commuting noob needs advise
 

Hi all,
So my new job is about 10 miles away and I want to start riding to work. Part of the ride would be on dirt fire roads. The thing is that I dont want to use either my $2500 road bike or my $3000 Mtn bike, so I am going to build a commuting bike, so my question is: Is it better to roadie-ify a mountain bike or off-road-ify a road bike? Any help would be appreciated.

thanks

Off-road-ify

Look at Cyclocross bikes. These are designed for both street and dirt road use.

Consider
Surly Cross Check
Jamis Nova Pro
Specialized Tricross

These are very popular as commuters. I have a Soma Double Cross. I use it for everything.

Michael

Yeah, cyclocross or a touring bike is what you want.

Cyclocross with some 35mm or bigger off-roadie tires.

Cyclocross of some type...

I think it's unanimous.....and I'll add my +1 on the cross bike.

Me too! Cross all the way!

Another vote for CX...

I vote for touring - much like CX, but will have all fender / rack attachment points that are desirable for commuting. I have a 10 year old REI / Novara Randonee that does well. I don't use dirt often, but have at times, and it does well.

Some race-level CX bikes lack rack and fender eyelets, chose one with these features.
Disk brakes are not totally race-legal but some do-it-all cx style bikes feature disks. If your fire-roads get muddy in rain it is something to consider. Gunnar do a really good disk-mount that is compatible with a standard rear luggage rack.

I've ridden my road bike on similar roads--unpaved rural KS roads with mix of hardpack and loose stuff, prone to washboarding after a few heavy rains--with 28c slicks and a seatpost rack/trunk bag. Distance was around 10 miles and the road bike was much faster and more comfortable than my mountain bike, which was complete overkill for the "terrain."

If I were buying a bike specifically for that situation, a cross bike would certainly seem to fit the bill, or a touring bike, as mentioned, or even a beater road bike off of CL. Really, just depends on how many braze-ons and what-not you think you're going to want.

I roaded-up my MTB once, while I was rebuilding my road bike ... it worked, but not all that well.

Another vote for bulking up a road frame or getting a cross.

I choose a MTB to be my commuter because i do 50/50 on asphalt road and off road.

with the proper tires, you can ride as fast as racing bikes on and off road :thumb:

I'm using "Racing Ralph" tires