Do i need a road bike

tvi_82

So i fancy doing some commuting to work 8miles each way on tarmac and i also fancy doing some long distance rides on my days off, 40+ miles

I currently have a hardtail mtb with 1.5" road tyres and have the option to lockout the forks.

But i dont know how much more benefit i would get from doing the above on a road bike. Can the cost of a road bike be justified in this situation, if so i`ll try and get my employer to introduce c2w for the company




Thanks for any help.

p.s. i did use the search before posting but didnt come up with much

carrock

Strictly speaking you don't need one. but it would be nicer to ride on the road.

In the same way a normal car is more agile and pleasant to drive on the road than a 4x4

cobby1970

Sounds like a similar situation to what I was in, now i've changed to a road bike I wont go back as the commute is much faster and easier

BrianTrousers

The only person who will be able to gauge how much "benefit" is derived would be you.

If it was me I'd try to borrow a road bike and use it for your commute and a long ish ride and see how you feel. That will answer your question.

gregster10217

Not absolutely necessary for your commute, but for the 40+ miles you want to do, I know which bike I'd rather be on, and it's not the MTB!!!!!

carrotcruncher

I was commuting on a MTB with schwalbe city jets on (also 26x1.5's) and have changed to a 'flat barred road bike' type of 'hybrid' and it's made 3-4 mins difference on my 5.5 mile commute normally, so I'd say you will definitely notice a difference

danowat

"need"?, no, but you would go faster for the same effort

x8swift9x

For some reason everyone on the road forum (so far) hasn't tried to sell you a road bike.

My view, 16 miles on tarmac? Road bike is needed! If there are mountains on your route, a road bike will get you up them quicker anyway!! Sorted.

apart from the general commute, which i covered, you haved added these 40 mile+ routes on your day's(plural) off. If your planning on cycling 40/80/120 miles a week on read + your commute then I would suggest a road bike and a lovely pair of assos shorts to ease the pain!

Can the cost be justified, YES. No idea of your situation. Answer to partner. 'I'll warm up slowly, push hard when needed, ease off when sore, and celebrate upon finish'

Answer for you... You'll get fitter, lose weight, gain respect from riders and friend alike, make new friends, find a new hobby that you'll love.

Just my 21yr old view on things... sorry if (thought of something sensitive) not liked. I find it works just perfect like that.

Rich Hcp

You'll be much faster, I knocked 7 minutes off a 9 mile commute overnight!

I have a roadie ad a MTB, a hybrid, to me is no good at either,
.
A MTB is like driving a Land Rover, you can drive long distances on the road, but its noisy and slow and usesd lots of energy/fuel

A roadie is like a Lotus Elise, fast, agile, accelerates well and once the driving position is right, good for long distance

bompington

If you'd really read your way through this forum, you'd know that you need at least 3

guilliano

My 12 mile commute took me about an hour on an MTB with knoblies....... takes me 35 mins on a road bike. Case closed, I thank you!

skyd0g

Goddammit YES!

Ben6899

Number of road bikes required = n + 1.

n = number of road bikes currently owned.

QED you need a road bike.

tvi_82

Ok, i`m sold

I have handed a letter to my depo manager and trying to get them to do c2w if not i`ll just save up for a bit and then get a road bike.