Hybrid tyres/mods

Adamgt

Hi there.

I'm new to the forum but not to biking, but have some questions as I'm more from an MTB background than road.

I bought a Specialized Crosstrail a few months ago. It's a great bike and just what I wanted getting back in to biking with the family. We go out together, mostly on tow paths and slightly more off-road routes rather than on roads as my daughter is only 2 and on a rear child seat, it's just safer. Anyway, I've also started to go out for rides on my own and having ridden mountain bikes on trails a lot in the past, have veered towards my local country park area, which is mostly rough pathways, steep hills and very short blasts through the woods.

The last few times I've been out though I've gone on road routes and I'm really enjoying it a lot more. The off-road is fun and what I'm used to, but I've become fairly overweight/unfit since my older riding days and find road riding a lot more enjoyable and satisfying. My question is, I don't think a change of bike is necessary if I want to continue riding on the roads; apart from the lack of cash for another bike, I won't be doing miles and miles and I still need a bike suitable for going out with the family. What I do think though, is I could change a few bits on the bike to help me along when I'm out on the road.

The bike comes with Specialized Borough XC tyres, semi slicks. Would I really benefit changing the tyres for something like the Nimbus Sport tyre (or similar)? Also, how much would a flat bar help? It currently has riser bars. I know it's got suspension too, but I don't want to swap that and it's fairly heavy too, but I'm just wondering what little changes would help me along on the road.

Thanks,
Adam

t4tomo

I doubt you will notice that much of a diference between the boroughs and the nimbus, as the boroughs have a "slick" contact point down the middle for road use anyway. Just make sure you have a decent amount of air (close to max rating for the tyre, which should be printed on it) when you are on the road. Nimbus will be crap off the road.

Bars won't much difference either.

Lighter non-sus forks would help, but you want to keep those for off road which is fair enough - do they have a lock out function so you can stop them bouncing on the road - if so use it as that will help especially uphill.

To be honest I'd just get out on in more and enjoy yourself. The more you ride, the faster you will go.

Adamgt

Unfortunately I have the Disc model and I should have paid the extra £50 for the Sport model as it came with lockout forks, 9 speed gears and hydraulic brakes, but too late now!

I am thinking about clipless pedals too as I had them when I used to ride my old rockhopper. I just hope I don't fall off like I did the first time round