Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.GrumpyKenyan
08-27-12, 01:49 PM
I almost feel dumb asking this question, but I don't know if the difference really adds up to all that much for a new rider - I've been riding for about a month. For now, I'm just focusing on building up endurance for when I go back to America. Aiming for a decent speed on some of these roads, and the traffic that comes with them, would be stupid at my current lack of skill and finesse.
Most of the roads I ride on look like this
269741
with accompanying pot-holes, ditches, fallen tree branches, etc. Many of the inner-city roads like this have a lot of traffic and public commute that keeps me from safely reaching faster speeds (unless I go during the quiet hours, such as when this picture was taken).
Normally, I would assume a road-bike would be just fine for this. However, a couple days a week, I like to go on rougher roads like...
269742
You have the smaller "mini-lanes" to the side, but those are small and oftentimes have slower riders on them, which forces me to use the rockroads if I want to continue pushing myself. Would a road-bike be able to handle this?
And I'm working on this road right now. If there's one road that demands an off-road bike, I think it's this one.
269743
But if a road bike would suit my needs better, I'd be willing to forego this little pet-project since I doubt I'll find roads and views like this in America. I could always come back and try again with a better bike.
So would you get a road bike or a mountain bike? What I have right now is a mountain-bike, but it's be rather easy to trade it in. I just don't want to be training with the wrong tool if it'll somehow hinder my growth in the sport.
Thanks for putting up with questions from a new biker :)
Most of the roads I ride on look like this
269741
with accompanying pot-holes, ditches, fallen tree branches, etc. Many of the inner-city roads like this have a lot of traffic and public commute that keeps me from safely reaching faster speeds (unless I go during the quiet hours, such as when this picture was taken).
Normally, I would assume a road-bike would be just fine for this. However, a couple days a week, I like to go on rougher roads like...
269742
You have the smaller "mini-lanes" to the side, but those are small and oftentimes have slower riders on them, which forces me to use the rockroads if I want to continue pushing myself. Would a road-bike be able to handle this?
And I'm working on this road right now. If there's one road that demands an off-road bike, I think it's this one.
269743
But if a road bike would suit my needs better, I'd be willing to forego this little pet-project since I doubt I'll find roads and views like this in America. I could always come back and try again with a better bike.
So would you get a road bike or a mountain bike? What I have right now is a mountain-bike, but it's be rather easy to trade it in. I just don't want to be training with the wrong tool if it'll somehow hinder my growth in the sport.
Thanks for putting up with questions from a new biker :)