Originally Posted by
BlarneyStoner
...My girlfriend recently bought a Rans (man is that thing weird), and wants me to get something to accompany her on weekend rides.
What RANS?
My idea was this (and you guys tell me if this is even feasible): to buy a mountain bike and then get a narrower rim and some road tires and swap the two, when necessary, for a "jack of all trades" (master of none) kind of bike. Can this be done? Is it advisable?
Yes you can do it, and you don't need to swap the rims.
Just get some slick tires about 1.5 inches wide, get tubes to fit them (tubes come in different widths too!) and you're good to go. The narrower tires will work fine on the rims you've got.
And I disagree with the other poster in that you can get a suspended bike for pavement riding, too. The suspension makes riding over bumps easier on your various parts--just like it does off-road. The weight difference will cost you next to nothing in practical terms, but the comfort difference you will feel with every bump you roll over.
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