Alright so I have a somewhat unique situation and I thought this would be the best place to put it. So I am going on a church mission and I need to but a bike. I will be in denver, Colorado and the surrounding mountainous area. My delima is they recommend I get a hard tail mountain bike and Im thinking that some type of road bike will fit my needs better but I know very little about bikes especially road bikes. My bike is going to be my main form of transportation year-round. I will be riding it all day so I need something comfortable. I will be mainly on roads and sidewalks most likely. I dont really know what its like out there. It also needs to be able to have fenders as i will prob be riding in some not so good conditions and wearing nice clothes. i will also be wearing a backpack while riding. I am pretty tall but very skinny and light if that makes a differnce (besides size) it needs to be very reliable and not too expensive. I want to try and stay under $900 i think. Where direction should I be looking? Am i right to be looking at more "roady" bikes. Also if you could give me some specific models and companies to look at that would be awesome. I was just checking out some gary fisher stuff and kinda like the lane or the kaitai if I end up going the MTB route. Also someone was saying single speed would be better for reliability reasons but i think with proper maintenance and good equipment the benefits will outweigh that. disk brakes whould be cool too if they fit in the price range. I dont know how much of a difrence they make on bikes though because they are so light and I have never tried them.
sorry for making that so long. If you need more details just ask. thanks for the help

I'd say buying a road bike, or cyclocross bike with a triple crankset. Normally, I'd say to try out a Surly Cross Check or the like (about $1,000), but your price lends itself more to something like bikesdirect.com.

IMO, if I were to buy a brand new bike with a triple and everything I'd want on a bike, I'd try to spend $1000 to $1200, but with your limit, BD comes in handy.

Check it out - you can get a decent, steel or aluminum bike with a triple for about $600

https://bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm

https://bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/galaxy.htm


Also check out Kona, Trek, Fuji, etc. They might have a relatively low-priced bike you could get for a decent price. You could also check craigslist for a good bike once you get there. Actually, me being a vintage guy, that would be my first choice, then either the Surly or the BD bikes.

BTW, to the regulars - you know me. I'm not trying to shill, even though this might sound like it.

Thanks, ill check those out right now. The reason Im trying to keep it somewhat cheap is simply because it will prob be out locked up a lot and in the chance it gets stolen I dont want to loose as much i guess. Its also going to get used and abused everyday.

If you're looking to buy something new, a lot of hybrids might be appropriate. Consider the Trek FX series. The 7.3FX might work for you if you can find one that's the right size. Also, the price point would leave you money to buy fenders and a rear rack (better than a backpack, especially if you're in nice clothes.) For a road/ CX bike, the price range is a bit low, but a Cross Check would serve you well. Of course you'd have to add fenders, lights and a rack after, t the $1,059 price tag would run to $1,200 before tax.
If your mechanically inclined or know of a local bike co-op that can help you assemble a bike, the Velo Orange Polyvaltent Mini Build Kit with additional parts could give you a really nice bike, one that you can ride anywhere an any conditions and that's customized to your specs.

I'm a lifelong flatlander from back east. What impressed me most about riding in Denver when I visited two years ago, it that it's even flatter than here. The city and surrounding environs are dead flat. Now I know why fixies are so popular there. If you don't go too far west, you'll never need gears. And yet, people ride fixies up those mountains.

I took my road bike on that trip and enjoyed every mile. The roads are in very good shape, the bike path network is superb. The only time you'd need a mountain bike is off-road in the mountains. Even as a lifelong lowlander and flatlander, my road bike was perfectly adequate when we headed up the mountains on the roads. I was slower than the locals and had to stop and catch my breath every now and again, but I rode to 14,130 feet to the top of Mt. Evans with surprisingly little difficulty.

Back home, I'll never understand why missions send kids here on mountain bikes. There are no mountains for hundreds of miles, and off-road riding is illegal here except on private property. Yet every year, the Mormons send this year's crop of missionaries out into the city on shiny new mountain bikes. Even before you see the starched white shirt and black pants, you can spot a missionary by their mountain bike. And the cheesy $10 cable lock they send out with it.

In any event, there are more similarities than there are differences between new sub-$1k road bikes. Any one is as good as any other. Most have rack and fender eyelets too, something you don't generally get in more expensive models. You may also want to investigate cyclocross bikes. There are many bargain CX bikes in that price range.

As for theft, there are two kinds of locks. The first only keeps honest people honest. They are so easily defeated you might as well use dental floss. The second kind will deter most all amateur and casual thieves. None will deter a good professional. Get good locks--note the plural--and use them every time you get off the bike. This will go further to keeping your bike in your possession than will buying cheap.

Lead them not into temptation. That's the purpose of good locks--eliminating temptation.

I live in Denver and I'm LDS and I served a mission, so I think I can comment. Although, we didn't use bikes in my mission.

I've also often wondered why missionaries are always riding mountain bikes, but after a lot of thought it makes sense to me. The deal is, that sometimes you have to be able to get ANYWHERE by bike, and on time for appointments. I can think of one example on my daily commute to work where I take the long way around on my road bike rather than go along a dirty trail. A mountain bike would be perfect.

Second, you have to get there and not be too sweaty. The granny gear on mountain bikes helps a lot. You will definitely not be in Denver your whole mission. You'll be in various places in Colorado, maybe even Grand Junction if I recall (I think the mission extends that far) or mountain cities.

Plus, as you said, you'll be locking the bike up outside A LOT. So you don't want a nice bike that's attractive to thieves. Having said all that, I really don't think you'll need a suspension fork. You'll have to go off the beaten path a bit but it's probably mostly just dirt, not mountain bike riding. You could get by with a cyclocross bike, although the drop bars might make it look expensive and be a mark to get stolen (different schools of thought on that). If you get a mountain bike I would go with a rigid fork. Disc brakes would be nice for bad weather. The missionaries around here try to get rides in the winter when the weather is really bad. You don't have room to be lugging around a spare set of non-foldable tires. I would recommend some kind of tires that aren't as aggressive as full MTB tires, maybe some cyclocross tires.

A hybrid bike might be ideal, if you can find one with disc brakes even better (I think Giant makes one). I'd put some cyclocross tires on your hybrid and call it good. Get a triple with low gearing and you'll be fine.

You need a bike for basic transportation, which is not a mountain bike. The people advising you are not bicycling experts!

I suggest a Jamis Commuter 3, which is in your price range, or a Breezer Uptown 8, or a Trek Soho, which might be above it. Specialized has some similar models, too--Globe Vienna looks ok. Need to add fenders.

You'll utilzed the rack and come to appreciate the fenders, chainguard, lights, and kickstand, none of which come with the purchase of a mountain bike.

I read the thread title and was hoping for something really covert and exciting... all MI-5 or CIA like... oh well.

I will refrain from sharing my opinions on church missionary work here, or else this thread will end up in P&R, but I will wish you good luck finding a good bike.

Windsor Tourist gets my vote. I just wish they'd offer it with a sugino XD triple crank.

I would tend to go with the recommendations of a hard-tailed mountain bike. Though you might want to go with street slicks.

1) You don't need suspension, keeps it simpler.
2) Good mountain bikes tend to have components selected with eye towards being abused.
3) 26" tires are available at almost any Walmart
4) Low profile, not as desireable by thieves.

Others of the LDS persuasion have outlined a good overall view.

I personally used a 20 year old Specialized Hard Rock as my exclusive transportation for 3 years and it held up wonderfully. A used bike can be good, just make sure you have it blessed by the local LBS that it's in good shape.

Don't mean to confuse you, but this is a fine option, if you add fenders and a rack. Keep a thick pant leg strap with the bike, too, to keep them out of the chain. Nothing wrong with using a mountain bike, but spend the $ on the transportation gear and mount up some slicks and you'll be fine.

Hardtail mountain bike sounds like the best option. Anything resembling a road bike is not going to be good in the winter. I'm not even sure you can make it witha mountain bike in the winter. Mountain bikes are geared lower than road bikes, so it is not just the wheels & tires, it is the lower gearing of the MTB that will be good. Get an extra set of tires for the dryer season, and stick with the mountain tires for the winter.

I hear they get a lot of snow in Denver. Probably more than you can handle on a bike. But good luck anyway.

Huh? You can bike year round in Denver--I do it in Cleveland and Denver's easier. Get some studded tires for the winter and you'll love it.

I'd go with a Hard tail mtn. bike. Just remembering from my mission the roads we travelled on, plus the rides on pday. You can't go wrong.

alright thanks for all the comments. so after all the advice i think the conclusion is that although a more road bike or cx would be better most of the time. it would fit me better to have more of a mountain bike (with lockouts) that can take the rougher terrain in the few occasions that i will need it. So i think i will go with a crosscontry/ dualsport type bike with street friendly tires. Ill go to a shop and look around but from what i see online the GF kaitai or montar, the specialized crosstrail, the bianchi doss 5200, and the cannondale quick all look like good options but with my little knowledge of parts I cannot decide which one is best besides by looks alone. out of these should I just assume that the more it cost the better it is? Like how much better would the GF montare be than the kaitai since it cost nearly $450 more. anyother bike suggestions, ill also go try out some hybrid and cyclocross type bikes at a shop just to see how they feel.

links to the 2 GF bikes
https://fisherbikes.com/bike/model/montare
https://fisherbikes.com/bike/model/kaitai
heres also this one which is right in between
https://fisherbikes.com/bike/model/utopia

A rack is nice to have, especially if you can find a backpack/rack bag cross to put on it. It helps to keep you from getting a sweaty back.

Denver gets a reputation for snow because of the TV weather news coverage of early and late season freak storms that drop a few inches on the city. In general though, Denver is pretty clear compared to most northeastern cities.

That said, I'd go with the advice of the guy that was on a mission. A MTB/hybrid with slicks and eyelets (for rack and fenders) sounds like the best all around option. If you are already a cycling enthusiast, a cross bike might be even better.

Since you'll be wearing slacks, shirt & tie, or a suit, or a suit with a rain coat, you'll need something that will allow you to be comfortable. A more upright position is generally desired when wearing these kind of duds. A drop bar, road bike or 'cross bike will not be comfortable for you.

My son, who is now serving in Boise, Idaho has a mountain bike. He is on unpaved roads sometimes, plus he already had the bike prior to his mission, so this was a no brainer.

If you know for a fact that you'll be on paved roads 99% of the time, I'd go with some sort of hybrid. Get a rack, FOR SURE. Fenders would be highly recommended.

I served in Taiwan. My bike was a completely hideous, old gas pipe, rod brake, 50 pound behemoth. Bullet proof, for sure... but it got me everywhere I needed to go!

You can always call the Mission Home where you're going to serve and ask about the road conditions that you're likely to encounter.