Originally Posted by
HiYoSilver
MTB's have a place, but I'd never use one in Denver. There's just too much nice weather and too little snow.
Back to the original poster's question, why so many mtb's?
1. they are cheaper than road bikes?
2. they are cheaper than tri bikes
3. they are not as choice of a thief target as a road bike
4. it's hard to find touring bikes, and they are pricey anyway.
5. they're cheap, cheap, cheap.
Most commuters on the forum are still in school and are pinching pennies. If you're riding at school, there are no safe places to leave an expensive road bike. FYI- road bikes start at about $1,500 and can easily go to $10,000.
You want a good road bike for commuting, then consider this:
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...land/portland/
You'ld have to replace the idiot fenders with real fenders, add lights, different pedals, etc. You're starting at $1700 and then adding 2 to 600. Most commuters on these forums don't ride in place of paying for a gym membership, but ride to save money. They can't justify spending $2,000+ for a commute bike. Althought, they would never, never been seen driving in a $2,000 junker. Go figure.
Another disagree here. I was dropped off today by the wife because my daughter had a doctor's appointment and I found out, much to my chagrin, that Cherry Creek State Park (1/3rd of my commute one way) is still covered in snow and ice and my 25mm tires just won't cut it.
Unbelievably the Trail through Parker was the most plowed, in condition part of my commute! Regardless, it wasn't bad, but last week there's no way that tires narrower than 2 inches would have done what my MTB tires 2.1 inches wide did!
I've decided on a Surly Crosscheck myself. My reasoning is the larger wheels and the more road-like geometry. I feel more efficient in a more tucked position, and I can put riser bars on it if I really want to be more upright for the winter. It also has braze-ons for rack and fenders, it has a high BB and it has horizontal dropouts if I want to run it SS, fixed or with an IGH. My only problem is that it doesn't have disc bosses. Oh well. Put 45s on it, though, and it's just in the realm of doable during those snowstorms.
Denver has the WORST cleanup after snowstorms of any snowy city I've ever been in. They could take a serious lesson from Grand Rapids, MI or even Detroit. I COULD get by with just a Crosscheck, but the fact is I started commuting AFTER I had a MTB (for fun in the mountains) and a road bike (for fun cruising fast on the roads). So, on a snowy day what comes out? MTB.
The MTB might only come out a few days a year, but it's evidence that it does have a place in Denver.