Road bike or Mountain bike? any suggestions?

Toblerone1

a simple question, for a physically fit bike novice who doesn't want to get a plain and simple hybrid and doesn't know what kind of cycling they want to do, although is certain that they will be using this bike for commuting as well as sport/exercise...

A racing hybrid or road bike (i've my eye on a hybrid that looks to me exactly like a road bike, same handlebars etc)
or
a mountain bike (with slick tyres for when commuting on the road)

money isn't a problem although i can't stretch to both, I just can't decide between two bikes i've seen ridden and love.

roger_merriman

as it's name suggests a road bike in all but very few areas is by far the better bike on road, it's a bit of waste of MTB on road, it's a lot heaver while in wet and horrible days it's less likely to be upset by potholes and is a bike that is much more recoverable from a slide.

a road bike is lean slicing bike, a hoot in other words!

if as you said your not sure my money would be on road, as a good MTB will always be (even with slick tires) a bit of fish out of water, while a good roady will be in it's element.

Crapaud

I wouldn't get an MTB. I know many do use them for commuting, but the gear ratios are too low for cycling in traffic IMO, and, as has been said, they're heavy.

If your not sure what else you'll be using it for I'd suggest a cyclocross bike - it covers a lot of bases without being specific to any (except cyclocross obviously).

I've been looking at some recently and I reckon that they're the best all-round bike you can buy.

2tired2ride

I'd say a road bike because you will want to go fast (even If you don't think you will you will), It's a fact all "real" commuters want to race other commuters hence, the SCR game and your want to have a good base/start so get the nices road bike you can with your money (ask the guys on here they know thier stuff.) Also if you then decied you want to get into a club and/or start racing there is no need to buy another bike.

Hope it helped

redddraggon

2tired2ride wrote:

Also if you then decied you want to get into a club and/or start racing there is no need to buy another bike.

You're so wrong. Joining a club gives you the valid excuse of getting another bike or two. It's preferable to have a winter bike, summer bike, TT bike, MTB and cyclo-X bike, and then a cheapo commuter you don't have to worry about

greg66_tri_v2.0

Toblerone1 wrote:

a simple question, for a physically fit bike novice who doesn't want to get a plain and simple hybrid and doesn't know what kind of cycling they want to do, although is certain that they will be using this bike for commuting as well as sport/exercise...

Does your sport/exercise or commute involve riding on mountains?

No?

Road bike. If you don't get one, you'll just end up wanting one.

andyealing

As someone who started with a cheap mountain bike, progressed to flat bar hybrid and now has racer I'd suggest getting something equipped for the road from the start.

If you're brave, you might want to consider getting a single speed. These are seriously cool, are good for fitness and have fewer parts that can go wrong.

Cyclocross bikes are another good option if you want go off road at weekends. But you might want to switch to a slicker set of tyres for the daily commute.

TRADESIZE

may i suggest a giant escape its a mountain bike frame but with slick tyres out the box, good for mild off road (fields maybe a little more) but also good for communting. Not very pricy either. you can get it with mountain bike sized or road sized wheels dpendent on what model you get and its still only £300 good starter off bike indeed

Bikefotos

MTB's & road bikes will each have their strengths - you need to decide whats more important to you a this point in time.

I commute on my MTB with slicks through the week, last Saturday I changed the wheels and tyres to 2.1's and went to Afan and had a blast on the Penydd trail - fantastic - couldn't do that on a road bike! This saturday I'm working - came in on my old road bike as I'll finish early and have a long ride home through the lanes - done it on the MTB but it's a lot nicer on a road bike.

As redddraggon said - eventually you'll want them all!!

itboffin

Yep have to agree with the cyclocross vote, it's a nice mix of road and off road, there an article in this months Cycling Plus.

If only I had the money and room in my garage.

adrianb1066

If you are after fitness a MTB tyre has much higher rolling resistance and the frame weighs a lot more -ie. it's like jogging with a heavy rucksack on.

If you don't have to commute far you train harder than on a road bike that requires less effort.

IMHO a hybrid bike is a jack of all trades and master of none, personally I would buy a cheap bike (either MTB or road) and upgrade it as you you go along.

-liam-

I enjoy riding my mtb on the road occasionally. I may not be as fast as the roadie types in their pink lycra (it is law that if you ride a road bike you MUST wear luminous lycra - my God if that isn't an excuse not to buy a road bike then I don't know what is) but if I see a gap in a hedge or a trail heading off over a hill and into the distance I can follow it...

Like to see a skinny bloke in his pink lycra follow me

Wrath Rob

If you want to enjoy a swift and speedy commute, get a road bike.

If you want to slowly plod along watching road bikes zip past you while you wish you'd bought a road bike, get a MTB.

Alternatively borrow a bike, road or MTB, off of a mate to try out for a week or two and then decide if you want a similar bike or not.

AndyManc

I wouldn't cycle (commute) during the winter if I didn't have my mtb.

I'm lucky, I've got a sports hybrid for the decent weather and my mtb for winter.

If your commute is under 10miles , I would go for an mtb with slicks and panniers.

The BIG GT

It depends if you are lucky enough to have a largely off-road commute or not?

>75% of my 10-mile, each-way commute is away from roads so I use a hardtail as my best bike for that. I also have an old rigid MTB with slicks/panniers/etc for mainly road use, either when the other route becomes impassable/too mucky or I have a lot further to ride.

I am fully aware that this is very inefficient and that a proper road bike would be best but I cannot afford or justify the expense! Also, it gives me extra fitness and stops me becoming too soft!

G
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woodyonthebeach

You could build one, Make it properly to your liking