General Cycling Discussion - Road, Mountain, Hybrid, or Cruiser

I went ahead and picked mountain...i love the ability to road ride, but also be able to run over bottles, nails, and curbs and not hear your tire burst.

I voted "road," but I'm a little cheesed about a couple of things...

1. There is no option for cyclocross.

2. There are no multiple choices. Many types of bikes turn my crank [and I theirs]. I am an ecumenical cyclist, though these days I'm more of an uber-roadie/cyclocrosser than anything else.

:D

hey velo,

well i wanted to kinda get to the ROOT point yknow? If i threw together ever compatibility, i'd have poll answers like "cyclocross unicycling up mountains"...

Anyways--isn't cyclocross just a road bike with good tires/rims for going over rough terrain anyways?

I checked mtb, but I also like my road bike - it's just that I live on a dirt/gravel road so the mtg gets used whenit is too muddy for the road bike.
Joe
:beer:

I'm 100% MTB right now. But I have been considering Cyclocross. The trails are too muddy to ride too often. Can't seem to get enough riding time in for me. I have a road bike but can't seem to get interested in it. For some reason I would even rather ride my MTB on the road than my road bike. Anybody else like that? I'm thinking a Cyclocross bike would be great. There are also gravel roads where we camp on some weekends that I like to ride.

Originally posted by Dirtgrinder
I'm 100% MTB right now. But I have been consedering Cyclocross. The trail are too muddy to ride too often. Can't seem to get enough riding time in for me. I have a road bike but can't seem to get interested in it. For some reason I would even rather ride my MTB on the road than my road bike. Anybody else like that? I'm thinking a Cyclocross bike would be great. There are also gravel roads where we camp on some weekends that I like to ride.

I know what you mean. I like road bikes for the awesome speed, but you dont get that freedom of going through a patch of grass or over some rocks...not just that, but if the roads suck where you live <up north the streets buckle and potholes arise> then road biking can be a pain in the ass im sure. You could always get good kevlar tires tho...

Originally posted by Dirtgrinder
I'm 100% MTB right now.
I am 100% road right now.

I think we both need to expand our horizons.

:eek:

I have ridden road bikes since 1962 and got my first (and only) mountain bike almost 30 years later. I am glad to own both, and I do like my mountain bike, but I feel a much stronger passion for my road bikes.

Mountain biking is fun - but put me on my road bike and let me go for the day (or the week - or the month etc.) and I'm happy.

My Mountain Bike has been getting less and less use lately but it'll probably come out more as we head into winter. I tend to ride it on my commute when the weather turns nasty.

I don't really 'get off' on any bike, but I ride a slick-shod mountain bike, which is my one and only.

(didn't see recumbent on the list of choices. tsk tsk)

HEY!!! You forgot recumbents! Until you include 'bents in the poll I refuse to vote! And no 'bents are not called road bikes.

and what about bmxicans that are here?

Where do I class my new Raleigh Folding Twenty?

Richard

I mostly ride touring bikes, which can take rough tracks and roads in their stride. They are just like road racing bikes except for the frame, the wheels and the accessories.

Originally posted by Mikew305
well i wanted to kinda get to the ROOT point yknow? If i threw together ever compatibility, i'd have poll answers like "cyclocross unicycling up mountains"...

Anyways--isn't cyclocross just a road bike with good tires/rims for going over rough terrain anyways?
Fair enough, but what, exactly is the difference between a hybrid and a cruiser... and why not BMX? The problem with bikes is that they're very hard to pigeonhole. "Road and "MTB" are descriptions of specific technological adaptations to specific terrain... but what is a "hybrid" except marketing-speak?

As for the differences between a 'cross and a pure road bike... they are legion. The geometry is quite different [higher bottom bracket, slightly shorter TT, smaller frame, more upright riding position], as is the gearing, many of the components [cantis for brakes], tires and wheels. In many ways, a 'cross bike is as different from a road bike as a "hybrid" is from a MTB.

Dirtgrinder: Go for the 'cross bike, you won't be sorry. I find hat my MTB [a Specialized hardtail] is just too much technology for most of the offroad that I do. My cross bike is tough, light and handles beautifully. It also doubles nicely as a mud/rain raodie when the weather is bad and an all-around I-don't-know-what-terrain bike as well. Moreover, I can bunny about twice as high on the cross bike.

It's a blast.

for my recreational riding (not commuting):
85% mountain bike
15% road bike

i'm a singletrack seeker - technical xc rider who loves steep (15-25%) climbs and long technical singletrack descents

Originally posted by velocipedio

Dirtgrinder: Go for the 'cross bike, you won't be sorry. I find hat my MTB [a Specialized hardtail] is just too much technology for most of the offroad that I do. My cross bike is tough, light and handles beautifully. It also doubles nicely as a mud/rain raodie when the weather is bad and an all-around I-don't-know-what-terrain bike as well. Moreover, I can bunny about twice as high on the cross bike.

It's a blast.
I've been looking on the web at them. What do you think the chances are of finding a Major Jake? I know they are 2001 bikes, but I like the looks of them better than Jake the Snake.

no 'Bents, no Trikes, should at the least have an other! :)

Its not the bike design but the type of riding you do. If you ride your MTB along the Boardwalk at Atlantic City its a Cruiser. If you ride your Hybrid along the roads as fast as you can, its road bike.

I cose MTN bikes, because you can do all most everything with them, ride off road, pavement, just hop on and go.:beer:

Originally posted by Dirtgrinder

I've been looking on the web at them. What do you think the chances are of finding a Major Jake? I know they are 2001 bikes, but I like the looks of them better than Jake the Snake.
Very good, in fact. The current model Jake is sold out in most sizes, but Major Jake didn't seel all that weel in 2001 [brand/model confusion], so there was a fair bit of un-sold merchandise. I got mine a few months ago for a song because Kona was motivated to unload old stock. Check with your Kona dealer to see if the distributor can scare one up in your size.

Just called the local Kona dealer. They have several Major Jakes in stock, but want $1400 for them. Full price! For a 2001 no less. What kind of markdown should I expect to find? I can call other dealers in St. Louis or KC and see what I can find.

Considering that the Major Jake is 2001 and slightly down-spec [Tiagra shifters and a couple of other Tiagra bits] from the 2002 jake the Snake, which sells for @ $1050 US, I think full price is absolutely outrageous! What would be fair for the Major Jake? I'd say less than $900.

I guess this dealer has no intention of selling the Majors...

The hybrid is the Swiss Army Knife of bikes! That is, it's too big, heavy and clunky to be a handy knife, and the tools on it don't work as well as real tools would, but if you only have room for one, that's the one.

I had to vote hybrid, since I only can manage one bike at the mo. :p

I voted hybrid because that's what I own and ride.

A MTB is my one and only. I ride it on bike paths & roads. Someday this summer, I'll try it off road. :)