MTB'er needing Roadie advice

I need help!!!! I have a 31 mile commute and have done this a few times on my Rockhopper with Specialized Nimbus Armadillo road tyres on. Currently taking about 1 hour 50 mins all on road.
I need to do it quicker to make this a viable option. I work shifts and start at 7am on alternate weeks. My thinking is to buy a road bike (which I haven't had for 20+ years).
A potential cycle to work scheme could liberate up to £1000 for some shiney new thing.
What do I go for?? I like the idea of a cyclo cross so I could venture on to some light off road but that isn't the priority.
Any thoughts on the Specialized Tri Cross Sport - £699?
How much time could I expect to save??
I need to do it quicker to make this a viable option. I work shifts and start at 7am on alternate weeks. My thinking is to buy a road bike (which I haven't had for 20+ years).
A potential cycle to work scheme could liberate up to £1000 for some shiney new thing.
What do I go for?? I like the idea of a cyclo cross so I could venture on to some light off road but that isn't the priority.
Any thoughts on the Specialized Tri Cross Sport - £699?
How much time could I expect to save??
Nearly there, just over this hill and round the next corner...
2005 Specialized Rockhopper Disc
2009 Giant Defy 2.5
2005 Specialized Rockhopper Disc
2009 Giant Defy 2.5
0
Posts
The Crosser wouldn`t be much slower,but you`d need to swap to slicks to get the speed benefit.
I have actually ridden my road bike,on very light off road stuff.Make sure you have good well built wheels!
2010 Giant Defy Advanced
2016 Boardman Pro 29er
2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
2017 Canondale Supersix Evo
http://www.visiontrack.com
My guide to navigating using the Garmin Edge 1000
Riding your first Century (100 miles) – a guide for normal people.
Wouldn't change this either enjoy getting out on the road bike when I don't feel like driving to the trails.
I got a Giant SCR 1.5 and can recommend it. Specalize/Trek/Boardman/Cannondale all have offerings that I looked at too, just liked the look & feel of the Giant.
+ cheap road/commuting bike
And it's only £500 which on a biek to work woudl cost you next to censored all.
Miles faster than a full susser on the road and great for training too
Moped out of the question though as I just sold my motorbike so getting a moped kind of defeats the object - much easier though!!! Focus Cayo and Spesh allez both look good. If work get the ride 2 work thing off the ground I might be restricted to a particular dealer so anymore options would be appreciated.
LBS has Giant stock so might have a peep at those.
What about comfort? 31 miles each way with an 8 hour shift between is tough. Is there a relaxed 'racer' option? Something not so difficult to squash belly on!
My route has around 1000ft of climbing over the 31 miles so what gearing should I be looking at, bearing in mind there is only 1 hill I need to drop off the big chainring
2005 Specialized Rockhopper Disc
2009 Giant Defy 2.5
Gearsets are more road-biased but there's still a granny ring for big hills. Saddle is comfy.
Better be comfy as I'm doing Cork to Galway in September - 190 miles in 2 days!
My guide to navigating using the Garmin Edge 1000
Riding your first Century (100 miles) – a guide for normal people.
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/index.php?bikeID=7&show_bike=TRUE
My guide to navigating using the Garmin Edge 1000
Riding your first Century (100 miles) – a guide for normal people.
i to opted for a road bike after commuting on my hadtail i got a scott speedster s60 fb fb being flatbar i didnt fancy drops so i got the flat bar version this year they offer 2 modles with various spec,
i knocked 2min30 sec off my time just converting to the scott mine is a 6 mile commute 12 mile in total it takes me around 20 -23 mins to get to work and anything from 1731 to 20min to get home 1731 being my best time to date..
if your commute is all on road then i would proably go for a road bike and maybe drop bars as the distance your doing the drops will offer you more hand positions for comfort.
http://www.youtube.com/user/MrDelcol#play/uploads
hd vids
http://www.youtube.com/user/topasassin#play/uploads
http://www.vimeo.com/user2514116/videos
Only currently doing this commute a few times a year, mostly when training for a long distance haul like the C2C,W2W or CNC which I did this year. I'd just like to be able to do it more often and the only way that is possible is if I can shave off enough time to allow me to not have to get up at stupid o'clock in the morning (on early shift) and when I work late shift not to get in in the early hours (1 am+ as I finish at 11pm). New baby son takes up a lot of time!!! :shock:
I suppose I could try harder on my Rockhopper but frankly it's savage amusement at best!
2005 Specialized Rockhopper Disc
2009 Giant Defy 2.5
Hadn't really thought of a flat bar road bike. This will be more difficult than I thought. :?
2005 Specialized Rockhopper Disc
2009 Giant Defy 2.5
2005 Specialized Rockhopper Disc
2009 Giant Defy 2.5
Personally I'd look at focus through www.wiggle.co.uk or planet x.
I'd avoid cross country unless you actually intend to do some. Stick to light weight road bikes, they are more fun (on road).
I'd change the tyres to some more p*nc*re resistant ones.
Giving it Large
Maybe not so relevant if your not commuting everyday ( iguess you'll pick and choose your days) but i'd also want full mudgaurds. A sudden downpour while your at work means a very wet ride home.
The SCR would be perfect for you if it fits well. They're relaxed geometry, fast and can have racks and guards attached. The SCR frame is also available as a flat bar road bike which is the FCR i think. If your in traffic for most of the time i'd go flat bar, on open roads i'd go with drops
But yeah there's loads of decent road bikes round £1k, my shortlist was a Giant SCR and Specialized Roubaix Elite, bought the Spec one in the end as it was on offer + came with some free accessories.
As for carrying a back pack, I don't mind using my camelback as I'm used to using it all day when out in the hills on the MTB. Not much traffic to negotiate for the most part as I travel off peak times, on a mostly rural route. Flat bars sound good though - not so far to bend over :shock:
2005 Specialized Rockhopper Disc
2009 Giant Defy 2.5
+ cheap road/commuting bike