SweetNightmare

So, I can't really tell much of a difference from looking at them, and sometimes even riding them. They seem really similar to me. So really, what's the difference from a commuting standpoint? I've heard people say they're heavier, but it doesn't feel like it a lot of the time.

no1mad 

Road bikes tend to have drop bars and skinny tires. MTBs tend to have flat/small rise bars, fat knobby tires, and at least a suspension fork. Hybrids tend to have flat/riser bars, tire width varies greatly, and some will have suspension forks- but they aren't to be confused with mtbs, though the new Dual Sport class tends to blur that line a bit...

Weight matters when you're climbing or have to carry the bike; otherwise proper gearing selection gives you the mechanical advantage to overcome the weight of the bike.

IFLUX23

Hmmm? Mountain, Road, Hybrids look very different to me.

Mountain and Hybrids are probably pretty comfortable. Road bikes are stiff and hard on your butt for it's very thin tire width. For commuting, mountain and Hybrids are probably more suitable for the job. Mountain bikes have very thick tires and smaller wheel diameter, some of them have one or two suspensions so it's much more stable and good for commuting if your road to work isn't very nice. Hybrids are like super sloping Road Bike frame (with more tire clearance) with flat bar and Mountain Bike drive train and brakes. So hybrids are pretty much between Road Bike and Mountain Bike.

Many Mountain Bike has no rack mounts and much more Road bikes has no rack mounts neither. Carbon Frame almost never have rack mounts. Some frame has aluminum butt frame that allows rack mounts though. I recommend Hybrid Bike or Mountain bike. Touring Bikes work well too though.



I'd go with Aluminum Cyclocross Bikes though.

SlimRider

Hey there SweetN!

Manufacturers are really beginning to make MTN bikes much lighter than what they used to be. At any rate MTN bikes usually come with at least a suspended fork if it's a hardtail, or both rear suspension and a suspended fork, if it's a dual suspension MTB. Some bikes have the same general frame geometries as a MTB, but don't have any rear suspension, or a suspended fork. Bikes like that are called, rigid HT MTN bikes, or just rigid MTN bikes. The traditional MTB has 26" wheels. The 29er is a recent morph of a MTB and it has approximately 700c wheels.

Since you like fat tires, I'd very strongly recommend a ladies HT MTB.

toastytoad

Add a solid or lockout fork and some smooth tires to a MTB and the differences are minimal

not_me

You can always mount some skinny tires on a mountain or hybrid bike for use on the road, but the main difference is going to be the riding position. You can get aero much easier on a road bike, so if your commute is long and often riding into the wind, a road bike is best. If it's in the city in stop & go traffic, something with a more upright position will be more comfortable.

SweetNightmare

I do indeed like fatter tires. They feel more sturdy to me. And my commute isn't really that long, so that's good to know that I could go with any of them and be fine. Big reason is cause I found a mountain bike on Craigslist I'm going to check out. Though if that doesn't work out, I'm going to wait for my tax return, whatever I get back, and put it towards a new bike, definitely. I've decided I'm not going for the craigslist bike unless I can talk their price down, and of course if it feels good. Otherwise, I've got my eyes on a bike marked down at REI, a Diamondback, but that's a topic for another thread.

Anyways, thanks. While I can see the difference in the tires, a lot of them look very similar in shape, weight, and components, so I was wondering what the differences are. Thanks for all the helpful answers.

no1mad 

Just a thought, but if that CL find doesn't pan out, maybe put something in Layaway at the LBS and then get it out when your refund comes in? I'd say try that approach at REI, but since they have their own Visa CC, they probably don't have layaway...

And with your small stature, you'll probably have an easier time finding a WSD mtb than a hybrid. I know that some mtb frames are as small as 13".

SweetNightmare

Yeah.

The other bike I've had my eye on since I spotted it in the REI outlet, if I can get together the cash before it disappears, as I'm sure it will, is the Diamondback Insight RS Women's Commuter Bike 13". Comes with a rack, fenders, and is only 389. If I managed to get the cash before the membership coupon runs out, bought membership, used the coupon, and calculated in the membership cost and tax, it would be 357, and from reviews seems to be a solid bike. BUT that's if I can get the cash in time, if not it's back to combing the outlets and sales at different bike shops and REI. I wish REI had a layaway program, but of course they just have the visa, and I don't want to sign up for a credit card. I'll call a few of the LBSes and see if they do layaways. Of course, then I'd have no cash for a helmet or lock, which is a problem of course. *Siiiiigh* So I probably will end up not going that route, or going that route later with the normal outlet pricing.

It's also the bike that sparked this question. To me, it looks like a converted mountain bike(which make sense, seeing as the only diamondbacks I've ever seen have been mountain bikes) with a rack slapped on the back. I've seen a lot of hybrids that looked like slightly modified mountain bikes. I've also seen a lot of hybrids that looked like converted road bikes. So I guess it just depends.

sm1960

mtb and some hybrids with suspension forks kill your power, good for short commutes. Hybrids without suspension don't have this problem and do offer a comfortable position and can be fitted with fenders and racks. cyclecross very durable good riding position for speed. Touring bikes are like a road bike but can be fitted with fenders and racks, also has longer wheel base for more comfortable ride. Better for long commutes. Road bikes are fast but are not built to be fitted with commuter stuff, although there are ways around that.

My hybrid is a diamondback sherwood - commuted 12.5 miles each way for a couple of years before I bought a touring bike. I still use it for some rides, nice bike.

silent_chief

How far is your commute? ~5 miles a hybrid or mtn bike is fine IMHO, but I found personally that anything more and you really want a road bike. With your butt higher in the air you get more power into your pedal strokes and can tuck into the wind. Just a more efficient ride overall. (and I've done both btw)

rumrunn6

skip both and just get a road bike

fietsbob

There are 26" wheels and also 700c 35 wheels , flat bars on either ..
folks that want drop-bars convert the 26"wheel bike if they wish,
You have interchangeable parts , so neither is locked into one kit.

bsandovalb

I was having that dilemma....ended up puting some 700x35 tires in a 29er wheelset on my 26er MTB with a road cassette... I am very happy with it!, very comfortable, smooth on paved roads, bottom bracket a bit higher but find it better that when I had 1.7 slicks on my 26er wheels!

SweetNightmare

I probably will not because the cheapest road bikes I've seen are at least two hundred dollars over budget for me. This was more of a curiosity question. Plus, being a slightly heavier girl, I'm not fond of my butt sticking up in the air.

SlimRider

Hey there SweetN!

I would just like to inform you of the Giant LBS just east of you called, Cadence Cyclery of McKinney. They just might be able to place the Boulder on lay-away for you:

The Giant Boulder W ~ $360
www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/boulder.w/9043/48966/

Also, don't overlook this at the REI outlet:

The Diamondback Lux Trail MTB ~ $400
www.rei.com/product/832976/diamondback-lux-trail-mountain-bike-womens-special-buy



-Slim

SweetNightmare

Oooh, layaway? Hmmmm, maybe I can make a deal with the bf, see if he'll take me out there. It IS a rather nice looking bike, simple but elegant. And not a bad price, so I can still afford the stuff to make it commuter friendly, and not a giant(lol, pun) cost all at once if they'll do layaway. ((Sorry for the late reply, haha! The thread got buried under all the other threads.)) And I've heard good things about Chromoly, it's just hard to find bikes that still use it, since everyone seems to have switch to aluminum. o.o Definitely will give them a call and see what they say. And try to get the boyfriend to do it, lol!

And it's funny you mention the outlet, I was actually poking around there yesterday, I was just wary as I know Diamondback tends to be a more xmart-y brand, though I do trust REI, or at least mine, after talking to their bike person.

Oh, and I wanted to thank you for being ridiculously helpful, seriously. I don't think I've found anyone on any forum ever that's been so helpful.

SlimRider

Hey there SweetN,

Now that's what I'm talking about!

Once you get that chromoly MTB frame, as components wear out, you can just upgrade everything to Deore LX, XT, or something. Eventually, you'll have a bike of much greater value than you purchased it for. You'll always be able to sell it for the original MSRP, because any real bike person will be able to properly assess the value of both the components and frame together. Who knows, eventually, you might add accessories like fenders, rack, and computer. You may even opt for trekking bars and a Brooks saddle too!

Truly the sky is the limit, SweetN!

You're welcome!

tjspiel

Let's not get carried away Slim, not too many bike people are going to pay MSRP for used bike regardless of component upgrades unless it's really something special.

Anyway SweetN, it's probably worth it to ride a few different bikes if you're going to make a trip to REI or a bike shop. Don't get too hung up on frame material, it's how the bike feels to you that matters.

SweetNightmare

Seeing as I almost never sell anything, what I can sell it for is irrelevant. It's whether it can last that matters to me. And idk, steel sounds better than aluminum to me. But, I wont get anything that doesnt fit me well in all areas.

SlimRider

I dunno, you figure five or six years from now....Maybe even ten. A chromoly steel framed bike, in mint condition with Deore XT componentry, a Brooks saddle, with Planet Bike rack and fenders. After you calculate inflation and the increasing cost of bicycles with an ever-increasing demand upon bicycles. That's not too mention the cost of Petro at that future time. I think, I might be closer than you might think

cyccommute 

I've been dealing with 10 year old bikes on an intimate basis for about a year now at my local coop. A 10 year old bike of any material even when outfitted with the top of the line components for its day is worth a fraction of its original cost. If the bike is particularly rare, it's got slightly more value but even then it hardly approaches that of the original cost of the bike. If the bike is exceedingly rare, like say a 1930's Monarch Silver King that is absolutely original...down to the tires...you might get premium dollar for it but that's a very, very special case. Ain't gonna happen for a Giant Boulder step through frame. It's been that way for the 30+ years I've been riding, and buying, bicycles and isn't likely to change. Buy a bike for riding, not as an investment.

SlimRider

msrp = $360

What will bikes cost ten years from now?

Will inflation play a part in assessing the cost?

Will there be an ever-increasing demand upon cycling?

Let's see...Chromoly steel frame....XT componentry....Planet bike rack and fenders....Brook's saddle

A nice price for such a used bicycle in mint condition today = $350 easy

In ten years from now = $400 easy

Average cost of such a bicycle ten years from now (before upgrades) = $ 700

tjspiel

It would have to be old enough for inflation to make up for the depreciation. That's not going to be in 10 years. Rack and fenders on a MTN bike don't add much in terms of resale value. I have two extra racks sitting in my garage. A Brooks saddle might but on the other hand, a used Brooks has been broken in on the wrong butt. I'd also be leery of old suspension forks that I may or may not be able to get replacement parts for. That will bring the price down.

It also depends on what's in demand at the time. A couple of years ago I sold a mid-range 80's Peugeot that was in very good condition for $270. A year later I sold a 90's RockHopper (chromoly frame) for $170. It was in at least as good of condition as the Peugeot was. The Peugeot sold for substantially more even though the RockHopper was a higher end bicycle (and more expensive) at the time of purchase than the Peugeot was.

The reason? Old road bikes (especially Peugeots) in good condition were in high demand. Old Mtn bikes are a dime a dozen.

If you were to get the Brooks, high end components, rack, etc. you could maybe get MSRP or better for the bike at some point down the road if you part it out, but as a whole bike, no.

tjspiel

On their website they list $360 as the average retail price not the suggested price. It's also a step through frame and traditionally those have lower resale value though one could argue that they shouldn't.