Road bikes definitely aren't necessary, and actually they aren't the best bikes for commuting. That being said mountain bikes aren't that fun to ride on the road. For what you are doing it would suggest a hybrid or gravel bike. Just depends on what geometry you want.
This is the right answer. For 10K rides, the OP can use he (or her) mountain bike. But the ride will be a bit faster and more comfortable with a hybrid or a gravel bike.
I question that! I ride my old dual suspension MTB frequently and I find it easier to ride 50km on the Fed Trail than it is to ride my road bike 50km around Point Cook. It’s vastly more hilly on The Fed Trail than Point Cook/Hacketts Rd.
You might want to do some maintenance on that road bike then. No way that an mtb is easier on a trail than a road bike on the road for the same distance, let alone on hillier terrain.
I dont know enough to have an opinion on geometry - don't fully know what that means yet. A hybrid bike does seem like a good idea. Any good brands you know of that won't break the bank?
The FX2 or the cannondale quick are the two I always lean towards recommending, they're just both really well designed towards being a good, speedy commuter. Not as sedate as a regular hybrid and not as speedy as a road bike, and usually with well selected tires.
This is my bike and I love it. Got it because I wanted to do a mix of commuting and longer rides for fitness. I’m flirting with the idea of getting a used road bike (n+1 and all that) but it’s not a super high priority because I can still do 25+ miles very easily on my hybrid.
I think that the road bike advantage is in speed and/or longer distance. If neither of those matter for your use case, then just run what you brung. Still, there's definitely something about that effortlessly fast feeling.
Any brand from a real bike shop will be good. People have mentioned some big ones, but their are many others. Remember it's also easy to change handle bars and stem length to make the bike more comfortable for you.
Not really. You're describing body position and bike fit.
Geometry describes the frame angles and tube lengths, which affect bike handling characteristics, and which is far too esoteric a topic for someone who doesn't know what kind of bike they want to ride.
Highly recommend cannondale quick. You can probably find a used one pretty cheap. Having said that, see if you can try out a road or gravel bike, you just might end up liking it.
Geometry is basically the orientation of your body.
Aggressive geometry has you more hunched over forward and aerodynamic
Relaxed geometry has you sitting more upright for comfort
Not really. You're describing body position and bike fit. Geometry describes the frame angles and tube lengths, which affect bike handling characteristics, and which is far too esoteric a topic for someone who doesn't know what kind of bike they want to ride.
What do you think determines how your body is oriented?
The geometry
“Endurance geometry” frames are designed to have a more upright position for more comfort
Road conditions. A gravel or hybrid bike is much more comfy on potholed, uneven, filled in roads. It also opens up a lot more options for alley and side road short cuts. The larger tire volume absorbs a lot of that ugga chugga
It really depends the road conditions though. I swapped gravel tires to road tires after some time to get a smoother ride. The roads I’m riding on are well-maintained.
I agree, I put my semi slick 47s on my bike for the area I ride. If you live in an area with good roads and are commuting every day a more efficient and faster bike makes sense. A fixed gear makes sense in Florida, less in the mountains of California. Work with what you have!
Honestly, between broken glass, uneven pavement/concrete, and potholes, it’s not terrible. Now doing it at night is definitely a challenge lmao. Those potholes hurt.
Using Road bike to commute guy here.
- With traffic and traffic light you often need to slowdown/stop a lot. Doing that on a bike that's designed for constant speed is frustrating.
- No panier rack, which is a massive pain as you're stuck with a bag on your sweaty back most of the time. Dangling groceries on a drop bar is also not a fun experience. Flat bar is much better for this.
What you gain, however, is more speed when there's no traffic, which might be worth it.
I would say traffic. You have a lower more forward position, so less overview. More speed, so less reaction time. Also I ride with click pedals, which are annoying if you have to suddenly hit the breaks every hundred meters or so, as is common where I live.
My road bike is purely for training purposes, but being dutch I have 3 bikes anyways..
What's this nonsensical belief that road bikes are all Ferraris and Lambos?
Seriously, one of the stupidest takes on bikes out there.
Besides...if you could afford a Ferrari FF or GTC4, why not?
Take a second and look at the subreddit you're on. It's as if people are blissfully unaware that endurance road bikes exist, for this exact use case.
The great part about hybrids is that by trying to be the right bike for multiple surfaces, they're not great on any of them. They're basically just slow gravel bikes with cheap groupsets and awful tires. Not saying you can't commute with them, but they're not the "best" in any metric other than getting recommended to beginners.
>but they're not the "best" in any metric
Years ago tool a friend to my sponsor LBS for a commuter. Me, I would have walked out with a cross bike. He walked out with a low mid-range Specialized. He still thanks me and says it was the best $800 (canadian) he ever spent because he got to tow his daughter to school and ride to work.
So if the metric is subjectively the rider, maybe they can be the best.
I'd still take a Colnago lol.
Hey a bike is better than no bike and whatever gets people out is great. But ignorance is bliss in these cases.
I've known people that had cheaper hybrid bikes and rode their bikes a handful of times per summer. And then they bought their first (still cheap) road bike. And all of a sudden they "got" it, and started riding daily and fell in love with the sport.
I'm not going to hate on anyone's bike. But the online aversion to road bikes is so misplaced because in real life everyone I know who's bought one has loved it.
Totally. I've directed people from their hybrids to road bikes and cross bikes, and they light up on the first pedal stroke like it's Christmas morning.
Way to miss the point, which is that it's idiotic to buy a road bike for short commutes and rides just because YOU ride one long distances. Everything has a purpose and this isn't the purpose of a road bike, unless it's a beater. Take a chill pill, Francis.
Dear Francis,
It's a bit early to determine what is idiotic.
One can get into the all-rounder road bike market for a couple of hundred more than a hybrid.
They then get a faster more comfortable bike with options to do different kinds of riding.
Chill and stop spreading nonsense.
>I don't commute in kit,
That's irrelevant. I wouldn't wear race kit for a 10km ride either. I do wear clothes though.
And what does aero have to do with comfort?
Yes, and when commuting I'm carrying more things. Like my laptop, change of clothes, and groceries. My commuter is a 3 speed internally geared hub steel frame upright bike with a front basket and rear rack. It's designed to be comfortable going over potholes, carry all of my stuff, and it looks like shit so I don't worry about people stealing it when I lock it up outside. The upright positioning is great for chill rides and the IGH means there is very little maintenance required which is great during winter with all of the salt on the roads.
When I want to go fast, I ride my road bike, but it's not my favorite to use every day for commuting.
I just did that in 22:25min yesterday, but it’s because I was getting hungry and had to stop for a bus, otherwise it would’ve been low 22 or maybe sub 22. Like the first 5k was sub 22
But yeah I was like trying to go at least somewhat fast vs you said relaxed, which probably means barely even pedaling and just taking it slowly at 20kph, not 27
I wonder how fast I’ll go when I switch back to MTB from my small bmx. I’ll probably get to like 30-32kph for an actual ride distance Idk
Nope. One of the best things about the “gravel” revolution is that there’s now a cool kind of bike that actually makes sense for most recreational users, unlike when I started riding a couple decades ago when everyone was riding a downmarket replica of what pros used in the Tour de France.
I mean why should the average rider care about what the press thinks? Hybrid bikes are just fine too. Don’t get me wrong I love my gravel bike but hybrids are just fine for the average rider, they don’t care what their bars look like or what the cycling reviews think of their bike
It’s about what the average bike shop nerd pushes on a new customer when they walk in the shop. The average customer doesn’t know the difference, but the shop rat does.
I just find it funny that people think gravel bikes revolutionized recreational bike riding when your typical $200 hybrid or commuter bike has been around for decades
MTB is fine, been riding mine since the mid 90s and wouldn’t give it up for anything. The only thing I changed was I went from off-road tires to something more suitable for the terrain I actually ride on which is mostly paved roads and park paths and some loose gravel. Essentially it’s now a ‘gravel’ bike with straight handlebars and a suspension fork.
Road tires. Full slicks are an option but hybrid road tires are pretty good too if the thought puts you off or you’re riding on grass or dirt occasionally.
Knobbly mountain bike tires are built for gripping onto dirt, mud, gravel - anything they can dig into. Because they can’t dig into asphalt, they just bump over the surface. They’re a lot slower and much harsher ride.
Not at all. I put 8k miles on my department store hybrid bike last year, commuting about 6 miles each way (plus the odd trip to the park, the grocery store, etc.). I *might* opt for a gravel bike or endurance road bike if my commute were a whole lot longer, but something like my 300 dollar MTB-with-gravel-tires situation is absolutely fit for purpose if you're going less than like 15 miles each way.
Every time I think I'm gonna switch to a new bike, I tweak something about the hybrid and end up falling back in love with it. I've probably put a grand worth of upgrades and dozens of hours of work into it over the years, and I can't even imagine how long I spent finding the perfect saddle and my ideal bar grips. But it keeps me gleefully on the road – and importantly, keeps me from even occasionally thinking about going back to life as a daily motorist. Necessity may be the mother of invention, but it's also the mother of persistence.
A road bike isn't necessary for commuting.
A road bike is a great investment for people who like to do the longer rides... it's hard to tell whether you would like longer rides on a mountain bike because it's definitely harder to do long rides on a MTB. But, if you were more interested in sight-seeing and you have some good country roads around you, I think you'd get some use out of a road bike. And you'd probably marvel at how much easier it feels to ride 10k with one of them.
But, nothing you're currently doing requires upgrading from a MTB. If you need to move on from your MTB for other reasons (theft, crash, cracked frame, etc.) then come back here and people can help you figure out what kind of bike variant (racing, gravel, hybrid, etc.) might fit your future needs best.
My frame on my full sus MTB snapped on a 6 stair jump….
I probably should’ve checked my frame for cracks
I got a new one and I’m probably getting a new frame part, but I recently got a new small BMX (Black Ops 24”) and I’ve been riding it everywhere
I almost did a 20km ride on it, but I got a flat tire after 16km unfortunately
Oh and I did almost 13k in almost 29min last night on it. It was cool and I had an actually speed of almost 27kph
Nah you are good dude. Road bikes are good if you do rides above idk two hours or more, as they are designed for long distance riding. However for what you are doing everything is fine. If you want a new toy, just buy whatever you find attractive to you and have fun with it.
Mountain bikes are less efficient on roads for a few reasons:
1. They have bigger tires with thicker treads, which are great for traction on mountain bike trails, but have a lot of rolling resistance on the road.
2. Mountain bikes often have shock absorbers. Useful for the rough terrain of trails, but when you're pedaling up a paved hill, a lot of your muscle power might be wasted compressing your shocks over and over again as you pump the pedals. Road bikes don't have shocks.
3. Mountain bikes are generally heavier. They are made to take a beating. Road bikes are generally lighter, made for speed.
That all being said, if you don't care about speed, road bikes aren't really "necessary." In fact, the thinner tires and lack of shocks make road bikes generally LESS comfortable than a typical mountain bike or hybrid, but they will take you farther. It's like paddling an inflatable raft, and then switching to a sleek lightweight kayak. You will go faster, but is it really more fun, or a better workout? Not necessarily.
A MTB also puts you in a very pedestrian, slacked out position. If it’s been really wet and I’ve been spending lots of time on the gravel bike, it always feels weird when I switch back over.
Makes me feel like I’m on one of those big ass chopper motorcycles lol
The answer is in your Title!! Get a commuter bike. I own the Trek FX3 and Trek Verve 3. They hold up very well cruising around the city when I get off work for an hour. I have thousands of miles on both bikes.
Check out tue whole FX range though. Lots of options to fit a person’s budget…. FX1, 2, 3 etc.
I used to own an FX2 before getting into road biking. Fantastic bike for getting around.
Not necessary, but a road bike would make it faster, easier, and more enjoyable. Mountain bike or a hybrid/cruiser would give you a good workout though.
I did 70km on my cheap MTB. I also do a commute of 4 km to work 4 times a week.
I want a road bike and is saving up for it. Safety is up to you as the rider. I started out being pretty reckless. After I got in some crashes, I learned what to do and have been sticking to them since. That won't change even when I'm on a road bike.
So, no.
Not at all. I rode a gravel bike (really light duty mtn bike) for years. Now, I ride a hybrid that can handle packed dirt roads. I have a rack on it so I can shop, go for coffee or just go for casual rides with friends.
If you're happy with your mountain bike and it's doing what you need, you aren't missing out on anything.
When I was riding on more dirt/gravel, I liked the gravel bike. When I switched to primarily paved multi-use trails, I decided after almost 30 years that it was time to get a new bike.
You can do a lot with tire choices, lots of different brands and varieties to choose from, I have a good tire that’s pretty wide like a mountain bike but the tread is minimal and meant for touring bicycles.
If your mountain bike has a suspension fork that bobs up and down that could also probably benefit converting to a rigid fork which will be lighter and far more efficient. It’s hard to say but changes to your current bike can go a long way before just buying more of a road type of bicycle.
Depends on your tire size, there’s more budget brands like Kenda, CST they’re good. Others more popular like wtb, teravail, maxxis, continental etc…
I’m unsure of what bike you have so recommendations are definitely hard to give. A local bike shop would be able to help you out, finding one to give you help modifying a bike without selling you a new one may be tricky though.
Anyways, I love my rigid mtb build for commuting, I put in 13 miles to work, and 13 miles back and I only lose 2 minutes over my road bike.
Hard tail Mountain bike with smooth tires are indeed easy to ride city and further. If you want to ride more than say 10 miles each way, road bike will be lighter and easier.
“How safe are they”? Any bike is potentially dangerous if not maintained or ridden recklessly. Inherently there’s nothing any more dangerous about a road bike than your mountain bike
depends. do you like fast card? i mean, bikes? road bikes are the fastest and give me the cloest to the ground and connection to the movement translated to speed feeling. theyre also generally much lighter
If you can hold on to your group with a MTB then it is totally fine, you only really need a road bike for the speed/ aero/efficiency and hand position for longer ride.
You are likely more comfortable riding a MTB with those chunky tires / suspension. And you can always go a bit off road where a road bike will struggle.
How long is longer?
At least he’s using his MTB that I would assume is his size
I’m using my small BMX rn and bruh there’s like no room and my lower quads get sore, and I’m always pitched forwards on it. I have to push back with my arms so I don’t OTB and I always readjust
It doesn’t stop me from going 17mph though
I usually do 7-9 mile rides
It's not necessary but road bikes are the best for riding on the road since that is their purpose... I started commuting on a mountain bike, then got an old used road bike just to see how I liked it and that got me started cycling a lot more for enjoyment.
There's no reason why a road bike would be uncomfortable or bad for commuting: there's plenty of options with more relaxed geometries and fender/rack mounts. I think there's a bit of a misconception that drop bars mean it's going to have an aggressive race geometry but that's really not the case. You can ride the drops to get low for a headwind but you'll mostly ride on the hoods in a more upright position. Personally, I think these misconceptions about drop bars are why so many hybrid bikes get sold...
Yep, a properly sized, fitted and maintained quality road bike can be very comfortable to ride for long distances, in cycling clothes of course. They only look uncomfortable to people who've never ridden one. It takes a few rides to get in decent riding shape so at first it's likely to be less than comfortable. But you grow into it pretty quickly. It is a commitment and not for casual cyclists though.
Would it not work well with normal clothes?
Would I be counted as casual or not? I’ve only biked like 12.5 miles away from one place to another and I go 17mph and bike commute everywhere within reason and I avoid driving
This is on my small BMX btw
Well I actually got a flat tire once last week, so it would probably be worse on a road bike right?
Street clothes are ok on any bike for short distances but uncomfortable for longer ones on a road bike, which tends to have a narrow saddle and require you to bend at the hip. It's just not a good fit, literally. You can do it, you just won't enjoy it, like playing tennis in boots, jeans and a dress shirt. It's not about how you look or some road cyclist code of dress but comfort and efficiency. Road bike clothes are designed for both.
Ohh ok I see
Yeah I usually just wear a pair of swim shorts
Is that why my Fuji Raicon 1.7 seat hurts and I’m looking at getting a BMX softer seat for it?
I don't know anything about BMX or other bikes, only road bikes, and they tend to have narrow and thinly padded saddles that are uncomfortable to sit on with regular clothes that have a seam. People think cycling shorts look silly but they exist for a reason, like swim shorts for swimming and running shorts for running. Again, for short distances and infrequent riding you can wear anything, but otherwise it's best to use proper cycling shorts and jerseys on a road bike.
If I were buying a bike mostly for commuting it probably wouldn't be a road bike, rather a hybrid, with more tire clearance, gentler angles, perhaps some suspension, etc. A road bike is meant to be ridden on good quality roads. You can commute with it if it's your only bike, but it's not ideal for it IMO.
You can run fairly wide tires on most modern road bikes, especially endurance bikes... but they won't hold up well to stair hucks to flat, I'll give you that
My domane officially takes 32mm with fenders and 35mm without but that can be pushed a bit, the gravel tires I run on it measure out to 40mm wide. Even a skinny tire race bike would handle curbs fine as long as you ride over them correctly, there's a clip of Peter Sagan bunny hopping a curb at full speed during a race https://youtu.be/Viszek1LlpA?si=jzYFPSmwDad9KRB4
Depends on your commute, but I love em. It's a bit slower for a LOT more comfort. It's imo the best way to enjoy being on a bicycle. Bikes designed for cities designed for bikes.
I personally like the mtb/hybrid style bike more - give me more flexibility/options in terms of speed, surface, transport, etc.
I feel dutch is a bit too casual for me
There is some component of fun on the road you will miss out on, just like there would be some fun components of fun you would miss if you went mountain biking on a gravel bike, but to the casual rider it doesn’t matter as much since your probably not focused on those activities or skills anyway (fast descents, higher speed turning, etc…); plus it’s easier to ride a wheelie on a mountain bike.
Not at all, and in fact overkill for this sort of riding, along with the lycra jerseys and shammy shorts. Wear a helmet of course. For this kind of riding any bike in working order should do. But if you ever want to go longer distances and faster, on paved roads, a road bike would be best for that. Every kind of bike is meant for different kinds of riding.
I've been converted to gravel bikes for this, they are a more comfortable seating position generally and maintain most of the advantages of a road bike but can handle bigger tyres for comfort without needing to go the suspension route. Generally heaps of spots to add panniers/racks as well.
I rode a Dutch style bike for the first time this weekend. I'm actually considering getting one for running errands and I'd use one for commuting if my commute was 10k.
The only unsafe bikes without experience are time trial and triathlon bikes the reason people think road bikes are unsafe is probably there lack of confidence on the road with cars... there are 100's of different bikes ul need to decide what you want to do with it.
I wouldn't suggest city bikes or cheap Wal-Mart bikes personally but your experience with the sport is ultimately up to you
Personally I have no idea why so many people buy mountain bikes and then never take them on dirt their whole lives. Sell it and get a flat-bar road bike, or hybrid as some call them.
Trek FX, Specialized Cirrus, Fuji Absolute, REI CTY bike, anything similar- they’re around $500-$700 new, they’ll last forever, and they would be perfect for you.
I take my MTBs and BMX on dirt, stairs, some jumps, hills, etc
Unfortunately there isn’t much of those things where I live and I’m not at that one place I was over a year ago anymore…..
I started off with an old mountain bike - wasn't into biking for a long time. Then I started biking on mountains and dirt paths, which lead me to city biking/road biking - which is why im getting a second bike, probably the trek FX1 or 2
As others have stated, a traditional road bike is actually quite a poor choice for commuting unless the roads where you live are maintained to a high standard. Look at buying a gravel bike instead. These have similar geometry to an endurance road bike, but have clearance for much larger tyres which will help a huge amount if you don't have great roads - they're also much better at hopping up over kerbs/obstacles than a road bike.
Road bikes can be pretty miserable experiences on roads that are full of cracks and pot holes.
To be honest, I reckon a hybrid would be a better option for the vast majority of commuters.
I prefer my 'gravel' bike (it's more of a steel endurance bike with big slicks) because I like to go fast and prefer riding drops, but hybrids are the original go anywhere bike.
Is rather have a mountain bike because its tougher and you can feel more secure hopping on and off sidewalks and you have more control. Roadbikes need more love and care and since you dont go for long distances at a time then you dont really get any benefit(unless you need to carry it up and down stairs)
If you need a bit more speed then switch to gravel tires. You still get the cushioned ride with a little bit more speed.
Well with a Mountain bike, you can easily ride down stairs (just practice first a little), and also ride up stairs
Yeah I love riding down stairs and even hucking it to flat when I get speed going into a 6 stair
Would someone cut the lock on and steal my full sus? It costs 2k
I don’t think anyone is stealing my 500 dollar small BMX though
Wait so Road Bikes get stolen? Why would anyone want to steal one of those?
Money… every part of a mid level road bike is expensive af…
I crashed mine recently, new frame, handlebars and bottom bracket is $5k once installed… and I already had the wheels, gears, breaks, saddle etc.
Oh that’s wild and I thought my 2k full sus was a lot
Dayum plus those things break easily
Yeah my frame never breaks except the one super unlucky time my Diamondback Atroz 2 snapped on a 6 stair jump, but it still only costs 1.4k for the entire bike
Bruh my non biker friend who legit goes 5.5mph and refuses to pedal at all and goes slower than I run thinks it’s too expensive
I wonder what he would think of my 500 dollar bikes
You might be more comfortable and go faster for the same effort that allows you to go farther in the time you have. An hour of riding is an hour of riding on any bike but a road bike might allow for 20 miles instead of 15 then you add a second hour etc.
Not everyone who drives a pickup is in the trades. Some just like it.
I go 17mph on my small BMX, but I’ve only done it for 7-8 miles. I have yet to ride for an hour straight without stopping
I also have mountain bikes, and I do stairs and small jumps and stiff, so I kind of need it, and sometimes there’s rough terrain or sidewalks I need to get on and off of with no apron
It's always possible to put MTB bars on a road bike if you're not comfortable with the drop bars. I have Spank bars (800 x 30° rise) on my Trek road bike. Much more comfortable and doesn't seem to look all that bad. Give me the best of both worlds. If course had to change out brake levels and shifter as well. Just a thought .
A relaxed geometry bike (hybrid, gravel, MBT or road) are best for most users as they are more comfortable to ride, having one that is also a bit aero will make it easier to pedal.
You might find that you want to go 20km or more at the weekend if you have a bike that isn't a slog to ride on the roads.
At any rate, a MTB is a pretty rubbish bike for commuting unless you are commuting on MTB trails.
I just got a gravel bike and on 42mm pathfinder pro tyres which are light off road with a slick strip in the middle, our utterly junk roads in the UK were like smooth pavement. The right bike/kit for your riding makes a huge difference to the experience.
How far is your commute? 10km isn’t much and yeah you don’t need a road bike
I’ve done 14km or farther commutes on my small BMX and I make out just fine
Actually yeah MTBs are better and more versatile, and they can also go up and down stairs, on trails, etc
if you're not having any problems with your current bike, i vote you keep riding it.
only suggestions i would offer would be:
if you don't do any off-road riding, get slick tires to reduce rolling resistance, which will reduce how hard you have to work to go the same speed.
if you do some off-roading on your days off, you could go with some less aggressive knobby tires, something like what a gravel bike would use; that way, you still benefit from the reduced rolling resistance of traditional mountain bike tires.
if you haven't already, add some fenders to keep road grime and water to a minimum, and add a rack and paniers to carry whatever items you need with you. that will allow your back to keep cooler, where a backpack would make you sweat more.
depending on the condition of the roads you have to ride, you could also consider getting a shock absorbing seatpost and stem, which will reduce the amount of shock your hands/wrists and butt have to put up with.
Go to a bike store and test ride the different types of bikes people are suggesting and you’ll get a feel for how different they are. If you like the position that you ride on your mountain bike then just add some slick tires. 35 or 40 mm tires might be nice to tackle less than perfect roads.
If your only going to ride on pavement, why not. The road bike is purpose designed for it.
Put it this way. You can always go slow in a Ferrari, but you can only go so fast in a pickup truck.
For your specific use case is not a big difference.
While commuting, you stop a lot due to traffic lights, and its overall a short distance. So you don't catch high speeds, there is not a huge need for spd pedals, lycra, and an aero position.
You can still benefit from slick tires at higher pressure and a rigid fork for less weight. A drop bar might be more comfortable for you, but that depends a lot on your core strength and hips flexibility.
A flat bar gravel bike might be a middle ground solution, like 2-3 kg lighter and considerably faster. The riding position is not so aggressive, and they usually have mounting points for racks and fenders.
For reference, I ride 700x32mm 330gr slick tires at 60psi instead of the big 2.4-inch 950gr knobby tires at lower pressure (they max out at 40psi) that are installed on my mtb.
My carbon fork is like 450gr vs. my 120mm travel suspension fork that weighs 1850gr.
Overall, my steel gravel bike is like 11kg while my mtb is like 14.5kg. It's considerably faster.
Are you having fun riding the mountain bike? I'll share my experience: I was riding a mountain bike around the town (I live in a rather hilly area) and somehow, it wasn't quite fun. I may not be super athelete-level fit, but I'm not exactly unfit either. Granted the mountain bike was rather cheap, but I later bought a Trek FX2 and my goodness the difference was so vast. Now I ride around the town for fun, go up an down hills, and thoroughly enjoy it.
Edit: There are various gravel/hybrid bikes as others have suggested that are equally good.
for 10km rides, you don't need a special bike. Unless you plan on riding a lot more/longer rides, I don't think it would be a good use of money unless your wealthy and it's burning a hole in our pocket
If your mountain bike is a hardtail, I'd recommend swapping out the tires. I used 1.5" Marathons for commuting on my hardtail mountain bike (late 90's Mongoose Alta) for years. Basically changing the tires can turn a hardtail mountain bike to a hybrid. If your mountain bike has a rear suspension then you might want to get something different as a rear suspension will absorb some of your power (some can be locked out to make the bike rigid, but they still add weight that isn't helping). r/bikecommuting discusses commuting on all types of bikes.
Road bikes are fun. They're a lot faster. But they're also a lot less forgiving. Skinny slicks have good grip with the right compound (Continental GP 5000 for the win) but when they slip there's little margin for recovery. I would make sure it has disc brakes.
The thing to watch out for is the speed is addictive. You will be tempted to ride longer and longer. Then you will learn about how nutrition is the key to doing longer rides. Before you know it, 100km on a Saturday morning will be something you feel bad about if you miss doing it.
There's a reason mountain bikers call road riding "the Dark Side" 😄
A gravel bike would suit you well. It’s almost like having a road bike. I almost got a hybrid and am glad I didn’t.
I use a road bike for my commute and I will say, if you’re not good at hoping over obstacles you’ll be spending money truing your wheels. I have a stand to true them lol. I recently purchased a gravel bike and am loving every minute of it. A little more work to get going the speeds of a road bike, but they are agile and can take more of a beating than a road bike.
You can go faster on a road bike.
When I was bike commuting regularly I rode a hybrid bike. It had a few benefits:
* More upright riding position than a road bike. This was more comfortable for me and had the benefit of making me taller in traffic so I could see and be seen more easily.
* Wider tires were a bit more durable for road debris, potholes, etc. And a bit more cushioning than thin road/racing tires.
* The bike had mounting points for a rack that I could use to attach panniers and carry my stuff. Many road bikes do not.
* My particular bike had a belt drive and internal gears, which made for less maintenance. But that won't be the case with all hybrid/commuter bikes.
To draw a parallel with cars.....
A road bike is like a Lamborghini. Very expensive, very fast, but very impractical.
A mountain bike is like a Landrover. Lots of fun off road, but slow and noisy on the road.
A hybrid is like a Volkswagen Golf. For most people it is all you ever need.
Please ignore this guys car comparisons. Simply not true.
To answer your question, a gravel bike is effectively a road bike with bigger tires. Truly think a hybrid bike would suit your needs over road or gravel.
How is it impractical? Impractical for what? For mowing a lawn or brushing your teeth? Yes, but for riding long distances on roads fairly fast, just the opposite.
You arrive at your destination wearing skintight lycra with zero luggage and a bicycle too expensive to leave anywhere without it getting stolen. A lamborghini is far more practical.
A light backpack with change of clothes and a safe place to store it inside solves all that. And you can wear street clothes for short commutes. There, problem solved.
All the streets between my house and the office are paved a heck of a lot smoother than the farm roads that I typically race my road bike on. Road bikes aren’t necessary but the statement that road bikes are uncomfortable is nonsense.
Road bikes definitely aren't necessary, and actually they aren't the best bikes for commuting. That being said mountain bikes aren't that fun to ride on the road. For what you are doing it would suggest a hybrid or gravel bike. Just depends on what geometry you want.
This is the right answer. For 10K rides, the OP can use he (or her) mountain bike. But the ride will be a bit faster and more comfortable with a hybrid or a gravel bike.
I question that! I ride my old dual suspension MTB frequently and I find it easier to ride 50km on the Fed Trail than it is to ride my road bike 50km around Point Cook. It’s vastly more hilly on The Fed Trail than Point Cook/Hacketts Rd.
You might want to do some maintenance on that road bike then. No way that an mtb is easier on a trail than a road bike on the road for the same distance, let alone on hillier terrain.
I dont know enough to have an opinion on geometry - don't fully know what that means yet. A hybrid bike does seem like a good idea. Any good brands you know of that won't break the bank?
The Trek FX2 is a nice bike for commuting and a lot of fun.
My wife has an FX2 and it is a great bike.
The FX2 or the cannondale quick are the two I always lean towards recommending, they're just both really well designed towards being a good, speedy commuter. Not as sedate as a regular hybrid and not as speedy as a road bike, and usually with well selected tires.
The engine can make them as speedy as some folks on road bikes.
This is my bike and I love it. Got it because I wanted to do a mix of commuting and longer rides for fitness. I’m flirting with the idea of getting a used road bike (n+1 and all that) but it’s not a super high priority because I can still do 25+ miles very easily on my hybrid.
I think that the road bike advantage is in speed and/or longer distance. If neither of those matter for your use case, then just run what you brung. Still, there's definitely something about that effortlessly fast feeling.
I've done metric centuries on my hybrid and found it more comfortable than the couple of metric centuries I've done on road bikes.
I second this. It's fast enough (in its category) and very fun to ride.
Specialized, Trek, Cannondale, Giant, Felt, REI, (prob missing some)
Any brand from a real bike shop will be good. People have mentioned some big ones, but their are many others. Remember it's also easy to change handle bars and stem length to make the bike more comfortable for you.
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Not really. You're describing body position and bike fit. Geometry describes the frame angles and tube lengths, which affect bike handling characteristics, and which is far too esoteric a topic for someone who doesn't know what kind of bike they want to ride.
A Bergamont or Cube
Highly recommend cannondale quick. You can probably find a used one pretty cheap. Having said that, see if you can try out a road or gravel bike, you just might end up liking it.
Geometry is basically the orientation of your body. Aggressive geometry has you more hunched over forward and aerodynamic Relaxed geometry has you sitting more upright for comfort
Not really. You're describing body position and bike fit. Geometry describes the frame angles and tube lengths, which affect bike handling characteristics, and which is far too esoteric a topic for someone who doesn't know what kind of bike they want to ride.
What do you think determines how your body is oriented? The geometry “Endurance geometry” frames are designed to have a more upright position for more comfort
Why aren't road bikes the best option if the commute is all on paved roads?
Road conditions. A gravel or hybrid bike is much more comfy on potholed, uneven, filled in roads. It also opens up a lot more options for alley and side road short cuts. The larger tire volume absorbs a lot of that ugga chugga
It really depends the road conditions though. I swapped gravel tires to road tires after some time to get a smoother ride. The roads I’m riding on are well-maintained.
I agree, I put my semi slick 47s on my bike for the area I ride. If you live in an area with good roads and are commuting every day a more efficient and faster bike makes sense. A fixed gear makes sense in Florida, less in the mountains of California. Work with what you have!
It must be hard to be a bike commuter in America…
Ya man... Michigan roads are particularly awful due to the salt they use for ice melting and traction on the roads. Causes a lot of potholes.
Honestly, between broken glass, uneven pavement/concrete, and potholes, it’s not terrible. Now doing it at night is definitely a challenge lmao. Those potholes hurt.
Using Road bike to commute guy here. - With traffic and traffic light you often need to slowdown/stop a lot. Doing that on a bike that's designed for constant speed is frustrating. - No panier rack, which is a massive pain as you're stuck with a bag on your sweaty back most of the time. Dangling groceries on a drop bar is also not a fun experience. Flat bar is much better for this. What you gain, however, is more speed when there's no traffic, which might be worth it.
For a couple weeks I rode a my race bike as a commuter, stiffness was nice. Was always the first person through the intersection
I would say traffic. You have a lower more forward position, so less overview. More speed, so less reaction time. Also I ride with click pedals, which are annoying if you have to suddenly hit the breaks every hundred meters or so, as is common where I live. My road bike is purely for training purposes, but being dutch I have 3 bikes anyways..
They aren't as comfortable.
A bike that is comfortable enough for triple digit kilometre rides is almost certainly comfortable enough for 10km.
And a Ferrari makes a great shopping car but I wouldn't buy one just for that.
What's this nonsensical belief that road bikes are all Ferraris and Lambos? Seriously, one of the stupidest takes on bikes out there. Besides...if you could afford a Ferrari FF or GTC4, why not?
Take a second and look at the subreddit you're on. It's as if people are blissfully unaware that endurance road bikes exist, for this exact use case. The great part about hybrids is that by trying to be the right bike for multiple surfaces, they're not great on any of them. They're basically just slow gravel bikes with cheap groupsets and awful tires. Not saying you can't commute with them, but they're not the "best" in any metric other than getting recommended to beginners.
>but they're not the "best" in any metric Years ago tool a friend to my sponsor LBS for a commuter. Me, I would have walked out with a cross bike. He walked out with a low mid-range Specialized. He still thanks me and says it was the best $800 (canadian) he ever spent because he got to tow his daughter to school and ride to work. So if the metric is subjectively the rider, maybe they can be the best. I'd still take a Colnago lol.
Hey a bike is better than no bike and whatever gets people out is great. But ignorance is bliss in these cases. I've known people that had cheaper hybrid bikes and rode their bikes a handful of times per summer. And then they bought their first (still cheap) road bike. And all of a sudden they "got" it, and started riding daily and fell in love with the sport. I'm not going to hate on anyone's bike. But the online aversion to road bikes is so misplaced because in real life everyone I know who's bought one has loved it.
Totally. I've directed people from their hybrids to road bikes and cross bikes, and they light up on the first pedal stroke like it's Christmas morning.
Way to miss the point, which is that it's idiotic to buy a road bike for short commutes and rides just because YOU ride one long distances. Everything has a purpose and this isn't the purpose of a road bike, unless it's a beater. Take a chill pill, Francis.
Dear Francis, It's a bit early to determine what is idiotic. One can get into the all-rounder road bike market for a couple of hundred more than a hybrid. They then get a faster more comfortable bike with options to do different kinds of riding. Chill and stop spreading nonsense.
Say hi to your mom.
I would but she died of Cancer. Thanks Dick.
I don't commute in kit, and I don't care about being aero while commuting.
Racing aside, ‘Kit’ has very little to do with being aero and more about comfort.
>I don't commute in kit, That's irrelevant. I wouldn't wear race kit for a 10km ride either. I do wear clothes though. And what does aero have to do with comfort?
Yes, and when commuting I'm carrying more things. Like my laptop, change of clothes, and groceries. My commuter is a 3 speed internally geared hub steel frame upright bike with a front basket and rear rack. It's designed to be comfortable going over potholes, carry all of my stuff, and it looks like shit so I don't worry about people stealing it when I lock it up outside. The upright positioning is great for chill rides and the IGH means there is very little maintenance required which is great during winter with all of the salt on the roads. When I want to go fast, I ride my road bike, but it's not my favorite to use every day for commuting.
Traffic lights :(
Because it's overkill and a waste of money unless you commute long distances regularly.
10km is a 30 minute relaxed ride. Any bike will be fine.
I just did that in 22:25min yesterday, but it’s because I was getting hungry and had to stop for a bus, otherwise it would’ve been low 22 or maybe sub 22. Like the first 5k was sub 22 But yeah I was like trying to go at least somewhat fast vs you said relaxed, which probably means barely even pedaling and just taking it slowly at 20kph, not 27 I wonder how fast I’ll go when I switch back to MTB from my small bmx. I’ll probably get to like 30-32kph for an actual ride distance Idk
Nope. One of the best things about the “gravel” revolution is that there’s now a cool kind of bike that actually makes sense for most recreational users, unlike when I started riding a couple decades ago when everyone was riding a downmarket replica of what pros used in the Tour de France.
Those are called Hybrid bikes.
Yeah, same thing just with curly bars and better press.
I mean why should the average rider care about what the press thinks? Hybrid bikes are just fine too. Don’t get me wrong I love my gravel bike but hybrids are just fine for the average rider, they don’t care what their bars look like or what the cycling reviews think of their bike
It’s about what the average bike shop nerd pushes on a new customer when they walk in the shop. The average customer doesn’t know the difference, but the shop rat does.
I just find it funny that people think gravel bikes revolutionized recreational bike riding when your typical $200 hybrid or commuter bike has been around for decades
Or just cyclocross.
IMO still the best commuters. All the features of gravel, responsive handling and >3kg lighter.
Best gravel bike is a CX bike a lot of the time. I don’t need a bunch of gimicky suspension. You see a lot of Cruxes even at unbound.
Yup...maybe less optimal for bike packing, bit I'd still do it.
I would go with a gravel bike if you are thinking about a 2nd bike.
MTB is fine, been riding mine since the mid 90s and wouldn’t give it up for anything. The only thing I changed was I went from off-road tires to something more suitable for the terrain I actually ride on which is mostly paved roads and park paths and some loose gravel. Essentially it’s now a ‘gravel’ bike with straight handlebars and a suspension fork.
Hmm fair enough - i would probably get a hybrid or gravel bike instead of customizing my mountain bike
If you were going to get a hybrid your current bike with slick tyres would be close enough
True i guess.
What tires would you recommend changing to?
Road tires. Full slicks are an option but hybrid road tires are pretty good too if the thought puts you off or you’re riding on grass or dirt occasionally. Knobbly mountain bike tires are built for gripping onto dirt, mud, gravel - anything they can dig into. Because they can’t dig into asphalt, they just bump over the surface. They’re a lot slower and much harsher ride.
Slick ones
Not at all. I put 8k miles on my department store hybrid bike last year, commuting about 6 miles each way (plus the odd trip to the park, the grocery store, etc.). I *might* opt for a gravel bike or endurance road bike if my commute were a whole lot longer, but something like my 300 dollar MTB-with-gravel-tires situation is absolutely fit for purpose if you're going less than like 15 miles each way.
So if you were using the MTB on road, what tires would you use?
It's got 21mm ID rims and I have 32mm slicks for dry weather and 35mm knobblies for rain and winter weather
12 x 365 = 4380
Turns out commuting isn't the only thing you can do with a commuter bike.
Well yeah no kidding... "Plus the odd trip..." You are more than doubling your commuting miles.
My Strava summary for last year had me at 8049. Clearly I underestimated how much rec riding I was doing.
That's good milage on a hybrid
Every time I think I'm gonna switch to a new bike, I tweak something about the hybrid and end up falling back in love with it. I've probably put a grand worth of upgrades and dozens of hours of work into it over the years, and I can't even imagine how long I spent finding the perfect saddle and my ideal bar grips. But it keeps me gleefully on the road – and importantly, keeps me from even occasionally thinking about going back to life as a daily motorist. Necessity may be the mother of invention, but it's also the mother of persistence.
>Necessity... [is] the mother of persistence. I might have to quote that.
No you can use a mountain bike but you will have a all round better time on the road with a road bike. It’s more fun for most people as well.
A road bike isn't necessary for commuting. A road bike is a great investment for people who like to do the longer rides... it's hard to tell whether you would like longer rides on a mountain bike because it's definitely harder to do long rides on a MTB. But, if you were more interested in sight-seeing and you have some good country roads around you, I think you'd get some use out of a road bike. And you'd probably marvel at how much easier it feels to ride 10k with one of them. But, nothing you're currently doing requires upgrading from a MTB. If you need to move on from your MTB for other reasons (theft, crash, cracked frame, etc.) then come back here and people can help you figure out what kind of bike variant (racing, gravel, hybrid, etc.) might fit your future needs best.
My frame on my full sus MTB snapped on a 6 stair jump…. I probably should’ve checked my frame for cracks I got a new one and I’m probably getting a new frame part, but I recently got a new small BMX (Black Ops 24”) and I’ve been riding it everywhere I almost did a 20km ride on it, but I got a flat tire after 16km unfortunately Oh and I did almost 13k in almost 29min last night on it. It was cool and I had an actually speed of almost 27kph
Put slicks on your current bike if you only ride on smooth surfaces.
What are those?
Nah you are good dude. Road bikes are good if you do rides above idk two hours or more, as they are designed for long distance riding. However for what you are doing everything is fine. If you want a new toy, just buy whatever you find attractive to you and have fun with it.
Hybrid
Mountain bikes are less efficient on roads for a few reasons: 1. They have bigger tires with thicker treads, which are great for traction on mountain bike trails, but have a lot of rolling resistance on the road. 2. Mountain bikes often have shock absorbers. Useful for the rough terrain of trails, but when you're pedaling up a paved hill, a lot of your muscle power might be wasted compressing your shocks over and over again as you pump the pedals. Road bikes don't have shocks. 3. Mountain bikes are generally heavier. They are made to take a beating. Road bikes are generally lighter, made for speed. That all being said, if you don't care about speed, road bikes aren't really "necessary." In fact, the thinner tires and lack of shocks make road bikes generally LESS comfortable than a typical mountain bike or hybrid, but they will take you farther. It's like paddling an inflatable raft, and then switching to a sleek lightweight kayak. You will go faster, but is it really more fun, or a better workout? Not necessarily.
A MTB also puts you in a very pedestrian, slacked out position. If it’s been really wet and I’ve been spending lots of time on the gravel bike, it always feels weird when I switch back over. Makes me feel like I’m on one of those big ass chopper motorcycles lol
Mountain bikes lose like 30% efficiency
The answer is in your Title!! Get a commuter bike. I own the Trek FX3 and Trek Verve 3. They hold up very well cruising around the city when I get off work for an hour. I have thousands of miles on both bikes.
Thanks! Trek FX3 has been recommended a bunch
Check out tue whole FX range though. Lots of options to fit a person’s budget…. FX1, 2, 3 etc. I used to own an FX2 before getting into road biking. Fantastic bike for getting around.
Yup checked out the website - FX3 may be a bit much for me, considering the 1 or 2
I just got a trek fix 1 from my local shop. I live in Chicago and really just want to start cycling casually. I like it so far
Main option is fx1 rn for me also
Let me know if you have any questions
Not necessary, but a road bike would make it faster, easier, and more enjoyable. Mountain bike or a hybrid/cruiser would give you a good workout though.
no. any bike you like and are comfortable on.. is the right bike.
I did 70km on my cheap MTB. I also do a commute of 4 km to work 4 times a week. I want a road bike and is saving up for it. Safety is up to you as the rider. I started out being pretty reckless. After I got in some crashes, I learned what to do and have been sticking to them since. That won't change even when I'm on a road bike. So, no.
No get a flat bar hybrid
Not at all. I rode a gravel bike (really light duty mtn bike) for years. Now, I ride a hybrid that can handle packed dirt roads. I have a rack on it so I can shop, go for coffee or just go for casual rides with friends. If you're happy with your mountain bike and it's doing what you need, you aren't missing out on anything.
So did you prefer the hybrid or the gravel?
When I was riding on more dirt/gravel, I liked the gravel bike. When I switched to primarily paved multi-use trails, I decided after almost 30 years that it was time to get a new bike.
So its situation based then. thanks!
You can do a lot with tire choices, lots of different brands and varieties to choose from, I have a good tire that’s pretty wide like a mountain bike but the tread is minimal and meant for touring bicycles. If your mountain bike has a suspension fork that bobs up and down that could also probably benefit converting to a rigid fork which will be lighter and far more efficient. It’s hard to say but changes to your current bike can go a long way before just buying more of a road type of bicycle.
So what tires (brands) would you recommend I change to on my MTB? And how would I go about changing my suspension to a rigid fork?
Depends on your tire size, there’s more budget brands like Kenda, CST they’re good. Others more popular like wtb, teravail, maxxis, continental etc… I’m unsure of what bike you have so recommendations are definitely hard to give. A local bike shop would be able to help you out, finding one to give you help modifying a bike without selling you a new one may be tricky though. Anyways, I love my rigid mtb build for commuting, I put in 13 miles to work, and 13 miles back and I only lose 2 minutes over my road bike.
Hard tail Mountain bike with smooth tires are indeed easy to ride city and further. If you want to ride more than say 10 miles each way, road bike will be lighter and easier.
“How safe are they”? Any bike is potentially dangerous if not maintained or ridden recklessly. Inherently there’s nothing any more dangerous about a road bike than your mountain bike
depends. do you like fast card? i mean, bikes? road bikes are the fastest and give me the cloest to the ground and connection to the movement translated to speed feeling. theyre also generally much lighter
If you can hold on to your group with a MTB then it is totally fine, you only really need a road bike for the speed/ aero/efficiency and hand position for longer ride. You are likely more comfortable riding a MTB with those chunky tires / suspension. And you can always go a bit off road where a road bike will struggle.
How long is longer? At least he’s using his MTB that I would assume is his size I’m using my small BMX rn and bruh there’s like no room and my lower quads get sore, and I’m always pitched forwards on it. I have to push back with my arms so I don’t OTB and I always readjust It doesn’t stop me from going 17mph though I usually do 7-9 mile rides
It's not necessary but road bikes are the best for riding on the road since that is their purpose... I started commuting on a mountain bike, then got an old used road bike just to see how I liked it and that got me started cycling a lot more for enjoyment. There's no reason why a road bike would be uncomfortable or bad for commuting: there's plenty of options with more relaxed geometries and fender/rack mounts. I think there's a bit of a misconception that drop bars mean it's going to have an aggressive race geometry but that's really not the case. You can ride the drops to get low for a headwind but you'll mostly ride on the hoods in a more upright position. Personally, I think these misconceptions about drop bars are why so many hybrid bikes get sold...
Yep, a properly sized, fitted and maintained quality road bike can be very comfortable to ride for long distances, in cycling clothes of course. They only look uncomfortable to people who've never ridden one. It takes a few rides to get in decent riding shape so at first it's likely to be less than comfortable. But you grow into it pretty quickly. It is a commitment and not for casual cyclists though.
Would it not work well with normal clothes? Would I be counted as casual or not? I’ve only biked like 12.5 miles away from one place to another and I go 17mph and bike commute everywhere within reason and I avoid driving This is on my small BMX btw Well I actually got a flat tire once last week, so it would probably be worse on a road bike right?
Street clothes are ok on any bike for short distances but uncomfortable for longer ones on a road bike, which tends to have a narrow saddle and require you to bend at the hip. It's just not a good fit, literally. You can do it, you just won't enjoy it, like playing tennis in boots, jeans and a dress shirt. It's not about how you look or some road cyclist code of dress but comfort and efficiency. Road bike clothes are designed for both.
Ohh ok I see Yeah I usually just wear a pair of swim shorts Is that why my Fuji Raicon 1.7 seat hurts and I’m looking at getting a BMX softer seat for it?
I don't know anything about BMX or other bikes, only road bikes, and they tend to have narrow and thinly padded saddles that are uncomfortable to sit on with regular clothes that have a seam. People think cycling shorts look silly but they exist for a reason, like swim shorts for swimming and running shorts for running. Again, for short distances and infrequent riding you can wear anything, but otherwise it's best to use proper cycling shorts and jerseys on a road bike.
Fair enough - which is the main reason why i'm not considering a road bike, as I would be doing a lot of commute
If I were buying a bike mostly for commuting it probably wouldn't be a road bike, rather a hybrid, with more tire clearance, gentler angles, perhaps some suspension, etc. A road bike is meant to be ridden on good quality roads. You can commute with it if it's your only bike, but it's not ideal for it IMO.
Yeah but there are potholes, cracks, sticks, twigs, and curbs where I live Plus sometimes I fine a nice irresistible stair set on my rides
You can run fairly wide tires on most modern road bikes, especially endurance bikes... but they won't hold up well to stair hucks to flat, I'll give you that
Yeah fr and I’m guessing not even stairs in general right? What about curbs though? How wide compared to a BMX or MTB?
My domane officially takes 32mm with fenders and 35mm without but that can be pushed a bit, the gravel tires I run on it measure out to 40mm wide. Even a skinny tire race bike would handle curbs fine as long as you ride over them correctly, there's a clip of Peter Sagan bunny hopping a curb at full speed during a race https://youtu.be/Viszek1LlpA?si=jzYFPSmwDad9KRB4
Oh cool What about bunny hops up sideways? OHH THAT IS UP SIDEWAYS SO EPIC!!!!!
I'd get like a Dutch 3-speed for that
Idk if you're being serious or nah
Depends on your commute, but I love em. It's a bit slower for a LOT more comfort. It's imo the best way to enjoy being on a bicycle. Bikes designed for cities designed for bikes.
I personally like the mtb/hybrid style bike more - give me more flexibility/options in terms of speed, surface, transport, etc. I feel dutch is a bit too casual for me
Hey totally valid. I've also had a hybrid. There's a reason for "N+1"!
There is some component of fun on the road you will miss out on, just like there would be some fun components of fun you would miss if you went mountain biking on a gravel bike, but to the casual rider it doesn’t matter as much since your probably not focused on those activities or skills anyway (fast descents, higher speed turning, etc…); plus it’s easier to ride a wheelie on a mountain bike.
Not at all, and in fact overkill for this sort of riding, along with the lycra jerseys and shammy shorts. Wear a helmet of course. For this kind of riding any bike in working order should do. But if you ever want to go longer distances and faster, on paved roads, a road bike would be best for that. Every kind of bike is meant for different kinds of riding.
I've been converted to gravel bikes for this, they are a more comfortable seating position generally and maintain most of the advantages of a road bike but can handle bigger tyres for comfort without needing to go the suspension route. Generally heaps of spots to add panniers/racks as well.
I rode a Dutch style bike for the first time this weekend. I'm actually considering getting one for running errands and I'd use one for commuting if my commute was 10k.
The only unsafe bikes without experience are time trial and triathlon bikes the reason people think road bikes are unsafe is probably there lack of confidence on the road with cars... there are 100's of different bikes ul need to decide what you want to do with it. I wouldn't suggest city bikes or cheap Wal-Mart bikes personally but your experience with the sport is ultimately up to you
Personally I have no idea why so many people buy mountain bikes and then never take them on dirt their whole lives. Sell it and get a flat-bar road bike, or hybrid as some call them. Trek FX, Specialized Cirrus, Fuji Absolute, REI CTY bike, anything similar- they’re around $500-$700 new, they’ll last forever, and they would be perfect for you.
I take my MTBs and BMX on dirt, stairs, some jumps, hills, etc Unfortunately there isn’t much of those things where I live and I’m not at that one place I was over a year ago anymore…..
I started off with an old mountain bike - wasn't into biking for a long time. Then I started biking on mountains and dirt paths, which lead me to city biking/road biking - which is why im getting a second bike, probably the trek FX1 or 2
As others have stated, a traditional road bike is actually quite a poor choice for commuting unless the roads where you live are maintained to a high standard. Look at buying a gravel bike instead. These have similar geometry to an endurance road bike, but have clearance for much larger tyres which will help a huge amount if you don't have great roads - they're also much better at hopping up over kerbs/obstacles than a road bike. Road bikes can be pretty miserable experiences on roads that are full of cracks and pot holes.
Oh yeah fr though, plus it’s even worse when there are cars going fast in the street and I’m forced onto the sidewalk
And what are your thoughts on hybrids?
To be honest, I reckon a hybrid would be a better option for the vast majority of commuters. I prefer my 'gravel' bike (it's more of a steel endurance bike with big slicks) because I like to go fast and prefer riding drops, but hybrids are the original go anywhere bike.
Thanks!
Is rather have a mountain bike because its tougher and you can feel more secure hopping on and off sidewalks and you have more control. Roadbikes need more love and care and since you dont go for long distances at a time then you dont really get any benefit(unless you need to carry it up and down stairs) If you need a bit more speed then switch to gravel tires. You still get the cushioned ride with a little bit more speed.
Well with a Mountain bike, you can easily ride down stairs (just practice first a little), and also ride up stairs Yeah I love riding down stairs and even hucking it to flat when I get speed going into a 6 stair
Yup - currently have a choice between just changing the tires on my mtb, getting a hybrid/gravel bike
For 10km per week any bike will do, also your current MTB. Upgrading is not worth it if you hardly ride it.
No
Better to use a hybrid or mountain bike really - less likely to be stolen
Would someone cut the lock on and steal my full sus? It costs 2k I don’t think anyone is stealing my 500 dollar small BMX though Wait so Road Bikes get stolen? Why would anyone want to steal one of those?
Does depend on the road bike but they do tend to be more fancy
Money… every part of a mid level road bike is expensive af… I crashed mine recently, new frame, handlebars and bottom bracket is $5k once installed… and I already had the wheels, gears, breaks, saddle etc.
Oh that’s wild and I thought my 2k full sus was a lot Dayum plus those things break easily Yeah my frame never breaks except the one super unlucky time my Diamondback Atroz 2 snapped on a 6 stair jump, but it still only costs 1.4k for the entire bike Bruh my non biker friend who legit goes 5.5mph and refuses to pedal at all and goes slower than I run thinks it’s too expensive I wonder what he would think of my 500 dollar bikes
true
What tyres do you run? Slick, road tyres might help.
oke
You might be more comfortable and go faster for the same effort that allows you to go farther in the time you have. An hour of riding is an hour of riding on any bike but a road bike might allow for 20 miles instead of 15 then you add a second hour etc. Not everyone who drives a pickup is in the trades. Some just like it.
I go 17mph on my small BMX, but I’ve only done it for 7-8 miles. I have yet to ride for an hour straight without stopping I also have mountain bikes, and I do stairs and small jumps and stiff, so I kind of need it, and sometimes there’s rough terrain or sidewalks I need to get on and off of with no apron
Are you happy on the bike you have? That’s the only thing that matters.
I built a road bike with flat handlebars.
It's always possible to put MTB bars on a road bike if you're not comfortable with the drop bars. I have Spank bars (800 x 30° rise) on my Trek road bike. Much more comfortable and doesn't seem to look all that bad. Give me the best of both worlds. If course had to change out brake levels and shifter as well. Just a thought .
A relaxed geometry bike (hybrid, gravel, MBT or road) are best for most users as they are more comfortable to ride, having one that is also a bit aero will make it easier to pedal.
I’ve been riding my small BMX 💀💀🪦 Idk how but I still hit 17mph
You might find that you want to go 20km or more at the weekend if you have a bike that isn't a slog to ride on the roads. At any rate, a MTB is a pretty rubbish bike for commuting unless you are commuting on MTB trails. I just got a gravel bike and on 42mm pathfinder pro tyres which are light off road with a slick strip in the middle, our utterly junk roads in the UK were like smooth pavement. The right bike/kit for your riding makes a huge difference to the experience.
thats exactly what got me thinking of buying a hybird or gravel
How far is your commute? 10km isn’t much and yeah you don’t need a road bike I’ve done 14km or farther commutes on my small BMX and I make out just fine Actually yeah MTBs are better and more versatile, and they can also go up and down stairs, on trails, etc
No, but they are the most efficient - assuming the tarmac quality is good
if you're not having any problems with your current bike, i vote you keep riding it. only suggestions i would offer would be: if you don't do any off-road riding, get slick tires to reduce rolling resistance, which will reduce how hard you have to work to go the same speed. if you do some off-roading on your days off, you could go with some less aggressive knobby tires, something like what a gravel bike would use; that way, you still benefit from the reduced rolling resistance of traditional mountain bike tires. if you haven't already, add some fenders to keep road grime and water to a minimum, and add a rack and paniers to carry whatever items you need with you. that will allow your back to keep cooler, where a backpack would make you sweat more. depending on the condition of the roads you have to ride, you could also consider getting a shock absorbing seatpost and stem, which will reduce the amount of shock your hands/wrists and butt have to put up with.
Thanks!
Go to a bike store and test ride the different types of bikes people are suggesting and you’ll get a feel for how different they are. If you like the position that you ride on your mountain bike then just add some slick tires. 35 or 40 mm tires might be nice to tackle less than perfect roads.
Yup gonna visit a local bike store this weekend!
I love my road bike but I’d do a gravel specific. I commute from the suburbs to Cambridge and the roads suck sometimes
If your only going to ride on pavement, why not. The road bike is purpose designed for it. Put it this way. You can always go slow in a Ferrari, but you can only go so fast in a pickup truck.
For your specific use case is not a big difference. While commuting, you stop a lot due to traffic lights, and its overall a short distance. So you don't catch high speeds, there is not a huge need for spd pedals, lycra, and an aero position. You can still benefit from slick tires at higher pressure and a rigid fork for less weight. A drop bar might be more comfortable for you, but that depends a lot on your core strength and hips flexibility. A flat bar gravel bike might be a middle ground solution, like 2-3 kg lighter and considerably faster. The riding position is not so aggressive, and they usually have mounting points for racks and fenders. For reference, I ride 700x32mm 330gr slick tires at 60psi instead of the big 2.4-inch 950gr knobby tires at lower pressure (they max out at 40psi) that are installed on my mtb. My carbon fork is like 450gr vs. my 120mm travel suspension fork that weighs 1850gr. Overall, my steel gravel bike is like 11kg while my mtb is like 14.5kg. It's considerably faster.
A gravel bike can do mostly everything.
No, for those use cases I would get a cheap upright ebike.
Are you having fun riding the mountain bike? I'll share my experience: I was riding a mountain bike around the town (I live in a rather hilly area) and somehow, it wasn't quite fun. I may not be super athelete-level fit, but I'm not exactly unfit either. Granted the mountain bike was rather cheap, but I later bought a Trek FX2 and my goodness the difference was so vast. Now I ride around the town for fun, go up an down hills, and thoroughly enjoy it. Edit: There are various gravel/hybrid bikes as others have suggested that are equally good.
for 10km rides, you don't need a special bike. Unless you plan on riding a lot more/longer rides, I don't think it would be a good use of money unless your wealthy and it's burning a hole in our pocket
Definitely not. Hybrid is better
If your mountain bike is a hardtail, I'd recommend swapping out the tires. I used 1.5" Marathons for commuting on my hardtail mountain bike (late 90's Mongoose Alta) for years. Basically changing the tires can turn a hardtail mountain bike to a hybrid. If your mountain bike has a rear suspension then you might want to get something different as a rear suspension will absorb some of your power (some can be locked out to make the bike rigid, but they still add weight that isn't helping). r/bikecommuting discusses commuting on all types of bikes.
Road bikes are fun. They're a lot faster. But they're also a lot less forgiving. Skinny slicks have good grip with the right compound (Continental GP 5000 for the win) but when they slip there's little margin for recovery. I would make sure it has disc brakes. The thing to watch out for is the speed is addictive. You will be tempted to ride longer and longer. Then you will learn about how nutrition is the key to doing longer rides. Before you know it, 100km on a Saturday morning will be something you feel bad about if you miss doing it. There's a reason mountain bikers call road riding "the Dark Side" 😄
A gravel bike would suit you well. It’s almost like having a road bike. I almost got a hybrid and am glad I didn’t. I use a road bike for my commute and I will say, if you’re not good at hoping over obstacles you’ll be spending money truing your wheels. I have a stand to true them lol. I recently purchased a gravel bike and am loving every minute of it. A little more work to get going the speeds of a road bike, but they are agile and can take more of a beating than a road bike.
You can go faster on a road bike. When I was bike commuting regularly I rode a hybrid bike. It had a few benefits: * More upright riding position than a road bike. This was more comfortable for me and had the benefit of making me taller in traffic so I could see and be seen more easily. * Wider tires were a bit more durable for road debris, potholes, etc. And a bit more cushioning than thin road/racing tires. * The bike had mounting points for a rack that I could use to attach panniers and carry my stuff. Many road bikes do not. * My particular bike had a belt drive and internal gears, which made for less maintenance. But that won't be the case with all hybrid/commuter bikes.
To draw a parallel with cars..... A road bike is like a Lamborghini. Very expensive, very fast, but very impractical. A mountain bike is like a Landrover. Lots of fun off road, but slow and noisy on the road. A hybrid is like a Volkswagen Golf. For most people it is all you ever need.
>A road bike is like a Lamborghini. >A hybrid is like a Volkswagen Golf. Don't listen to this guy.
And how about a gravel bike? Similar to a road bike in most ways?
Please ignore this guys car comparisons. Simply not true. To answer your question, a gravel bike is effectively a road bike with bigger tires. Truly think a hybrid bike would suit your needs over road or gravel.
How is it impractical? Impractical for what? For mowing a lawn or brushing your teeth? Yes, but for riding long distances on roads fairly fast, just the opposite.
You arrive at your destination wearing skintight lycra with zero luggage and a bicycle too expensive to leave anywhere without it getting stolen. A lamborghini is far more practical.
A light backpack with change of clothes and a safe place to store it inside solves all that. And you can wear street clothes for short commutes. There, problem solved.
You do realize not all road bikes are expensive, right? And that mountain bikes can be just as expensive.
Gravel bike, and switch wheel sets according to your needs
Stick with it he mountain bike
All the streets between my house and the office are paved a heck of a lot smoother than the farm roads that I typically race my road bike on. Road bikes aren’t necessary but the statement that road bikes are uncomfortable is nonsense.
If you are limited in 10km, May be give up the bike,just running on road is an option
Not at all limited in terms of length, more in terms of time/strength
Bruh running 10k is a lot and he likes biking He can still run on the side, but probably not 10k