rockabilly808

so I've really not been mountain bike at all lately and I think I'll out it to use as my commuter bike, where's what I have for it so far:
rear rack
saddle bag
more comfortable saddle
new front and rear lights
bar and cable lock system and frame mount

anything else you guys would suggest? but my real question is about tire choice, the route I ride is on rather poor quality roads and a little bit of dirt path, any suggestions that will fit on the existing MTB rim?

wahoonc

fenders and a decent kevelar belted tire. On my conversion I use 1.75 semi slicks, just happen to be the Forte Gotham from Performance. Current fenders are Freddy Fenders from Planet Bike. I used my rigid MTB as a dedicated commuter for a couple of years, now it is being reincarnated as an Expedition Bike.

Aaron

acroy

I ride a front-susp MTB 3500 miles per year commuting.

slicks, 1.25 to 2", depening on what you like, work great. Schwalbe Marathons 1.75 inch is what i'm riding now, great tire, tough, long lasting.

Sounds like you have the rest. Cheers

jcm

I agree with the above: slicks - any size you like - mine vary from 1.25" to the current 1.5" Armadillos. They are heavy, but seldom flat. Marathons have a very loyal following, too. Get fenders. Freddies are very tough, but no fender is worth the bother if you don't install a very long and wide front flap.

alicestrong

Bell? I love my bells.

Maybe a computer to track those short trips that add up so quickly?

destro713

I've technically converted a hardtail MTB into a commuter, insofar as I've commuted with it, but the actual "conversion" isn't complete. I've added a rack, a better saddle, and 1.75" Vittoria Randonneur Cross tires. I have a Superflash and a front LED flashlight rig on their way to me. I plan to add fenders and BMX pedals or something similar. Also thinking about switching out the tires for some Nimbus Armadillos, swapping my flatbar for trekking bars with touring-style foam grips, adding a loud-ass horn, and possibly getting studded tires for the coming months. A computer would be cool but I don't need one. And eventually I'd like to replace the whole drivetrain with something less prone

I have a couple friends who are into road bikes and I have lots of fun watching them cringe when I tell them my goal is to put as much crap on my bike as it can possibly fit.

Mr. Underbridge

If you're riding on dirt paths I'd get a fender with a LOT of clearance, lest your tires pick up a rock or other trail debris, get it lodged between wheel and fender, and lock the wheel with potentially unhappy consequences.

Also, if riding on bad, poorly-lit roads and trails where you need to be able to dodge stuff - you'll need to invest in a very good (and thus possibly expensive) light. You didn't mention what sort of front light you have.

Regarding tires - how much dirt trail are you riding? If terrain is tough there and you don't want to basically coast, I might disagree with some of the other responders and recommend something that has a bit of tread. Not knobbies my any means, but something that might get a little grip.

Artkansas 

I think that most of the suggestions so far have been good. My commuter is a 15 year old Specialized Hard Rock. I added fenders, a rear rack and bungee, lights, and street tires.

Since you don't say how much dirt path and how difficult it is. You are the one who will have to make the determination of what kind of tires you need. For poor quality roads, good street slicks are fine. If the dirt path is just that, they may even work okay. But otherwise you might want a little tread on the edges or maybe even knobbies. You don't say how long your commute is, and that affects things too. If its a short commute, knobbies won't slow you down too much. But if it's a long ride and a short path, street tires are preferred.

Good luck and have fun riding.

CliftonGK1

My '91 rigid frame/fork Stumpjumper commuter setup:

Nashbar 6-packer front rack
Blackburn rear rack
PB Freddy HC fenders
Schwalbe Marathon+ tires
Nashbar Elite rack trunk and handlebar bag
2x PB Superflash blinkies
L&M Solo headlight

nashcommguy

Everything you've listed looks spot on. The only thing I would avoid are the Jandd Saddlebags as they're good quality, but they don't carry very much. You'd be better off getting an expandable trunk bag like a Topeak or a Sunlite. For your pump get the Topeak Road or Mountain Morph W/Guage. They're worth their weight in gold. Make sure you get it "W/GUAGE!!!" as the ones w/o are only a few dollars cheaper, but are a PITA as you can't tell where your psi is.

My lighting is a Niterider Trailrat 2.0 w/universal taillight. The headlight is 100.00 from https://www.brandscycle.com and the taillight is another 55.00...free shipping, though. I use a Cateye Opticube Sport(15.00) and set it on blink mode for daytime and have a couple of cheap(9.00)blinkies from my lbs I use as backups for the Univ tl. This year I'm going to invest 50.00 in this: https://www.powerflare.com Also, I string Christmas lights I got from Target last year on my frame. They don't blink, but are effective from the side.

BTW, this is all on a Fuji stiff/ht w/1.75 kenda street tires w/mr tuffy liners.

rockabilly808

I have 2 cateye HL-EL530's on the handle bars and thy seem plenty bright for my porposes.

Okiegonian

How about a coffee-mug holder?

rockabilly808

now THAT is a good idea, where can I get one? oh and one of the frame mounted flasks?

dr.raleigh

Those are a lot of headset spacers.

Mr. Underbridge

Might depend on ambient lighting conditions. Where I live, we have no streetlights at all. If the OP doesn't have any lights and he's riding offroad, 530's won't cut it - partly because the beam is narrow, partly because they just aren't all that bright.

For offroad, I'd heavily recommend one helmet mounted light for seeing around turns, and one bar-mount.

sping

I am seriously thinking of a helmet mounted light for urban commuting, so that I can point it at drivers emerging from the side (over the top of parked cars) to make sure they see me. That, and to look for potholes on dirty wet nights.

Also, as someone pointed out, ironically it's in decent street lighting that you need to be really bright to stand out and be seen. In pitch dark, a small blinky will be relatively effective.

Okiegonian

My wife wants the mug holder for Christmas; I might have to pick up one for myself too. They are at several local shops here in Eugene - otherwise it looks like Soma sells them online: https://store.somafab.com/morucoho.html

I like the cautionary statement about drinking while riding.

HardyWeinberg

I am a big fan of schawlbe big apples, 26x2.0 fit under my fenders just fine. I wonder about pushing to 2.35s.

Mr. Underbridge

Depends if you're trying to see or be seen, and how fast you plan to go. And how much ambient traffic there is. Where I live, there's not much traffic, and no streetlights. Pretty much all the light I see is generated by something on my bike. As such, I have to have a decent light to be able to see well enough to avoid any road debris - a blinkie definitely wouldn't cut it.

I like the helmet mount for a lot of reasons. Being able to point it at side-streeters is great. It's very useful on twisty paths, as a bar mounted light will point uselessly in a tangent away from the turn. I also like it to scan back and forth to pick out any hidden road hazards, etc.

Only thing I don't like about the helmet mount is when using it in fog, because the backscatter of the light off of moisture in the air right above my head comes back in my eyes and hurts my night vision. I may put it on the bar when it's foggy in the future.

Mr. Underbridge

Dupe

Bill Kapaun

Depending on the type dirt you ride on, the Bell "bike path" tire may fill the bill quite well for about $8. It comes in a 26x1.75". It's "pretty" smooth down the middle, with a "slightly" more aggressive tread toward the edges. It's not the best street tire, but really not too bad for mixed use as you describe. I kind of prefer them when there are leaves on the ground. Check your dept/xmart type stores. Summer, a "streetier" tire would probably be desired.

Sparky005s

I would not lug a heavy bar lock around on a frame mount. I leave locks at the places I go to most so I don't have to carry them. I color code them with different color electrical tape, so I know which key goes with which lock. If you want to carry a lock with you it should probably be a relatively light weight cable lock.

I've been riding a hard tail mtb convert as well, an 1990's vintage Giant Yukon. I put on a rear rack and bontrager hard case tires. No flats for the last month. The tires have a light tread over most of the tire, with a little knobby on the sides for cornering in dirt. Also put on bar ends to give my hands some relief. I should put on some fenders but it looks like it may never rain again here in Northern CA. The Shimano Alivio stuff has been bulletproof. I just make sure to pedal softly when shifting.

Best of luck to you.