Originally Posted by
Darth Lefty
I’m no longer completely sold on knobby tires being a problem (just like I’m no longer sold on cheap forks being a problem). If you try to ride your commute on soft compound Maxxis Minions that is not going to be great, but there are less aggressive treads and harder compounds that do fine. Any tire marketed for bikepacking will do great.
What I don’t like are inferior bikes copping the style of MTB’s but not delivering.
I agree with you on the tires (but not on the fork). I commute on moutain bikes often and never have a problem cornering aggressively. The tires I like and use regularly (Panaracer Dart and Smoke) have a much more aggressive and taller tread than the Maxxix Ikons and I can easily corner on pavement at speed without any issues. The tires don’t “fold over” or skid out. They are designed to be used on uneven surfaces from soft dirt to decomposed granite to slick rock. All of those are much more difficult to corner on than predictable old pavement.
Originally Posted by
EGBigelo
I've been posting over in the Hybrid forum because I'm in the market for a new bike. I'm a road bike rider primarily and looking for a commuter/all-arounder.
Now that warmer weather is coming, this year I have vowed to use my car as little as possible. So I will be commuting to work, running errands, grocery shopping and stuff like that with this new bike.
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.
While the Talon 3 is going to be on the heavy side...lots of steel parts on the bike...it should do fine for commuting. I commute on these two mountain bikes regularly with knobbed tires
DSCN0934 by
Stuart Black, on Flickr
IMG_3144 by
Stuart Black, on Flickr
The Dean is a hardtail and the Moots is technically a dual suspension bike but the rear suspension is minimal. Both are ridden off-road on trails that parallel a local creek as well as during the winter (the Moots gets studs). I have the choice of two routes that are 9 and 10 miles. The 10 mile route has more trail to ride. It’s hard to say how much slower the mountain bikes are because I don’t ride them strictly on pavement too often. My average speed is about 10 mph compared to about 12 mph on my road commuter but a lot of the speed difference could be the dirt riding.
I’d say to go ahead and buy the Talon then start looking for ways to use it like it was intended. Look for those social trails, short cuts, trails along rivers, etc. where the Talon can shine. Just riding on pavement gets old and it’s nice to ride something that provides a different challenge and, perhaps, a little fun to your commute.