Is a mountain bike the right choice?

Toblerone1
Toblerone1 Posts: 20
edited August 2008 in MTB buying advice
My question is not so much which and what to buy, but should i buy?
I am looking for a bike that will suit a number of purposes for me.
I would like to be able to join some of my cyclist friends who cycle in cumbria and scotland, i don't currently have a bike at all.
I would also like to be able to commute into work (about 3 miles), on the road and go for countryside strolls on my bike, mostly on road, but also some off roading might be involved. It isn't exactly mountainous around here, west midlands

Comments

  • papasmurf.
    papasmurf. Posts: 2,382
    well unless you want two bikes...just get a pair of slicks, and change tryes depending on what you're riding.
    Meta5.5
    Duster
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    No quite sure what you mean by 'rocky places' but a MTB would do all that. Stick to a hardtail or even a rigid - they are very flexible bikes. Depending on what off road stuff you do, you could consider a cyclo cross bike I guess.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • Larok
    Larok Posts: 577
    dosn't sound like you need the mountain bike; maybe one of these?

    http://www.dutchbikeshop.co.uk/page4.htm

    http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 372c012370

    http://www.dutchbikeshop.co.uk/page18.htm
    My Ride Stumpjumper Expert 2008
  • stumpyjon
    stumpyjon Posts: 3,983
    A mouttain bike (above £ 250) will work off road and on road (particularly for that length of commute) but a hybrid (or road bike :shock: ) will struggle off road, especially somewhere like the Lakes. If you only own one do it all bike an MTB hardtail will do most things competantly.
    It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

    I've bought a new bike....ouch - result
    Can I buy a new bike?...No - no result
  • batch78
    batch78 Posts: 1,320
    Do your friends ride road bikes or mountain bikes? If road bikes then get a road bike or cyclocross, if mountain bikes then buy a hardtail with lock out shocks, I ride a fair bit on the road with knobbly tyres, wouldn't want to try to stay with roadies all day on it though!
  • dirtbiker100
    dirtbiker100 Posts: 1,997
    hardtail mountain bike with lock-out forks and some semi-slicks maybe? or two pairs of tyres, one knobbly and one slick.
    thats what I'd do. 2 mile commute isn't too far and easily done with a mtb
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    It's a really short commute, so you don't really need to change the tyres or bother with lockout, any fastish summer tyre will be fine and it'll give you a bit more cushioning against the road.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
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    White Inbred

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