What we need is a poll. From reading the posts on this board (which I have done for about 6-months) it seems like MTBs are the preferred choice.

Edit: OK, now there is a poll. Early results indicate that I'm probably wrong - there may not be as many MTB commuters as I thought on this forum. Still, in the real world, it seems like MTBs dominate.

Rode a road bike during the summer. For winter, I've switched to a hybrid with 37mm tires with a light tread pattern because:

1) I like being more upright so I can see better.
2) I like being more upright because it gives people a better view of my reflective vest.
3) I like having my center of gravity further back for stability
4) I can't see as well even with good lighting as I can during the day, and I need more stability in case I hit road debris
5) I want wider tires and lower tire pressures than my road bike can handle, which I need to roll over the extra road debris like acorns. They make my road bike feel fairly unstable when I hit them.
6) I want fenders, which my road bike can't tolerate (not full coverage fenders, anyway).
7) I want a wider bar than the drop bars on my road bike.
7) I don't want to subject my road bike to snow, salt, grit, and grime

I realize I could have modded my road bike to accomodate some of those issues, but it was a whole lot cheaper and easier to just change the tires on my old hybrid and throw on some fenders. And I still like my road bike for what it is and don't want to change it.

The only issue I'd raise is whether a hybrid is a road bike or a mountain bike? I'd say that most hybrids are "real" road bikes, in that they're designed and optimized for non-ideal (ie, typical) roads, whereas your usual road bike is usually suited for ideal conditions.

That said, as soon as it's light again for both ends of my commute, I'll pull the road bike back out.

Based on the early responses to this poll, I suspect that the basic premise of this thread may be faulty. Those early returns show a preference for road and touring styles, by about a 3:1 ratio. Time for those who love MTB's to get over there and stuff the box a bit.

MTB user here. But same as Banzai, I intend to upgrade to a CX after all the reading I have done here.

Yeah, the premise that most folks use MTBs for their main commuters is derived from my real-world observations. But on this forum, it's looking more and more like hardcore commuters gravitate toward touring and cross bikes. I don't think that forum members represent an even cross-section of the overall pool of commuters... Maybe more experienced commuters (who are more likely to post on this forum) are more likely to use road-style bikes?

*waits for ILTB*

Commuters who have to commute due to funding issues tend to not frequent computer forums or for that matter can not afford many of the bikes used here.
AKA ILTB's real commuters.

Many of us enthusiasts could use any forms of transport we choose but for whatever reason have chosen bikes. Note my caveat "many" not all.

MTBs are readily available and cheap.

they're more durable, especially in the wheels
the wider tire and lower psi is more forgiving but still reasonably quick
the riding position is a bit more upright and comfortable while still being very responsive

I'm agreeing with the availability of mountain bikes being cheaper and a lot more sturdier feeling probably gives the MTB the edge. For those that are not seriously into cycling but ride to work/wherever, a road bike probably seems a little overkill and maybe even appear dangerous with regard to road hazards.

I use my Centurion LeMans to commute on, 700x25c and 28c front/rear respectfully, it's not ideal with having no fenders, but I flat-out prefer this bike than my MTB. It's lighter and faster, and that's what makes it more fun to me. The 'upright position' hoo-har seems like balls to me, I can ride on the tops of my drops and be as upright... I didn't like not having brakes there (I remember asking about suicide levers here, in fact) and ended up adding in-line levers to solve that (~$25CAD). I ride on the hoods/corners mostly anyway.

Oh lordy...

Very true. Which, as you so rightly point out along with the rest of your post, leads to the numbers of them you will see on a commute.

I think your "sample" is skewed. Many of us commuters ride something like this:

Do you work or live at the beach.

Al

I wished. That's my bike dressed up in it's commuter "garb" for this ride:

Oh well, I guess you didn't take that picture from your front porch. But that ride route looks great. Ever go for a swim at the destination?

Al

Here's the one at the front porch before I started that ride that day (July 4th, 2007). I hadn't thrown on the good lights yet:



I've gone swimming at Ocean City, MD many-a-time.

I'm the only one with dual-suspension MTB selected. Why? It's Vermont. Lots of dirt trails I can wander off on during my commute if I get bored. And I do this frequently. Up/down hills, single track stuff, etc. I like it because I can go anywhere with it.

Noracer- those are some big *** bottles in your cages... lol

I bought my current MB to pull my kids on a tow-behind bike. The road bike was not geared for hills with a kid!

Since I had it, I now commute on it. When I replace it, I will look at a different style to see if I like a cross bike or ???

If my commute were longer than the 20 RT it is, I would definately go to something else. My road bike does not have rack mounts, otherwise I might have used that for speed when the weather is nice.

I've never seen new bikes suitable for off-road use at that pricepoint.

I rode a road bike as a commuter for many years. For my 17 mile comute in San Diego where most of the route was along Kearny Mesa road I had a nice road bike. Another 7 mile commute in San Diego actually saved me 4 miles of riding by going through the center of a nature preserve. You know I rode a mountain bike for that.

So it all depends on where you are riding. When I swapped the flat well-paved roads of Palm Springs for the potholed hills of west Little Rock I took along a 15 year old Mountain Bike and put on slicks, fenders, lights and a rack. My commute is short, only 3 miles each way. So I just need a bike to power up hills and descend them immediately and back up the next hill. The low gears of the mountain bike are great for that. And the rims can take the abuse given by the bad paving. The bike is tough, inexpensive, maneuverable and takes on rain, snow and ice. And with the fenders, it has the good looks of a cruiser.

I'm involved in the local Bicycle Advocacy group and this bike goes to frequent events where it is displayed as a model for a commuter designed for Little Rock. It's low cost makes it appealing to beginning commuters who may not be able to afford a good road bike, or want one.

How many commuters offroad their MTBs on their way to/from work/school/errands?

MTB doesn't mean offroad.

Actually the frame is a small--makes those 24 oz bottles look huge.

I see a few roadies and a few people commuting on mtbs. The mtb is definitely slower and I'd never give up my road bike to commute on a mtb.

<--Commutes in the concrete jungle.

me sometimes- not true "mountain bike" action, but off on dirt roads etc.
I did once accidentaly take my 1.5 slicks to the state park MTB singletrack, forgot my other set of wheels with the nobbies. I rode the entire dam' 16 miles with 1.5 slicks. sand, roots, rocks... i spooned & walked a LOT
cheers

I did a quick check on Wallmart web site.

Lowest cost 'Men's Road Bike" $147.77
Lowest cost 'Men's MTB" $47.77

Which looks like it may last longer? Which looks like it is more comfortable? Which is more versatile?

Al

I started bike commuting on one of those wal-mart mountain bikes. I broke it in six weeks. That's aside the point, though. Fact of the matter is that I see SCADS of "real commuters" (read: impoverished folks who ride because it's how they MUST get around) who do, in fact ride around on roadmasters, huffies, NEXT, and any other el-cheapo Pacific, Dynacrap and Kent-rebranded mountain bikes, most of which cost $100 or less brand new.

Yes and understandably so.

Al