bike and the hybrid have relatively longer wheelbase and chainstay lengths than the roadbike or the cyclocross bike. This makes the hybrid and touring bike more stable but they will also handle slower and can't corner as easily. Notice that the hybrid really puts the rider in an upright position, the tourer not as much so, the cyclocross even less and the road bike promotes for a very lowered riding position. All of these things determine comfort over longer rides with the roadbike being the most comfortable as the rider's weight is more evenly spread out across the frame. there are other attributes that differ including range of gearing, strength of frame, etc...



How well does it work to get a roadie and change the tires that way?

Bike frames and forks are usually designed to accomodate a specific range of tyre widths. You might find that with a roadbike, you can't get a wide enough tyre for your liking. A cyclocross or touring bike will have more tyre clearance.

Unless you have rough/technical singletrack trails right out of your backyard (or at least within a couple of miles) you will get far more use out of a roadbike. You can ride a roadbike on dirt.

Think about a cyclocross bike too. Then you can configure it as you go for either off road or road.

Think about a decent used bike too - especially if you go the MTB route, that way you won't regret it when you buy a roadbike a year later.

Al

[QUOTE=Corinnex99]I guess I don't know what the difference between "off road" and on road is. I was assuming ANYTHING off of pavement was off road. Am I wrong? My plans are to hopefully commute. Around the Twin Cities is miles upon miles of VERY smooth paved trails (i blade on them tons, so they're awesome even for that). My biggest concern is if I can travel through light dirt, etc with a roadie? Can I go through grass? I feel like my needs are more distance than rough off roading.
[QUOTE]

though a cyclocross bike is undoubtedly cool, and given your needs, will be ideal, as will a touring bike. a normal road bike will do you fine too, though; the differences aren't that huge between the three. yes, a road bike can do light dirt and grass. no matter what kinda road bike you get (cyclo/touring/racing) all you'll need is some bigger tires, maybe with a few knobbies, and u'll be fine.

sd

Again that iss why I said a semi road bike with lots of low gears slightly wider tires and brazons for water bottles, racks, and panners.

Joe

Hmm, now I'm starting to get tempted on the whole cyclocross bike thing...what's the rock bottom entry point for one of these? I'm a wee bit broke form buying my last bike atm, so let's start small :)

Hmm, now I'm starting to get tempted on the whole cyclocross bike thing...what's the rock bottom entry point for one of these? I'm a wee bit broke form buying my last bike atm, so let's start small :)

Unfortunately, cyclocross bikes seem targetted at a niche market. As a result, USD $1000 seems to be the entry point. Usually that means a mix of Tiagra and 105 on an 853 frame with a cro-mo fork. I've seen some complete bikes with Al frame go for slightly under a grand though.

I have a Lemond Poprad with road wheels. I can ride on grass and my loose gravel driveway. Real caution on the gravel.

I like a steel frame.

www.lemondbikes.com/2004_bikes/poprad.shtml

okay, so first of all: you guys are awesome.

corinnex99 is so classic i thought it was somebody pulling our collective leg for a minute there.

my advice is of course to go with a roadbike. the main reason to get a mtb as a noob is that there are so many more options to buy new <$500 and ppl who just aren't into cycling yet are often surprised to find how the prices are structured for roadbikes.

i live in the DC / Northern Virginia area where there are also a ton of paved paths. just riding out your front door (ie. not putting your bike on a roofrack and driving to some offroad trails in a state park or something) is most often roadbike country i think - esp if you are a city or suburb dweller.

like most folks i endured a cheap mtb with street tires for my first year or so, but i remember my ex-gf's friend at the time took our advice and just got a fairly entry-level Bianchi and even though she was less sure of her ballance and felt funny on it she was like 'okay, if you guys say so' and she was used to it in about a week and a half and was glad forever after that she had the right bike for paved surfaces and could keep up with the rest of us.

don't believe the ppl who are like, "oh i think it's just more appropriate to have a mtb because the city has some roads that are really rough and there are _potholes!" road bikes are for roads (paved surfaces) and MTBs are for trails. you can trick an mtb out to make it less inappropriate for road riding, but it's still not what the bike was made for.

think different.

Yea the main difference between a cyclocross[CX] and road bike is mostly about tire clearance, the frames are usually made in a very similer fashion in the lesser-mid priced models. CX also tend to have slightly higher bottom brackets for gound clearence and the stock seats have the rear corners cut off for quick mounts and dismounts but most bikes of all types need an aftermarket seat it seems.

My LBS road guy claims that he prefers his road bike over MTBs for all but the roughest trails, because he's use to road bikes. Most problems with things breaking or spokes popping are caused by poor maintanence, much much more than delicate design might cause. On dirt/gravel roads like logging or fire roads nothing beats a CX.

Like has been said by others, touring bikes are good too. mostly because of braze-ons for racks in my opinion, if you could find a CX with brazeons for a rear rack that would be ideal. Racks are nessesary for paniers a stout set of which I find quite usefull (groceries, overnight trips and so on) I recommend the blackburn mt. rack or cross rack as they are sturdy and give some mud guard effect. my Norco paniers are 15 years old and still in very good shape, they don't make a two piece like mine any more but they do have a similer sized, one piece in their transit line. Avoid tall trunk bags they tend to sway when used alone.

man, a grand is a bit rich for me atm, but oh well, something to work towards.

I guess I can put all the OT I've been getting lately towards it...if I get another week or so like the last two...that alone might be enough to get me a cyclocross bike :)

I started on a mountainbike riding trails and after 1 year I convert it to slick tyres riding hybrid and now I ended up with a roadbike. All my friends I know took the same path.

I'm not saying you'll regret buying a mountainbike later, hell if I could afford both I'll keep both. Go with your gut feeling, both riding are fun in thier own way.

Reason I stop mountainbiking

1. Hv to transport bike to the nearest trail.
2. Need company coz its not a great idea to ride alone in tropical forest.
3. Car need washing coz of sweat mud and all other things from me and the bike.
4. After ride being half dead still have to wash my bike before bringing it back to my apartment.

Things I miss about mountainbiking

1. Fresh unpoluted air.
2. No worries from idiotic motorist crashing onto me.
3. DOWNHILL!

Reason I took up roadbike

1. I can ride off from my apartment (even century ride)
2. I can go alone, anywhere anytime that fit my schedule
3. I can go any distant I like coz I can buy water along the way while mountainbiking your limit is the watersupply you brought.
4. Distance you can ride really really far.

These are only my opinion but I can tell you both has thier share of fun you won't regret getting either of them, if you have the space and money, get both!


I was going to post but this guy posted everything I wanted to say. I am 110% in his shoes.

Chad

I would try a cyclocross bike and see if you like it. It is a better solution than a hybrid and maybe just the thing.

I would try a cyclocross bike and see if you like it. It is a better solution than a hybrid and maybe just the thing.

Hey Corrinexx99,

I'm new to this forum myself but I cannot help sharing my solution to the problem you're trying to solve, as I've been through it too, but chose a somewhat different route.

2yrs ago I was posted in Iwakuni,Japan on a Marine Air Stn.(I'm Navy) and as I got to look around more, I realized the only way to truly enjoy that country(and conduct mundane business) was to get a bike asap.

Having been a NY messenger, roadie and wrench over 12yrs, I was not use to being w/out a 'horse', but the demands of my service make it impossible to have your own way all the time. The turnover of personnel at these bases is constant and lots of people just 'left' dozens of bikes they bought while there, many of quite good quality. With no easy/efficient way of getting my bikes & gear from home and not wanting to spend $800+ on a quality new one, I looked for a suitable replacement & saved a Miyata steel mtb(very '90's-generic mtb)from beside a dumpster. It actually had a CroMo main triangle and was my size!

After stripping all the parts I set about building a purpose built, hybrid "Frankenbike". I ordered ~$448 of aftermarket parts from online sources(I looked for the lightest & cheapest components):
: A rigid alloy mtb fork(Kinesis), threadless
:A tall alloy seat post
:Threadless headset & extended lenght stem
:Oversize road chainrings & crank(Truvativ)
:Bombproof cheap derailleur(Shiman Alivio)
:Skinniest mtb tires made(Ritchey Tom Slicks 26"x1)
:Bull-horn rise alloy handlebars
:Generic alloy hub/rim mtb wheel set(36sp Rigida set ,used=free)

I ended up with a setup that looked a lot like the Trek 7300FX on the first page of this thread, except Day-glo, two-tone yellow/green and red & purple anodized parts! :D . I got a lot of complements on the finished bike, as somewhat funky but also 'dangerous'(in speed terms). It was ~24.5 lbs, comfortable, aggresively postured(embodied what has been called the fastback geometry, symbiosis of mtb & road frame shapes) and especially fast. The large chainring I was turning combined w/ a choice of mtb rear cogs allowed me to spool up those smaller mtb wheels and maintain speed. I also could ascend hills & mt. roads more powerfully stroked than I've felt on my road bikes, and Japan is VERY mountainous.
I could cover any of the 40-60mi. day trips to the surrounding cities in very reasonable time(47 mi. to the center of Hiroshima City from my base in 2hr,21min) and keep up with the roadie enthusiates(tour groups, not the paceline crews) as well as blow past the knobbies. In grass meadows and trail gullies, I could follow the dirt riders w/out fear of flat'ng. If I really wanted to change tires, it was not too involved. I REALLY got to see how beautiful & varied the Japanese countryside is within just one province!

As others have stated above, eventually everybody wants the freedom of a road bike; the main advantage of 700C wheels and the 'taller' profile frame are more momentum/distance covered per rev. than small mtb wheels and the frame geometry yields better power transfer through pedaling above the bottom brkt. All these aid in covering greater distances faster as your confidence as a rider matures. They do require a bit more technical care & pampering(changing tight fit road bike tires can be a struggle) and you can't just bash them on through debris & weeds daily & not have to do a little trueing afterwards.
I wanted the compact rugged serviceability of a mtb on-the-cheap but not the dead weight of a suspension fork,knob tires,etc. so I could really cover ground. Yes, I had compromises , but for a sub $500
bike I had the best of both riding worlds, while avoiding some of the inconveniences I've come to associate with road bike & mtb ownership/maintenance.
One other MAJOR step up that I incorporated that increased its road bike character tremendously; I bought bargain 650C triathelete wheels and put them on it, $95/pr. These are exactly like road bike wheels, except shrunk down to mtb size & they fit mtb canti/V-brakes. They are lighter and much faster and I was then able to keep up with the roadies in the paceline rides! Lighter wheels are worth ~2lbs less from the rest of your bike, since you spend your energy making them turn.

I ended up leaving the bike there like everyone else(actually a good friend bought it), but not because the idea wasn't fit for back here. I am seriously considering applying exactly the same "roadbike-on-steroids" format to a new bike I want to build(if I can't get my Schwinn fixed) and also one for my wife. The best part is that instead of a hodge podge of aftermarket parts on a "pig"-iron old frame, I can choose a better quality light wt. frame or even a cheap, 7000 ser.Al mtb frame to hang the same/better parts blend off of
(I did build one of these hybrids for a female coworker for about $696, @cost, before I left Japan..19.6lbs wt.; I often took it for "test" rides instead of my own :p )

If you can understand much of what I've described,although you may not be able to build your own bike, you could commission your LBS to create something like this for you. Sorry I cannot post a pic(not my PC), but maybe some other riders have rigs something like this.

Cheers and best wishes

hmm, is there any good websites that sell cyclocross frames? I might just work on building one, just so I get some hands on learning on bike maintenance....at the least it will be more fun than watching the bike shop guys. given, they are cool cats, but I doubt they like it when I sit around there asking questions about whatever they are working on.

I already got the hang of much of it...but there is a ways to go for this young padawan.

hmm, is there any good websites that sell cyclocross frames?

Check out the Surly Crosscheck (http://www.surlybikes.com/crosscheck.html). It looks like Airbomb has framesets on sale for $341.43 (http://store.airbomb.com/ba/asp/Cc.2170/ab/items.htm).

corinnex99 is so classic i thought it was somebody pulling our collective leg for a minute there.

i live in the DC / Northern Virginia area where there are also a ton of paved paths. just riding out your front door (ie. not putting your bike on a roofrack and driving to some offroad trails in a state park or something) is most often roadbike country i think - esp if you are a city or suburb dweller.





Yep, I'm serious about my questions. I hope I'm not annoying anyone though! All of your suggestions and advice has been awesome - although it's giving me a LOT more to think about than I thought I'd have to! :p

So it sounds like a CX bike would be awesome, but I unfortunately don't have $1000 to spend on a new bike, especially when this is my first real bike. Also, your situation in DC sounds exactly what it's like around here, as in I don't need to go drive somewhere to find a nice place to ride. All I gotta do is leave my driveway and I'm there. So I guess a roadie is more fitting for my needs then I think.

That being said, now what? I've considered going used, but I'm not quite sure what to look for and whether or not I can buy a quality bike that isn't in such bad shape. Any advice about this? If I could find a good, used CX, that'd be AWESOME, but I'm betting I won't. So if the CX bike is out, what do I do about looking into a roadie? What is the difference in prices? What's the cheapest I can go without losing quality in the bike? Is it not a good idea to get a "cheaper" bike? And I guess another question is how "cheap" do they even get, what's an average starting price?

I hope these questions don't bother anyone... I know that most of you have prob been riding for years and spent a lot of money on bikes, but since I don't know much, I don't want to spend a ton of money on something I'm going to regret. I'm sure you've all been in my shoes at one time! ;)

Thanks again for all the help! I really appreciate everyone's advice!!

Another question I have is about buying online... has anyone done it? Is it cheaper? Any good sites out there to check out about getting a good deal on a bike or a used bike? Or is it better to go to the LBS instead? Just wondering.
Thanks :)

Hey, I can't get through all this good advice. Just would like to suggest a "flat bar road bike", if you might not prefer drop bars. Such as Cannondale Road Warrior, Marin ALP series, Novara Express, Jamis probably makes a good one. They don't want to be known as hybrids because they are lighter and faster. I bought a Marin Mill Valley, it's sweet, but the wheels look flimsy, may need to replace.

I've never heard about a flat bar road bike. What are those like? I've pretty much decided that a roadie or a CX are more for me, but now where do I turn? Any more advice out there?
Thanks much! :)

theyre just a road bike... with a flat mtb bar swapped in. my friend did the same to his 9x carbon allez epic. it has no advantages since road bars have a "flat" portion.... in addition to the drops and the hoods

start off by going to your local shops and riding a few bikes around

theyre just a road bike... with a flat mtb bar swapped in. my friend did the same to his 9x carbon allez epic. it has no advantages since road bars have a "flat" portion.... in addition to the drops and the hoods

I think the only advantage (although I personally wouldn't call it that) or maybe a "feature" is that a flatbar roadbike has MTB style controls so people who are more comfortable with MTB brake levers and shifters will be able to quickly aclimate themselves to a flatbar roadbike or so the theory goes. Personally, I never had a problem switching my control habits between a flatbar controls and dropbar controls.

My personal preference is drop bars too. With drop bars you get about four obvious hand positions and about a zillion more if you're creative. This is a good thing because as you're riding you can shift your hands around changing the load on your back, respiratory system, your arms, your hands, and your wind resistance. It's a nice thing to do.

To add to the cyclocross vote, of the four bikes that I know of commuting from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie regularly two are cyclocross, one is road, one is a "hybrid" (mostly road bike, but with V-brakes, clearances for wider tires, and a straight bar). The cyclocross bikes are doing a lot more miles. A used crosscheck would probably be ideal.

Shop at your local bike shop; especially as a newbie, it'll give you a place to ask questions in person and you'll get fitted for a bike somewhat correctly. Over the Internet, there's no good fitting.

Well, I like flat bars. Check those bikes I mentioned above. I forgot to add Cannondale Bad Boy, Novara Big Buzz.

Road bikes , mtb, cross bikes all good fun. I like a light fast ride with flat bars for road riding. A real road bike with flat bar conversion would be lighter and tighter geometry but much costlier. I've ridden more than 150,000 miles, many on drop bars. Flat bars aren't only for those who can't master drops. It a personal preference.

Thanks again for all the help! I'll have to check into it more. I'm going to try to see if there are any shops in the cities that sell used bikes, because that's really the only way I can afford a CX. Otherwise, I'll prob look into getting a roadie I think. We'll see though. :)

Your intended uses gave me a few ideas, as it did many otehrs on this thread. Consider the commuter use: It needs to be durable, not neccessarily fast. Dependable and provide for some degree of comfort. Maybe something like an older "single trac" Trek 920 (or similar) that can accomodate many different widths and styles of tires, has a seating and handle bar position that is much more suited to commuting and paved bike trail use. By swapping tyres a bike such as this could easily move from pavement to dirt. It would proabably make a better commuter or dirt bike than it would a "road" bike. But anything that is a compromise, is well, a compromise.

Like Don, I would suggest getting the Commuter bike. Take a look at the previous post by khuon that had the pics and look at the differences between the CX and Commuter. Not much different there.

I have a very nice road bike (IMO), but I just bought an 80s Cannondale touring bike for $100 at a pawn shop. It is just the ticket for what I (and maybe you) was looking for. Not too expensive, less likely to be stolen, a little tougher for light trail use, aero and semi-fast. It needs a bit of work, but really, as a starter and commuter/road bike it is nearly perfect. I was originally looking for a CX for commuting and kicking around, but couldn't justify the $$$. I did find a used CX for $300 that would have worked, but the seller already had a buyer.

http://tinypic.com/ty4z

So far (not in pic) I have replaced the seat and stem to fit me better. I removed the reflectors. I am going to add clipless pedals so I can use my road shoes and a CX type tire. Long term, I will replace the derailers with STI compatable (I have Ultegra STI levers hanging around from my road bike/TT conversion).

btw, the top tube is nearly horizontal, it points down only because of the angle of the pic.

From what you're describing you'd probably do far better with a road bike. They will handle fairly well on well-packed dirt/gravel trails (I lent out my MTB and managed to beat it through some fairly rough terrain on an ancient ten-speed), as long as there aren't too many roots or rocks. And if there are, for short distances anyways, a ~20 lb road bike can be thrown up on your shoulder easily enough.

Why am I so adamant? Because my normal work bike got totalled and so, because of the rain (I don't want to get my new carbon racing bike wet) I'm riding my MTB. It's roughly half the speed, and once you get used to a road bike, you will find that to be a very large pain in the ass. My old ten-speed could beat the pants off just about any MTB that crossed it's path. Not only are the big tires a drawback, as well as the weight, but the gear ratios are ****ing rediculous, especially once you get a pair of clipless pedals - if you're going to get a MTB, look into one with a 48-tooth front chainring...you will thank yourself later(unfortunately you usually only find these on lower-end bikes).


One thing that might be worthwhile is looking into a used one at any local bike-co-ops. THey ought to have it running fairly well and you can often find an old ten-speed for the price of one slick tire... and if nothing else it's nice to have a bike like that which can sit downtown all day without the worry that goes along with a new bike. If you like what you see, then get a new one. And if you don't...at least you've got something for city riding.