Last year I purchased an '06 Trek 4900 mountain bike. At the time I purchased it in the hopes of getting into some trail riding that next summer. Unfortunately due to an injury my days of off-road mountain biking are pretty much over. So now I have this 4900 that's barely been used sitting in my garage. With gas prices on the rise, I've decided to try riding my bike to work and grad school over the summer. I know the 4900 was not meant to be a commuter bike, but I was wondering what all I could change on the bike to possibly turn it into one. The obvious first thing would be some new tires, ones that were more road ready. Anyone have any suggestions? Also, is there anything else I should look into to adding/changing? I'm not too concerned about having any kind of rack on the bike, as I'll be carrying a backpack with me that can hold all that I need.

Thanks in advance to anyone who offers advice.

P.S. Here's a link to my bike. Click Here!

There might be enough room for large thin 700c wheels.. either way get road slicks on it. That's pretty much the most important thing to having a commuter bike.

Otherwise, it just depends on what you like. If you can't lock the fork (don't know if it can), you could replace it with a solid one for a better ride.

A commuter bike is just a bike you get from point A to point B on... how you want to get there is entirely up to you.

I don't see why it wouldn't work. The first step would be to get some road tires. Schwable Big Apples come to mind if you want to stay with the 26 X 2.N size. Although 2in diameter tires have a little more drag they also add alot of cushion to the ride. You could also go down to 26X1.5 or even 26X1.25 if you after minimizing drag. I'm currently running on 26X1.5 and I have noticed they are a little harsh; however, with the load I'm carrying I rather lessen drag and get up to speed faster and let my Brooks Conquest take up the road shocks.

If you have a little money budgeted I'd '86 the suspension fork and make the bike rigid all round for more pedaling efficiency. Also, depending on the climate of where you live I'd add a set of fenders and lights.

Also, even though you stated you'd use a backpack My advice is if you have to go more than 5 miles to invest in a rack and either pick up a set of panniers cheap or check out the instructables on how to mod a backpack for dual use. The major suck with backpacks is if you go over your bars, a heavily laden backpack does a pile driver right on the base of you skull.

You didn't say how long of a commute you have, but if time and energy isn't too much of an issue, you shouldn't have a problem.

Except for lights and a rack, my backup commuter bike is a stock *Mart Mongoose XR200. My primary bike is still in the shop, so I've been riding the mountain bike this week. Today I did 26 miles (Disneyland to LA basically) into work and 8 miles from work (train most of the way home).

Yes, its slower and heavier than my primary bike, however it is a bit less worrying with all the bumps, debris, and glass on LA city streets.

Dave

You can certainly convert that into a decent commuter. My first, and now bad weather, bike was a 2003 4900...just put on the stuff below, listed in order of importance, and you'll be in business.

• front/rear light kit - cateye makes a nice/cheap one
• bar ends (if you don't already have 'em). the flat bars killed my wrists until I put bar ends on.
• skinny tires - I really like panaracer 26x1.25 urban max (aramid bead) because they're super light
• fenders - the full-sized ones, not the little clip-on things
• rear rack - if your commute is more than a couple of miles. you can just strap your backpack to the top of the rack.
• a better/decent seat - the stock seat on my bike was horrible
• rigid fork - as cheap as $120 installed at your LBS

With just those things, you'll have a completely usable commuter bike. I rode mine like that on a daily 19 mi (RT) commute for nearly four months until I saved up enough to build a proper commuter bike.

Enjoy!

I have two 4900s that I ride to work (though, to be fair, my commute is only three miles or so). I have one set up with 1.5" tires with reflective sidewalls, full fenders, and an Air Zound horn (loveit!), and another with just 1.25" slicks for sunny days. I also mounted a SuperFlash to both bikes' seatposts. I use a couple Knog frog lights and 3-LED sigma clip-on front light.
I didn't bother swapping out the fork on either - I don't mind the cushioning when navigating Boston/Cambridge's potholes and constant construction.
Also, I'm jealous your 4900 has disc brakes - sure would come in handy November-March....

Thanks so much for all the great advice! I think the first thing I'm going to do is get a pair of big apple tires. I saime the 2.1 size would be best? I also think I'm going to get a new seat, possibly a brooks b17.

I commute with a 3700, so I don't see why you can't do it with the 4900. Add a rear rack, lights, fenders, panniers, and some less knobby tires and you're set.

Not necessarily, I switched from 2.10 knobbies to 1.5 slicks on my MTB and it's SO much better for my rides to work and school. I go easily 3-4 miles faster (if not more) in most areas. Also, ditto on getting a rack. That's my next thing to buy. I don't know how the weather is where you are, but here in TN even now in May a couple minutes with a backpack on is sweat city.