tlss

Hello all. I am new to the forum. I just started riding my Specialized Rockhopper that I bought new in 1997. It has been collecting dust the last 7 years. I just got a new job which is 10 miles from my home. I plan to ride to work 2 -5 days a week.

I rode to work twice last week. It took me 50 minutes to work and 60 minutes home. I would like a lighter bike to go faster. My path is all concrete, has a couple of manageable hills. Any suggestions on a nice fast bike?

khuon

How much are you looking to spend? What kind of riding position do you prefer? Upright or more roadbike? How much stuff are you carrying? Do you need to mount racks and panniers? What about your current bike? Is it bike stock? You might want to look into just replacing your tyres with slicks or semi-slicks. That's a cheap first step. A RockHopper set up this way will make a nice commuter. Also, you may wish to give yourself a little more time (couple of months) and experience on the bike first if you just started riding again. You will most likely see a gradual increase in speed. When you plateau, then you can identify what's holding you back and thus be equipped to analyse what it is about a new bike that would be most desirable.

Dutchy

Two suggestions: 1) Get some slick tyres. 2) Be patient and wait till you get fitter. Honestly a MTB with slicks can be ridden at 30kph/19mph on the flat for hours by a fit rider. A bike is only as fast as the dude pushing the pedals. However a new bike will make the journey more enjoyable.

CHEERS.

Mark

wfin2004

Hey tiss- I do not think the Rockhopper is a problem at all. The other posts about slicks really does wonders. It is hard to believe what they will do for your speed. I wish I could commute on my bike to where I work. It is 11 miles with an interstate bridge to cross over the river here and to go an alternate route would probably be another 20-25 miles.

tlss

Hello Khuon, Dutchy & Wfin

Thanks for the advise.

Khuon,

I can spend around $1000 for a fast bike. However, the semi-slick tires sound good. I didn't know about that. Well, I don't know much about bikes. I will get semi-slick tires soon. I did a Google search and found Panaracer Mach SS and SK tires. The reviews are very good. Are there other good options out there?

I would like to be able to change riding position back and forth from roadbike to upright during my commute.

I carry a TransAlp CamelBak and have a Jandd Rear Rack (for towel and shirt).

catatonic

Yep, jsut get some skinny slicks, 26x1.5 is perfectly reasonable for commuting. If your worried about flats, there are many "armored" tires availible, that have kevlar liners in them. Add some tire liners on top of that and puncture-resistant tubes and your tires are practically tank-like.

Consider getting some panniers to carry anyhing you might need to take to/from work. make sure anything you cart to wok can fit in it (laptop, etc...briefcase can just be plastic bagged and bungied to the rack). If you shoose to put your laptop in a set of unpadded panniers, get a neoprene sleeve for $20 from any computer shop. I have one I keep in my desk for the days I have to cart my laptop home.

For tires, I use Serfas Drifter. They aren't true slicks, but the inverse cut tread is jsut about as good, since it doesnt have the choppiness that standard cut tread has. The treadlife is excellent, and they are very very tough.

For changing riding position, I have no clue...it might be worth a try to get some aero bars and clamp them onto your stock bars.

Oh, and welcome to the forums, may the bay area invasion begin!

Dutchy

Another suggestion, (if you haven't got them already) is to get some clipless pedals, like Shimano SPD or something similar from many other brands. These will allow you to pedal in circles and therefore pull and push on the pedals at the same time. I use LOOK pedals on my MTB commuter and my road bike, this way I only need one pair of cycling shoes.

CHEERS.

Mark

Litsky

I just joined The Bike Forum because I just purchased a Specialized Sequoia Elite. After riding a mountain bike for a long time I also wanted a nice fast (road) bike. This one is a joy. I did hit 41 mph the other day and am already looking for other big hills to tackle. Call me crazy, but... gotta hit 50 mph next.

Happy riding!

WISAXET

Have you thought about getting a RECUMBENT??
Check out the forums on Recumbents and perhaps you will change your mind about a road bike. Dang a nice 'bent could blow you away. Heck of alot more comfy. And since there not many of them most drivers will spot you faster then a blah road bike no matter what speed you are going.
Hop over to the other forum, for more info.
Wisaxet

tlss

Wisaxet,

Thanks for suggesting but I haven't thought about an incumbent and I don't think I would like one at this time.

mtwmbw

26 x 1.25 slicks would be great. I like Mr. Tuffy tire liners, they greatly reduce flats. Best advice? Keep hammering. You will be amazed by how soon you will be cutting big minutes off your commute. I have been into cycling for 7 years now, and am faster now then I was 2 or 3 years ago, despite aging. The foundation you are starting can really be built on. Two years ago I would do rides at 16 mph (road bike on hilly northwest Missouri terrain). Now I do those same rides, on the same bike at 18 mph. Not fast by some standards, but pretty good improvement by my standards.

Congrats on commuting, we all should do more of that.

bnet1

There once was a time when I felt like you, road bike or no bike. This spring I switched to 'bent. Having the time of my life. Commutes and club rides, riding now more than I ever did. As the old United airlines ad used to say: "It's the only way to fly".

'bent Brian