Originally Posted by
EGBigelo
I'm still debating the front suspension or not (like a Trek DS), but came across the Giant Talon 3. It's basically a hybrid with a bit more travel in the fork and wider tire, but labeled as a mountain bike.
Does anyone commute on a mountain bike? If so, does it slow you down, or do you have to work harder to get where you're going? I'm thinking it would get a soft ride, be sturdy enough to handle anything, and versatile. My commute is 8 miles one way, some small hills, and paved. Although the roads are in bad shape. For running errands and stuff like that, I'm in a small town so everything is within a mile or two.
For running errands over a mile or two it won't make a difference if you're on a hybrid or a mountain bike. It's just too short of a distance for the advantages and disadvantages to pile up.
For the 8 mile commute though that's another story.
I'd say you probably won't need the mountain bike. The hybrid would do fine on paved surfaces, even crappy ones. The low quality suspension forks on most hybrids will handle a nasty paved road just fine. You don't really need the high end suspension fork until you are going high speed into tree roots and rocks and stuff. But if you like the mountain bike you've looking at...the higher end fork isn't going to hurt you. Plus it gives you versatility to do a more off trail experience should the mood strike you.
What will hold you back on an 8 mile ride is the tires the mountain bike will come with. They will be knobby tires that just aren't made for pavement. They are made for mud and loose dirt and stuff like that. But tires can be easily swapped out for something less aggressive that will do better on a paved surface. Again if it's paved, you don't need much tread. Even if the pavement is bumpy and nasty, tread isn't helping. Tread helps with 'loose' not bumpy. To help with bumpy what you want is a larger tire like a 40-45mm tire that can absorb a lot of impact to cushion the ride. Those come in low tread pavement versions.
What also might hold you back depending on the mountain bike is gearing. Mountain bikes are not built for speed on pavement. They are build for ease of pedaling up hills. So they are often geared lower with a single small chain ring up front and a wide range of gears in the back. But there often isn't a gear option for 'Ludicrous Speed'. Hybrids will generally have gearing that is more conducive to speed. Not like a road bike, but better than a mountain bike. Ironically the gearing on the hybrid will be lower quality than the gearing on a decent mountain bike. But it'll go faster.
The hybrids will make a good 'nasty paved road' bike.
Mountain bikes make a good 'this is not a road' bike.
Road bikes turn a nasty paved road into a 'the nurses at the hospital were great' bike.
The Giant Talon 3 you are looking at is somewhere in between the true mountain bike and a hybrid. It's got faster gearing than a mountain bike bu that 42 tooth large chain ring up front won't be as speedy as a 48 tooth more common on hybrids.
The 100mm travel fork is find for even nasty paved roads. You won't bottom that out. Plus it's got a lock out which you will want for any kind of smooth pavement riding. It's got enough compression that you'll absorb a solid whack into a pot hole.
I'm 50/50 on the tires it comes with. They are not built for speed on pavement. But they aren't heavy duty off road trail blazing mudders either. You may be okay with them. You may opt for something speedier.
You will love the hydraulic brakes on it.