shall i buy a road bike

kona_matt

hi everyone, first post in the commuting section, have read lots of the silly commuting racing thread though, very amusing. I've got a bit of a dilema that i'd like some opinions on.

I've recently moved within feasible cycling distance (12.5 miles) to work and want to ride in 2 or 3 times a week for fitness. At the moment I only have 1 bike, a kona cinder cone mtb which is very much set up for off road trail riding (very big, heavy, knobbly tyres and standard riser bars with no bar ends). Over the last few weeks i've used this to get into work and it takes me 55-60mins. I'll burn through a rear tyre per month at this rate though! The route has a very short section of off road riding which could easily be avoided so essentially it's a road ride with some rolling hills. I can lock up my bike in the office at work so I haven't got any major security concerns.

My dilema is whether to get a road bike (i'm thinking boardman) on the Cycle to Work scheme, buy a second mtb (also on CTW) and set it up for commuting (slicks and bar ends) or just buy a second set of wheels for my current mtb and fit them with slicks.

I'm really after opinions on how much time a road bike might save me. That will help me decide whether the montly cost of the CTW scheme is worth it or should I just bite the bullet and shell out a few hundred quid up front for a second set of wheels for the mtb. I certainly can't continue with the knobbly tyres, it's going to cost me a fortune!

I look forward to hearing what you think.

thanks!

zanes

Yes, buy a roadbike

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il_principe

Just buy a road bike - it'll be the best cycling purchase you've ever made...

Next.

Rich158

A road bike will be the best tool for the job and will open up a whole new world of cycling to you

I had exactly that dilemna 2.5 years ago, and now I've more road bikes than MTB's, have joined a club and started racing. The best bit is that I'm fitter than ever and can enjoy my MTB far more at the weekends, and still consider myself a DH'er who does a bit of road riding to keep fit

prawny

I did, worked out ok for me.

Only problem is I've not used my MTB for ages bought loads of lycra and a helmet without a peak, enter here at your peril. :twisted:

kelsen

Yes, just buy it. You're over-analysing. If you already have a mountain bike, you'll appreciate the differences that a road bike will offer. Best of both worlds!

alfablue

Yes, buy a road bike. Consider if you want it to take mudguards (some will, some won't) as this is a very useful thing on a commuter. You may imagine that you won't ride in the rain, but you'll get caught out.

Even if you "roadify" your mtb, the more aero position of a road bike is worth a minimum of 1mph.

Having 2 bikes means they will last longer, and although you can get a second set of wheels and swap between them (I did this for a while) bear in mind that brakes may need fettling each time you swap. If your mtb has disc brakes you'll need wheels, tyres, tubes, a cassette, brake discs; if rim brakes, same minus discs, and ideally the rims and hubs will be the same as existing ones (to minimise gear and brake adjustments), but you are probably looking at £200-£300 expense, better put towards a second bike IMHO.

kona_matt

prawny wrote:

bought loads of lycra and a helmet without a peak, enter here at your peril. :twisted:

that is something i must resist!!! i'll be sticking with the baggies ans trail lid!

DonDaddyD

A Road bike changed my life.

rolf_f

I use my Orange P7 for a 19 mile round trip commute (minimum). This is all on road but the state of the roads around mine is such that I doubt a road bike would make such a difference; certainly the loss of speed is more than compensated for the comfort. There is a lot of climbing too which perhaps favours the roadie less (not much aero benefit at 10 mph!).

I use fat slicks for the commute (Schwalbe City Jets which nly cost about £20 the pair) and switch to knobblies when I go off road; doesn't take very long to make the change. Speed wasn't affected significantly by the change to slicks; pretty much my commute takes as long as it takes (round trip about 1 hour 15). The slicks can deal with non slippery off road perfectly well.

The mtb isn't my ideal commuter but it is nearer to it than a road bike; it really depends a lot on the state of the road. Road bikes are for fun! Buy the Boardman, with drops, and use it at the weekend

rolf_f

DonDaddyD wrote:

A Road bike changed my life.

A bike changed my life.......

Greg T

kona_matt wrote:

prawny wrote:

bought loads of lycra and a helmet without a peak, enter here at your peril. :twisted:

that is something i must resist!!! i'll be sticking with the baggies ans trail lid!

You keep telling yourself that...

I give you nine months before you are eyeing up a little bike cap and some of the gems on the jersey thread...


Just ordered this by the way - thanks for tip whoever posted it


http://www.prendas.co.uk/details.asp?ID=2496

kona_matt

thanks everyone, as I suspected, road bike it is. will have to get down to halfords and have a proper look at the boardman (the £800 one).

il_principe

kona_matt wrote:

prawny wrote:

bought loads of lycra and a helmet without a peak, enter here at your peril. :twisted:

that is something i must resist!!! i'll be sticking with the baggies ans trail lid!

That's what everyone says, but you'll see the light eventually, especially if you start undertaking longer rides at weekends etc... lycra gets worn for good reason.

UndercoverElephant

Il Principe wrote:

kona_matt wrote:

prawny wrote:

bought loads of lycra and a helmet without a peak, enter here at your peril. :twisted:

that is something i must resist!!! i'll be sticking with the baggies ans trail lid!

That's what everyone says, but you'll see the light eventually, especially if you start undertaking longer rides at weekends etc... lycra gets worn for good reason.

+1. I too have succumbed to Lycra. I held out for the full eight months though before going skin-tight. :oops:

kona_matt

UndercoverElephant wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

kona_matt wrote:

prawny wrote:

bought loads of lycra and a helmet without a peak, enter here at your peril. :twisted:

that is something i must resist!!! i'll be sticking with the baggies ans trail lid!

That's what everyone says, but you'll see the light eventually, especially if you start undertaking longer rides at weekends etc... lycra gets worn for good reason.

+1. I too have succumbed to Lycra. I held out for the full eight months though before going skin-tight. :oops:

need to lose a few pounds before i even consider it!

Greg T

kona_matt wrote:

need to lose a few pounds before i even consider it!

No better reason to lose weight than looking good in your kit.

FACT.

Sadly I still look like a pound of potatoes stuffed into a condom.

kelsen

kona_matt wrote:

need to lose a few pounds before i even consider it!

They do lycra for the 'fuller figure'

il_principe

Greg T wrote:

kona_matt wrote:

need to lose a few pounds before i even consider it!

No better reason to lose weight than looking good in your kit.

FACT.

Sadly I still look like a pound of potatoes stuffed into a condom.

It's true - he does:

Greg T

Il Principe wrote:

It's true - he does:

You need a big hammer to drive a long Nail Jash.

Ask DX3 he's well known for having trouble with his excessively long stem.

il_principe

kona_matt

Il Principe wrote:

Greg T wrote:

kona_matt wrote:

need to lose a few pounds before i even consider it!

No better reason to lose weight than looking good in your kit.

FACT.

Sadly I still look like a pound of potatoes stuffed into a condom.

It's true - he does:

jesus! i said a few pounds, not a few hundred!

hells

get the road bike, it opens up a whole new world.

I used to only mtb and used it on the road also. Bought the road bike when I moved to London because its easier to go for a road ride here than a decent mtb ride. I ride xc so wore lycra anyway and the road bike has helped with my fitness for off road. I think I am starting to like road more though.

asprilla

Greg T wrote:

kona_matt wrote:

need to lose a few pounds before i even consider it!

No better reason to lose weight than looking good in your kit.

True. The large Santini kit from Prendas I bought finally fits perfectly, so I've just bought the medium........

Lycra stretches and I like to prove that on a daily basis.

DonDaddyD

The perils of having the middle cut out of your saddle is all I'm going to say.

You're going to have to overcome being self concious about wearing lycra in the first place, so being a "full figured man" (like me) really isn't the issue.

Wear it around the house, to your parents (and in my case to the Grandparents).

You'll soon realise there is a little "swinger" in all lycra clad cyclists...

Greg T

Asprilla wrote:

True. The large Santini kit from Prendas I bought finally fits perfectly, so I've just bought the medium........

Lycra stretches and I like to prove that on a daily basis.

I was toying with the idea of getting the medium but consider medium kit to be a clear indicator of narcissism....

If the Large is not quite eye wateringly tight enough I may swap it down to a more tarty medium and work on my abs...

Someone pass the mirror.

Underscore

kona_matt wrote:

I'm really after opinions on how much time a road bike might save me.

I would reckon on doing 12.5 miles in 40 minutes or less (hopefully) on my road bike - though it does depend on how rolling those rolling hills are. Add 5 minutes or a bit under on my 700c hybrid.

HTH,

_

snailracer

Underscore wrote:

kona_matt wrote:

I'm really after opinions on how much time a road bike might save me.

I would reckon on doing 12.5 miles in 40 minutes or less (hopefully) on my road bike - though it does depend on how rolling those rolling hills are. Add 5 minutes or a bit under on my 700c hybrid.

HTH,

_

If a road bike improves your average speed by 1.5mph, you will save about 6 minutes.

Aidy

UndercoverElephant wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

kona_matt wrote:

prawny wrote:

bought loads of lycra and a helmet without a peak, enter here at your peril. :twisted:

that is something i must resist!!! i'll be sticking with the baggies ans trail lid!

That's what everyone says, but you'll see the light eventually, especially if you start undertaking longer rides at weekends etc... lycra gets worn for good reason.

+1. I too have succumbed to Lycra. I held out for the full eight months though before going skin-tight. :oops:

I'm still in baggies. A year on.

alfablue

snailracer wrote:

Underscore wrote:

kona_matt wrote:

I'm really after opinions on how much time a road bike might save me.

I would reckon on doing 12.5 miles in 40 minutes or less (hopefully) on my road bike - though it does depend on how rolling those rolling hills are. Add 5 minutes or a bit under on my 700c hybrid.

HTH,

_

If a road bike improves your average speed by 1.5mph, you will save about 6 minutes.

So 1 hour per week, maybe 48 hours per year, so over a working lifetime maybe 80 days of your life saved, surely no other justification to buy a road bike is necessary

kona_matt

alfablue wrote:

So 1 hour per week, maybe 48 hours per year, so over a working lifetime maybe 80 days of your life saved, surely no other justification to buy a road bike is necessary

excellent justification!