Looking for some advice
 

Hello, I am new here. I recently purchased a used Trek Mountain bike and have been riding it daily on asphalt about 5 miles a night. I was thinking about purchasing a quicker bike, possibly a road bike, but I also want to get that full exercise effect so I am considering a hybrid bike. My first goal in bike riding was to lose weight. Does anyone have any suggestions or should I try to change the tires on my existing bike? I really would appreciate your advice.

Thank you,

Do some 40 mile rides.

I got in 75 miles yesterday on this:

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...day7612001.jpg

Basically this.

Honestly, go for a bicycle that appeals to you. A five mile ride on either road or hybrid probably won't do very much for someone. It's why so many people recommend going for progressively longer rides, although you start with shorter ones in the beginning.

I'm still saving for a decent bike, and right now I have about the worst someone could ask for (in fact, yesterday I literally pedaled off a pedal, but I digress). It had been about fifteen years since I've ridden, until this past week. I though a five mile ride would have been exhausting, but I've found ten to be a very easy goal. My first day, I did twenty. Although I was a little sore the next day, it was surprisingly not so bad.

I blame a lot of the success on reading threads here. Seriously: Work on cadence, learn the right way to shift your gears, breathe. You'll find yourself farther and with more energy than you anticipate.

And when you finally find your next ride, you'll also know a little more about your own riding preferences to make a better decision about a road bike, hybrid, or perhaps another option.

Pretty poor advice for someone just starting out (like myself and the OP) from someone with your experience. How can you possibly advice a new rider to start out doing 40 mile rides? This would be the equivalent to telling someone that jogs around the block to run a marathon, and would be the one thing to put them off riding forever.

I am new to riding and also taking 5-8 mile rides daily, and that is what I would consider to be a sensible starting point. I hope to one day be taking 40 mile rides, but that day is quite a way off right now.

OP wants to get a FULL exercise EFFECT. One can do that on any bike. Of course one has to work up to longer rides.

My first 50 mile ride was completed after three weeks of riding and I was 65y/o back then.

This is good advice. :thumb:

Thank you Andykay, I was asking about different bike styles, not how far I should ride as I too am just starting out. I do at least 5 miles a day, rarely skip, and I was thinking of getting a different bike, just wasn't sure if I should go to a hybrid or right to a road bike? I do plan to increase the distance, which is the reason for another bike. I need to increase the workout if it is to be effective.

Thanks Blinkie, I do intend to increase the length and have to learn how to shift my gears better as I tend to keep them on the harder gears so I can go faster. I too will save for a better bike and am leaning on waiting till I can get a road bike as I believe I will graduate to one eventually.

You can change your tires out to slicks, that'll help improve your speed. Does your Trek have front suspension lock-out?

Many people get a mountain bike just to ride around, and they end up only riding on pavement. You could better utilize your expenditure of energy with the right bike for your needs.

Welcome To Bike Forums, Smtty!

IMHO, you purchased the wrong bike from the start. If you are primarily interested in speed and exercise on paved roads, then your cycling interests just screams out, road bike. Not mountain bike or hybrid, but road bike exclusively!

A road bike will allow you to personally challenge yourself in terms of speed. You can gradually increase your distance and the speed in which you cover that distance. Of course, you could do the same thing with a mountain bike or a hybrid, but you'll move faster on a road bike. Increasing the distance of your treks will make it necessary to take advantage of the drop handlebars and the variety of hand positions they offer.

What mtb do you have? Swapping tires will probably give you a decent ride that you can use for awhile till you have a better idea what you want. And if it is nice enough, it could even make a good platform to upgrade if a road bike isn't quite what you want. I turned my boyfriend's GT Pantera into something that is faster than the average hybrid.

No, the bike does not have front suspension lock-out and it is a Trek 800. I was able to pick it up for a good price but now I feel I need to upgrade. I even spoke so someone at my local bike shop and he recommended I hold off replacing the tires and just wait to get a road bike. I am also not used to the handle bars on a road bike but I know I can adjust them a bit. Appreciate everyone's advice.

Hey there Smtty!

So let's just assume that you were going to go ahead and get a road bike today or in the not too distant future...

What would be the upper limit of your budget?