MadCityCyclist says:
Forget about a folding bike, they simply aren't built for that terrain unless
you're talking about something like a Montague Paratrooper. Many folding bikes
have 16" or 20" wheels which are going to dig into the mud and get bogged down.
The only real advantage a folding bike has for commuting is you can fold the
bike up at work and store it under your desk, but if it gets real muddy you
won't be doing that anyhow.
Agreed!
I wouldn't recommend a mountain bike because they are made for aggressive trail
riding, like riding down a mountain or on a mountain bike track. Check out
Youtube for mountain bike riding vids to see what those bikes are designed for.
The bike's frame geometry and the rider's body position isn't the best for long
rides on the road. Sure, lots of people commute on mountain bikes, but you don't
necessarily have to if you're buying a new bike
I wouldn't go so far as to say all that. The mountain bike is probably the most universally versatile bicycle in the entire world. The hardtail mountain bike can be used for XC, commuting, recreation, exercise, mountain touring, forest exploration, military purposes, dirt-jumping, and for utilitarian purposes. It is truly, a do it all kind of bicycle. IMHO the MTB has two problems. It tends to be slow and dependent upon what suspension systems that are engaged, it saps the riders energy over a period of time. It's because of these two reasons, that your average MTB is not an ideal choice for interstate touring.
If you look at Surly bikes, some of the frames like the Long Haul Trucker will
accept 26" wheels with fatter tires than normal touring bikes. I wouldn't want
to ride on 700cc tires in the last two sets of terrain you had pictures of, no
matter what type of bike they are on. It's a trade-off: wider tires are better
for off-road and less efficient when on paved roads. You'll have to decide where
the dividing line is for you.
Both the 26 incher and the 700c have their pros and cons. 700's or 29 inchers tend to keep a line much better and are not as easily detered by pathway interferences. 26 inchers while smaller, are easier to accelerate. However, once accelerated, they are harder to maintain their momentum and require a greater expenditure of energy to do so. The 26 inchers do come with wider tires and are more efficient on more challenging terrain surfaces.
A cyclocross bike would also fit your needs because they are meant for both road
and trail riding, albeit not the same type of trail riding as mountain bikes.
Agreed!
I've got a Salsa Mukluk 2, and although it isn't the type of bike you need, I
can say that I am impressed with Salsa in general - well designed, good
component quality, etc. You should look into the Salsa bikes the others have
recommended.
Wow, man! The Salsa Mukluk! What can I say? You either live near the beach, on the frozen tundra, or in an ice-fishing camp
... That's one helluva bike though!
You'll also want to get a geared bike and not a single speed. It sounds like you
want to do some exploring, and a single speed bike isn't going to cover the same
amount of ground or climb the same hills as easily as a geared bike will.
I think we're all in agreement there, for sure!
The last thing I'll say is that as someone who gets all of his groceries on a bike, you'll want to get a rack if you plan on doing the same. The backpack isn't a good option when you're carrying a gallon of milk and/or a jug of orange juice along with other items, the weight will become uncomfortable after a short while.
I absolutely agree with you on this one too!
I know cyclists who either pay people with cars to take them grocery shopping or they take a cab, just because of milk, juice, and beverages. It would be nice to live within a cycling community where a van could be used, just to take folks shopping for groceries.
- Slim
