Would you sell one of your mtb's for a road bike?

320DMsport

Hi all,

I currently have a Trek EX9 08 and a Trek 9.8 elite carbon hard tail.

I've started road biking this winter on a borrowed road bike to get fitter and do some turbo training.

Thing is i quite enjoy it and you just don't get as filfthy if you have a quick hour to spare to get out from home, my fitness levels are getting better for next years MTB races too.

So this bike will have to go back at some point, so would you flog your ex9 to get a new road bike?

I use the 9.8 for racing on and i do the odd rough lakes ride like Garburn on it etc, i get by ok on the hardtail with 80mm travel forks without much probs.

I only use the EX9 now if it's pouring with rain or when i goto a trail centre every now and again for wild riding with mates and doing jumps etc.

So would you flog it??

Bought both MTB's in last 12 months so didn't want to just add another bike to park somewhere and maintain!

Cheers

supersonic

yep, i'd sell it! Got to do your own thing, get your moneys worth.

320DMsport

Hmmmm fair and straight answer, i mean the carbon 9.8 will do the odd trail centre and the odd jump ok!?

I must admit i prefer the geometry on the hardtail too!

Have to see how much a 08 EX9 is worth, in very good condition!

I'm after a Cannondale CAAD 9 road bike.

Northwind

Hmm... Do you need such an excellent road bike? I'm thrashing around on a Revolution Courier Race just now, which has served me brilliantly- it still feels incredibly light and fast after commuting by MTB, but it costs a fraction as much as the Cannondale there really. (this one was £50, plus another £50 worth of parts and a few hours fixing) If you want to do serious distance or competitions or similiar then it'd be worth it but you could get yourself a more-than-adequate basic road rigid for way less.

Andy B

The Trek 9.8 is a full blown xc race bike, as in wheels on the ground type riding, it may handle the odd small jump, but I'd personally not risk it, especially as it's carbon & could fail without any warning (I have carbon bars, but they're designed for All Mountain use, so they do get some stick)

I'd keep the susser, it will be a better all rounder than the hardtail, unless you're an all out xc racing whippet.

If you don't like the geometry on the susser, sell it & buy one that you do like the geometry of

nicklouse

320DMsport wrote:

Would you sell one of your mtb's for a road bike?

No i would just get the Road bike.

320DMsport

Well this year i'm planning on about 9 events, 2 sportives and rest MTB which is what i use the 9.8 for, love riding it, think the EX9 is a great allrounder but i think the ever changing geometry while the suspension move slightly can be annoying, i do like the attacking position of the 9.8 rather than the sit up and beg of the EX9.

If i could get the guy that lent me his Giant OCR in team once colours to flog it to me that would be great.

But i know what he payed for it so he won't flog me it as he got it at much cheapness!

The Giant is about 4 years old, immaculate condition, it's a triple which i'd like to change, and has campag mirage, all works well and fits me perfectly!

Think he payed 150 quid for it from someone that was skint, what would you guys think it's worth, the frame new was 350, and i think complete bike was 850.

175 quid considering he doesen't use it or offer 200 then he's made profit after it being sat there for 4 years!

Anything descent on ebay goes for over 350!

salsarider79

Or you could go for a Langster, Pompino, etc...A single speed road bike will really boost fitness, I know, I have a Langster. It damn near kills me.

batch78

Has he asked for it back yet?

I'd keep hold of it as long as possible, tell him how much you like it, and would he mind if you used it until you'd saved up for one.

You never know, if he doesn't use it he may offer it for sale.

Or if he doesn't even cycle, and this is a bit naughty :twisted: , tell him it got nicked and household insurance only covers a percentage of original cost, just got yourself a £50 bike

p.s I personally would NOT do the insurance thing, I did once borrow a bike for about 3 years though :oops:

cunning-stunt

If I wanted to get nice and fit then yes.
As it happens I sold one of mine here to pay for plane tickets to Canada...so just do what feels right. You can only ride one at a time ;-)
A big hemmorhoid on my arse helped me in the decision to sell though...

Cps

Looks like you have already made your mind up to move the EX9 on - so do it!

Or as one of the other posters commented just get a 'good' bike for less money than the cannondale - net budget effect = zero = the bike is just for road training after all.

tlw1

Cheap 2nd hand road bike - then save & buy a better one next year.

Anonymous

i would look at it like this, which bike would you end up using more, the ex or the road bike?

there is little point in having a bike in the shed which never gets used*






*says the bloke with 6 bikes, only 2 of which get used......................

320DMsport

All good comments...some funny ones too, yeah it got nicked mate!! heheh.

I've had one of those on my ass too but i wasn't cycling then thank god, literally a pain in the ass!

He cycles to work, but i think this road bike gives him a bad neck and back so doesn't use it much!

His wife did say he won't ask for it back as he doesn't use it and then you don't have to pay for it! good logic.

I'd like to do a couple of things to it if i bought it!

After sleeping on selling the EX9 and remembering what what Glentress was like i think i'd miss getting that one out and taking it for a ragging and not caring what happens to it!

So maybe try and extend the loan of bike, and tell him possesion is 9/10ths of the law or say it's been nicked heheh.

I think i single speed road bike would kill me in the Lakes too although i see more and more of them!!

Cheers for the advice and i'll dig it out over the weekend and see how i feel when i ride the EX.

320DMsport

Sheepsteeth i must admit it doesn't get used much, only if i out with lads having a fun day, or goto a trail centre, hasn't turned a wheel since sept, as last time i got it out head set had gone tight so i took the 9.8 up around Kentmere instead, i love the way it climbs.

Bike....don't they do your head in!

Anonymous

well, in a world of hardtail or full sus riders, atleast you have both (and they are both good ones!!) and you likes what you likes.

my honest opinion is that there is always room for one more bike in the shed (or the kitchen and the spare room as is the case at the moment in my house!)

zero303

Road bikes are seriously underrated among mountain bikers. With our climate sometimes you just want time in the saddle and hammering a road bike is more fun than you'd think as you've personally discovered.

The fitness gains are incredible!

If you're not using the EX much anyway, might as well get rid - it's only going to be more of a pain to ride as you ride the roadie more...

Look around used, road bikes take less abuse as their not constantly caked in mud and bounced and hammered. I rarely buy used MTB gear but perfectly happy to go 2nd hand on roadie gear.

dave_hill

320DMsport wrote:

So would you flog it??

Burn him!! Burn the witch!!!

Colzer1

i did it once many years and regretted it. In fact I only last about a month before I went out and bought a new MTB

stumpyjon

I'd buy the road bike and hang onto the other 2 personally. As soon as the full suss is gone you're gonna want another one, has nothing to do with how often you ride it. You may also find that what it's worth second hand is going to be pretty demoralising so don't go there.

I had this dilemma earlier in the year, sell one of my bikes (full suss, hardtail or commuter) to fund a road bike. In the end I decided to hang onto the other three and wait until I can afford the road bike. Like the full suss too much to sell it, built the hardtail from scratch and the commuter is actually my first MTB and has too many sentimental attachments (and it's worth nowt).

Anonymous

to mirror what jon says, i have sold loads of really ace bikes and regret almost all of them. to be fair most of the sales were to finance replacements (im very fickle with bikes) but there are a couple i really miss, the golden willow, the reign, even my first full sus saracen.

ride_whenever

If i were you i'd buy a cheap road bike. Even a very modest budget can net you a good bike with upgrade potential and you will miss having the FS for ragging round the hills like a loon!

Steve_b77

Just buy a road bike fi you've got the spare cash, you'll be suprised for what you can get for around £750.

I've got a Specialized Allez Int'l, it was only £500, but it's got a Carbon fork, oversized bars, Tiagra/sora gruppo, and it's proper fast in comparison to a MTB.

Bike Treks in Ambleside had a '07 Specialized Roubaix Carbon for £675 in November worth asking about that one as it's half price at that

dave_hill

sheepsteeth wrote:

well, in a world of hardtail or full sus riders, atleast you have both (and they are both good ones!!) and you likes what you likes.

That wasn't an endorsement of hardtails was it, Sheepy?

Justinjured

Keep both. its not like they are both similar. both are designed with totally different uses in mind.

also may be an expensive decision that you regret if you decide to get rid of it.

littleandy0410

As others have said, don't sell it, get a cheaper road bike when (or if!) you have to give the Giant back.



......What am I saying ....Sell the EX. I'll give you £20 for it!

320DMsport

Yep 25 quid and it's yours hehe!

Cheers for all the replies and food for thought, cheers dave being burn't has made me keep it!

After a good think today i'm going to keep the EX9, i enjoy flying down the rocky lakes descents and Scottish trail centres to much to sell it!

Plus as said the 9.8 is great for fair weather riding and racing on which is completely diff from what i use the EX for and ultimately i am a MTB rider.

So the plan is this Giant i've got fits me really well, rides well so may concentrate trying to buy it off him for a reasonable fee, that's if he asks for it back!

I do enjoy the road riding and i'm enjoying getting fitter base training on the road and trainer!

I have a income tax obligation at the end of Jan so going to rule out the CAAD 9 but i can get one discounted but still won't be anywhere near as cheap as this Giant!

Flying down Spooky wood or in the free ride park at GT wouldn't be the same without the EX and all the prices are going up so if i did regret it i probably wouldn't be able to replace it.

Descision made!

Cheers

320DMsport

Yep 25 quid and it's yours hehe!

Cheers for all the replies and food for thought, cheers dave being burn't has made me keep it!

After a good think today i'm going to keep the EX9, i enjoy flying down the rocky lakes descents and Scottish trail centres to much to sell it!

Plus as said the 9.8 is great for fair weather riding and racing on which is completely diff from what i use the EX for and ultimately i am a MTB rider.

So the plan is this Giant i've got fits me really well, rides well so may concentrate trying to buy it off him for a reasonable fee, that's if he asks for it back!

I do enjoy the road riding and i'm enjoying getting fitter base training on the road and trainer!

I have a income tax obligation at the end of Jan so going to rule out the CAAD 9 but i can get one discounted but still won't be anywhere near as cheap as this Giant!

Flying down Spooky wood or in the free ride park at GT wouldn't be the same without the EX and all the prices are going up so if i did regret it i probably wouldn't be able to replace it.

Descision made!

Cheers

Anonymous

dave_hill wrote:

sheepsteeth wrote:

well, in a world of hardtail or full sus riders, atleast you have both (and they are both good ones!!) and you likes what you likes.

That wasn't an endorsement of hardtails was it, Sheepy?

no way!! i can tel the difference between good and bad ones but i would never condone the use of only one portion of suspension on a bike.

ddraver

what size is the EX9?!

320DMsport

It's a 17.5 inch, shiney and white!