Going from MTB to Road
06-23-05, 08:30 PM
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Going from MTB to Road
Hi
I commute 20km per day on my MTB. I have a 16yr old daughter who has got into road riding, and I want to go for longer rides with her....... or I need an excuse to buy a new bike!
As I am use to the MTB I thought a flat bar road bike with 3 chain rings would be the way to go. However, the more I have read on the forum, and the more I have looked, I am starting to think I should just go to the conventional road bike - most of which seem to have 2 chain rings. Being an Aussie we don't have any great mountains to worry about.
Secondly, from what I have seen for $1000-$1500 Aussie dollars ($750-$1125 US) I may be better going for a second hand higher spec bike.
All opinions grateful received!
Regards
PW
PS. My idea is when I get the "new" bike to mix my daily rides between the road and MTB designs - although I am told once I get a roadie, I won't be so keen to ride the MTB on the tarmac!
I commute 20km per day on my MTB. I have a 16yr old daughter who has got into road riding, and I want to go for longer rides with her....... or I need an excuse to buy a new bike!
As I am use to the MTB I thought a flat bar road bike with 3 chain rings would be the way to go. However, the more I have read on the forum, and the more I have looked, I am starting to think I should just go to the conventional road bike - most of which seem to have 2 chain rings. Being an Aussie we don't have any great mountains to worry about.
Secondly, from what I have seen for $1000-$1500 Aussie dollars ($750-$1125 US) I may be better going for a second hand higher spec bike.
All opinions grateful received!
Regards
PW
PS. My idea is when I get the "new" bike to mix my daily rides between the road and MTB designs - although I am told once I get a roadie, I won't be so keen to ride the MTB on the tarmac!
06-23-05, 09:14 PM
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Welcome to the forum.
I think you have been well informed in all counts.
Getting second hand is a good alternative if your bike frame size is in common size. If your frame size is either large end or small end, you'll have harder time finding it. If you are like me, riding 49cm frame, chance of finding a bike that you like in your size is very slim.
Yep, you'll be riding your road bike a lot more than MTB.
I think you have been well informed in all counts.
Getting second hand is a good alternative if your bike frame size is in common size. If your frame size is either large end or small end, you'll have harder time finding it. If you are like me, riding 49cm frame, chance of finding a bike that you like in your size is very slim.
Yep, you'll be riding your road bike a lot more than MTB.
06-24-05, 05:54 PM
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Number of chainrings is secondary. Your position on the bike and how well it fits you is primary! The bent bars of "road" bicycles offer a more varied set of hand positions than do flat bars of the MTB style bikes. The varied positions make longer rides more feasible. Frame fit is the big issue. Find one that feels right for you and ignore the bike gurus' advice - they're talking about racers which probably isn't you (or me).
Used is good. Cheap is good. If you don't like it, you've lost little or nothing. You can always modify a bike that fits for your own purposes. No matter how much you spend on a bike that doesn't fit, it still won't fit!
For practical cycling, visit www.rivbike.com and read their stuff. Some of it may not be you - that's OK - take what you like and ignore the rest.
ENJOY your new bike!
Used is good. Cheap is good. If you don't like it, you've lost little or nothing. You can always modify a bike that fits for your own purposes. No matter how much you spend on a bike that doesn't fit, it still won't fit!
For practical cycling, visit www.rivbike.com and read their stuff. Some of it may not be you - that's OK - take what you like and ignore the rest.
ENJOY your new bike!
06-24-05, 06:00 PM
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I maid the switch from a MTB to a road bike. I also looked at the "flat bar road bikes" but glad I didn't get one. My main source of discomfort on the MTB was my wrist and hands. the roadie has so many places to put my hands it is just not an issue.
I never ride my MTB except to take the trash to the dumpster in my apartment complex and also when on dirt trails ofcoarse.
I never ride my MTB except to take the trash to the dumpster in my apartment complex and also when on dirt trails ofcoarse.
12-26-05, 11:15 PM
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Just an update on this thread.
I finally bought a new road bike - note when this thread started 6 months ago. It is a New Zealand brand Avanti, Model San Remo Pro. Avanti is popular here in Australia. The bike is a triple, carbon forks, rear stay, and seat, compact design. Paid $2100 AUD with shoes, pump, on bike spares kit etc. I went for LBS with best customer service rather than chasing a cheap price. Would have been happy with a 2nd hand bike but they just weren't coming up in my size.
I did a short 20km as a first shake down ride on the new San Remo. BIGGGGG difference to the old MTB. So zippy and light on the road. Having never ridden a road bike before I was amazed how easy it was to spin along.
I found the drop bars no problem, although the arms were getting tied towards the end. As predicted there are plenty of hand positions on the drop bars so I just kept shifting places.
I am still playing with the shifting and getting use to the feel of the gearing. I had a few problems shifting between the big and the intermediate ring. For some reason I was droping through to the small ring - operator error I think! I was doing a lot of shifting just getting use to the feel of everything. The half-click trimming of the front derailers was also something new to me.
Looking forward to adding to the km's over the next few days, weeks and months.
I finally bought a new road bike - note when this thread started 6 months ago. It is a New Zealand brand Avanti, Model San Remo Pro. Avanti is popular here in Australia. The bike is a triple, carbon forks, rear stay, and seat, compact design. Paid $2100 AUD with shoes, pump, on bike spares kit etc. I went for LBS with best customer service rather than chasing a cheap price. Would have been happy with a 2nd hand bike but they just weren't coming up in my size.
I did a short 20km as a first shake down ride on the new San Remo. BIGGGGG difference to the old MTB. So zippy and light on the road. Having never ridden a road bike before I was amazed how easy it was to spin along.
I found the drop bars no problem, although the arms were getting tied towards the end. As predicted there are plenty of hand positions on the drop bars so I just kept shifting places.
I am still playing with the shifting and getting use to the feel of the gearing. I had a few problems shifting between the big and the intermediate ring. For some reason I was droping through to the small ring - operator error I think! I was doing a lot of shifting just getting use to the feel of everything. The half-click trimming of the front derailers was also something new to me.
Looking forward to adding to the km's over the next few days, weeks and months.
