Todd23

I don't know if this is the correct forum to post this, so please inform me if I have chosen the incorrect location...

I currently have a mountain bike that I put road tires on. The gears seem to wear out faster than I like, so I am contemplating purchasing a new bike (potentially a road bike with upright handlebars?). I am a recreational rider who goes about 2,500-3,000 miles a year, all on roads. I have a trunk bag and two panniers and regularly make trips to the grocery store/run other errands, so I am often carrying some weight on the bike. When I go for rides, I usually go 15-30 miles and average 15-20 MPH. I also commute approximately three miles to work, often riding in rainy conditions.

I am open to any suggestions people might have for a bike that might be good for me. I think the high end of my budget would likely be $1,000-$1,500, but I would prefer to keep it as low as possible while still ending up with a quality bike that suits my needs.

Thanks!

spdracr39

I like the Trek FX series. Great relatively light bikes for a pretty good price.

VegasTriker

What make and model bike are you riding now? Is is one of the mass-merchandiser bikes? It's not normal for "gears to wear out" on a decent bike for many thousands of miles. If you perform normal maintenance on the bike, including lubricating he chain, the drive train parts should last for a long time.

There was a recent question on replacing chains and I asked several fellow riders about who had replaced their chain. Nobody had replaced a chain. Their mileage was all over 5,000 miles and one was nearing 10K. You can bet they haven't changed out chain rings or cassettes either. That's my experience too. When I eventually do replace the chain, I also replace the cassette.

Don't expect anyone here to tell you what bike to buy. They can give suggestions but nothing is better than you actually trying out a bunch of bikes before you make the choice. If you buy a road bike it will usually have a higher gear range than an MTB. Road bikes usually have narrower, higher pressure tires so they go faster but may give you a bit harsher ride on rough roads. There's always a trade off.

cyclebee

The trek fx series is good as well as cannondale'a quick series for road oriented hybrid type bikes if that is what you want

fietsbob 

Assuming you have a Trek dealer where you live, since you declined to say what you can find in your LBS ..

1st pick the shop and try a few of their bikes ...

Hybrid and 'Cross' are largely about the Handlebars , since they use the same sort of wheels (by category)

WestPablo

Checkout the Jamis Coda Elite and the Surly Ogre

FlatSix911

Take a look online for some close out deals ...

Haanjo commuter Bike $800.00
Diamondback Haanjo Complete Bike | Competitive Cyclist



Ridley X-Bow Cyclocross / Commuter $849
Ridley X-Bow/Shimano Tiagra Complete Bike - 2013 | Competitive Cyclist