JasBike

Lately I've found that the bother of getting to trails is hampering my "get up and go" motivation. I'd like to try something new also... but I do love getting dirty and beat up on the XC trails.






Do you guys think I should invest in a road bike or what?

khuon

It never hurts to expand your horizon.

JasBike

This is true.


Can usable road bikes be found for ~3-500 or would I be much better off dropping 1k? I don't want to have to sell my XC bike to start roading.

khuon

If you're unsure then I would suggest getting an entry level roadbike. Really entry level can be found for around the $500 range. Check out Giant OCR3s... especially last year's models. Also check out the Fujis and KHS brands. If you can bump your budget up by another $150 then the Specialized Allez Triple is a really nice bike. Of course, as with anything in cycling... fit is key. Personally, I wouldn't dream of giving up my XC bike. Just add... don't replace.

RonH

Definitely!!

bac

I was in your cycling shoes a few years ago. I did not own a road bike, but I did ride the road with my mountain bike in an effort to get in shape to ride off-road. Then in 2002, I injured my knee in a skiing accident, and was off the mountain bike per doctor's orders for the entire riding season! I was, however, allowed to ride the road. I took this opportunity to buy a road bike, and it was one of the better decisions of my life!

Riding the road on my mountain bike was a necessary evil. However, riding the road on a scoot built for speed is a whole different story. Now I split my time between the road and the dirt. I still dearly love to mountain bike, but riding the road is great fun, and a really different experience. Also, there is no drive to the trailhead - just pop out the front door and go!

Do it - you won't regret it, and you may just fall in love with the feeling!

Buzzbomb

Roadbiking is a blast! Don't get me wrong, my heart is in the dirt, but there is something really cool about cruising in a fast paceline 6" off the wheel of the guy in front of you. Roadbiking has definitely made me faster in the dirt, and I have fun on all my bikes so I just choose the ride depending on the mood I'm in. It's all good, just add a road bike, don't replace the MTB.

townandcountry

I know several people who do both, so go for it. Enjoy.

Gurgus

Do it. You could go the route i went. I was in my the same sitch. I've got my mountain bike set-up with hookworms and got hooked on the feeling of speed. I went out and found and old ten speed for $15 bucks at a thrift shop. Spent a couple of bucks on it and its awesome. If you got the budget for a roadbike, go for it. If not, go to a thrift shop and see if you can find something until you are sure if roadriding is the thing for you. Good luck.

sm266

I love xc, but I've found so much fitness on my road bike! I have both, and I love them. Go ahead and get one.

roadfix

Before investing money in a road bike, put skinny slicks on your Mtb and see if you enjoy being off the trail.

Brillig

Yes. That's the biggest advantage of road biking for me.

I just open up my door and head out.

No packing things up, loading the bike rack, driving out to some place. Makes it much easier and more enjoyable.

khuon

Not really... the geometry is quite different.

gonesh9

Don't do it.... You will soon like it even better than mtb, and your old riding buddies won't be happy when you start missing mtb rides for road rides.

Kayle

Hold on, now. MTB's not so bad, either!

gonesh9

Don't get me wrong- I'm a mountain biker first, but have started to love road riding. Maybe I shouldn't have said he would like it better than mtb, but just that he would get addicted to it. My mtb friends aren't happy that I've bailed on some mountain rides lately for road rides.

khuon

Yes. That is the "danger". I love travelling and seeing sights. I've found one of the best ways to explore the smaller towns and countryside is through road biking. I really like that I can get more out of my mile by riding than I can by blowing by a town when driving. The downside of course is that those trips can be long (although highly enjoyable) and some of the time I used to devote to hitting the trails for some bouncing and bumping is now allocated to cruising around on my roadbike. In the end, I wouldn't have it any other way. I enjoy both activities for what they offer me.

SinGate

Amen!

I took to road riding because I had two kids and driving 45 minutes each way just so I could ride my Mtn. bike somewhere fun was just no longer possible. I could spend that hour and a half better by just jumping on a road bike and taking off. Since then (4 years) I have ridden my Mtn. bike about 5 times on the trails. I'm a convert baby!
The road rules.

Kayle

Understood. My post was half-serious. Actually, I'm a MTBer looking to get a road bike for myself, too, because I live so far away from the trails. I find myself riding on the road more than on the mountain, enough so that I put slicks on one of my mountain bikes. My friend recently got a new Specialized Allez Triple, and he let me test-ride it...the difference was incredible.

What can I get for $1100? I'm thinking the Trek 1200...

bg4533

Check out the Specialized Allez Elite and if you can find a decent deal the Elite Cro-Mo.

roadfix

Are you willing to get rid of some hair?

cyclezealot

I would find it a hassle to get to the nearest trail....They are several miles away..Had that situation..I know I would only ride a couple times a week..
I love the sensation of going somewhere...Can only do that on the road...After all is not bikes mean't for transporting oneself somewhere else..
Not meaning to slander Mtn. biking..But to me, it is just riding the same old loop. Road biking is going somewhere different. Exploring.. Mtn. trails do not normally go that far.
What effected me years ago when I got back into biking...I see so many Mountain bikes where road bikes belong..All that drag. Did not make sense to me... Never considered Mtn. biking,when I first had to decide what bike to get.Hope you can grow to like both...Get into road biking, you will be out more often, not have to commute to the trail, and be stronger for when you do.

OmahaRider

Of course you should---my MTB is like a lumberwagon-----my roadie is like Porche-------just something about going light and fast.

timmhaan

another perk is you'll be able to complain about pedestrians crossing your path and cars cutting you off with the rest of us.

SinGate

LOL Yes one more on our side.