Hello, help to convert Mountain bike to more 'road-bike-like'?
11-12-11, 04:56 PM
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Hello, help to convert Mountain bike to more 'road-bike-like'?
Hello,
My name is Sam and I have purchased a mountain bike () about a year ago or so and I am new to cycling (or to put it better, I have invested in a better bike than the previous one I had and I am interested in making the most out of it after shifting to relying on my bike as my sole form of transport). At the moment it is very tiring and time consuming using my mountain bike to cycle to work using the road and I wish to find a way to be able to easily switch from 'mountain bike' to use in more wild landscapes to 'road bike' when I have to travel to work. Basically I wish to be able to completely change the wheels of the bike but I am a bit confused about how to go about this. I have done some background reading and have come to determine the following:
I need to be able to get more suitable tires [current ones 26 x 2.35 inches, one I want: (https://www.evanscycles.com/products/...01839#answers] (in addition to tire tubes) and I need some new wheel rims (although I have not measured the rim width I am pretty sure I will need new rims due to the tires I wish to purchase). Apart from these 3 things is there anything else I will need to purchase/know about?
I only wish to change my wheels, tires etc atm until I get more clued up and can make more changes (if it is worth the time and investment). Below is what I have 'took in' from stuff I have read on the web:
- Less time/effort riding = purchase more suitable tires (in addition to tubeing) - tires and tubing most have a similar fit = new tires must fit old rims and if this isn't possible will need to get new rims - is there anything else I have not thought about?
I am quite confused so anyone who can simply summerize it all is much appreciated!
Thank you for your time and help
,
Samuel
My name is Sam and I have purchased a mountain bike () about a year ago or so and I am new to cycling (or to put it better, I have invested in a better bike than the previous one I had and I am interested in making the most out of it after shifting to relying on my bike as my sole form of transport). At the moment it is very tiring and time consuming using my mountain bike to cycle to work using the road and I wish to find a way to be able to easily switch from 'mountain bike' to use in more wild landscapes to 'road bike' when I have to travel to work. Basically I wish to be able to completely change the wheels of the bike but I am a bit confused about how to go about this. I have done some background reading and have come to determine the following:
I need to be able to get more suitable tires [current ones 26 x 2.35 inches, one I want: (https://www.evanscycles.com/products/...01839#answers] (in addition to tire tubes) and I need some new wheel rims (although I have not measured the rim width I am pretty sure I will need new rims due to the tires I wish to purchase). Apart from these 3 things is there anything else I will need to purchase/know about?
I only wish to change my wheels, tires etc atm until I get more clued up and can make more changes (if it is worth the time and investment). Below is what I have 'took in' from stuff I have read on the web:
- Less time/effort riding = purchase more suitable tires (in addition to tubeing) - tires and tubing most have a similar fit = new tires must fit old rims and if this isn't possible will need to get new rims - is there anything else I have not thought about?
I am quite confused so anyone who can simply summerize it all is much appreciated!
Thank you for your time and help
,Samuel
11-13-11, 06:19 AM
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Hi Sam,
Welcome to Bike Forums.
Best bet is just change the tires to slick ones.
Real answers is get a road bike.
Try posting in the Mountain Bike Forum.
https://www.bikeforums.net/forumdispl...ountain-Biking
Welcome to Bike Forums.
Best bet is just change the tires to slick ones.
Real answers is get a road bike.
Try posting in the Mountain Bike Forum.
https://www.bikeforums.net/forumdispl...ountain-Biking
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Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
11-13-11, 11:51 AM
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As already mentioned, a different bike would be the easiest solution, there isn't any law against owning 2 bikes that I know of. Other than that, is your bike equiped with quick release hubs? If so, a second set of wheels and tires could be the perfect answer. Use the same width rim if possible so as to make your current brake setting work without readjusting everytime you switch.
11-13-11, 12:03 PM
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Hi Sam, from the fact you're linking to Evans I guess you're a fellow Brit!
Depending on just what balance between on-road/off-road you want to manage there are a few options.
Firstly you could just buy another bike, although that assumes you have the budget in terms of both cash and space to keep it. Based on your question I'll assume that's not an option for you.
If you put hybrid tyres on it you'll get better on-road handling while still being able to cope with light off-road usage. When I bought my bike I put Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres on it. They have a zig-zag down the middle for low rolling resistance and a few knobbly bits towards the sides, so if your wheel sinks into a bit of mud the knobbly bits will give you some grip. They're pretty good on the road, utterly useless in lots of mud but perfectly OK for gravel tracks and a bit of mud. When the rear tyre wore out I put a Marathon Extreme on it which is still good on-road and has a more aggressive tread pattern so it's better off-road as well. Check the rims you've got to make sure any new tyre you put on it won't cause problems.
If you want more speed on the road and also want to do more off-road riding than gravel tracks and few patches of mud you may want to get completely different wheelsets so you can swap them over quickly and easily. You'll need to make sure any replacement rims will fit with your brakes (rim brakes may need adjustment if you're using rims of different widths; disc brakes may need more serious adjustment between differing wheelsets).
Ultimately there's only so much you can do to make a bike that will give you speed on tarmac and also cope with rocks and roots and mud, so unless you want two bikes sooner or later you'll have to decide which way you want to lean and accept that the price of a gain in one area is a loss in another.
Depending on just what balance between on-road/off-road you want to manage there are a few options.
Firstly you could just buy another bike, although that assumes you have the budget in terms of both cash and space to keep it. Based on your question I'll assume that's not an option for you.
If you put hybrid tyres on it you'll get better on-road handling while still being able to cope with light off-road usage. When I bought my bike I put Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres on it. They have a zig-zag down the middle for low rolling resistance and a few knobbly bits towards the sides, so if your wheel sinks into a bit of mud the knobbly bits will give you some grip. They're pretty good on the road, utterly useless in lots of mud but perfectly OK for gravel tracks and a bit of mud. When the rear tyre wore out I put a Marathon Extreme on it which is still good on-road and has a more aggressive tread pattern so it's better off-road as well. Check the rims you've got to make sure any new tyre you put on it won't cause problems.
If you want more speed on the road and also want to do more off-road riding than gravel tracks and few patches of mud you may want to get completely different wheelsets so you can swap them over quickly and easily. You'll need to make sure any replacement rims will fit with your brakes (rim brakes may need adjustment if you're using rims of different widths; disc brakes may need more serious adjustment between differing wheelsets).
Ultimately there's only so much you can do to make a bike that will give you speed on tarmac and also cope with rocks and roots and mud, so unless you want two bikes sooner or later you'll have to decide which way you want to lean and accept that the price of a gain in one area is a loss in another.
