MTB vs Hybrid?

Taltos

Hi,
finally decided like so many others here to take the plunge.
All was going well until I hit the same roadblock as so many others - shortage of Large sizes esp in Specialized.

Anyhoos, had made up my mind to go for a hybrid - like the Sirrus Comp - seems like a good fit and reasonable price 770 in cycleways - but seriously out of stock.

In the meantime been talking to my other half who is not into commuting but has said she would be upto going off-road at the weekends - also my brother has a MTB so again offroad in play here.

So now gotta figure - go for the hybrid and be limited to where I can go offroad or .. what about a MTB and just swapping off the wheels when I want to commute/go offroad?

But the MTB blows everything I have looked into basically back to square one again - with little clue where to start - any help much appreciated.

My commute will be 20m's roundtrip via the park - thanks to others here on advice on route. Am seriously out of touch on manufacturer's etc and am dizzy from the site - to put it in context when I used to cycle Raleigh was the one to kill for, with Dawes close behind.

Cheers
Taltos

Morgan

I'd recommend buying both. Get the hybrid first (it'll be a lot better for a long commute). Take it offroad a bit and when you find it's limiting your riding, then get the mtb.

Bunnyhopper

I have an old (2001) Specialized Hardrock that I use on- and off-road (just a bit of easy cross-country, nothing too hardcore). You probably could switch wheels over without too much hassle, but being skint I don't do that. I just have Spesh's Crossroads tyres (designed as a compromise tyre for use on either paved roads or unpaved trails) and run them at a much higher pressure on the road and it makes a huge difference.

The other thing is that the gearing will be different, particularly the chainrings: MTB would probably be something like 44/32/22 on the front, whereas a hybrid would probably have 50/39/30. I don't find that too much of a hindrance on the road, particularly in around town.

I actually quite like the robustness of the MTB on Dublin streets. The front suspension deals with potholes and the likes quite well, and the v-brakes stop it efficiently. (At times, cycling on Dublin's cr@ppy road surfaces is quite like cycling off-road....) For €770 you might be able to get something like a Specialized Rockhopper, but then disc brakes would be overkill on the road.

You could try World Wide Cycles in Clonmel for the Sirrus Comp. It's on their website, but whether they actually have it in stock I don't know. If Cycleways can't get it then it might be a long shot.

http://www.worldwidecycles.com/pc-45-4-specialized-sirrus-comp.aspx

I think they do free deliver, too.

kenmc

Get both. I dunno if your commute is 20km or 20miles (typo) round trip, but either way it's long enough that you don't really want to be dragging the extra weight of an MTB around on your commute. Road bike or flat bar'd racer (FCR/RCR/Sirrus etc) for commute and MTB for the mountains.

Taltos

Thanks all.
Yup 20miles round-trip.

Not sure though if I can afford both.
Like the suggestion on the tyres though - had not thought of that.

You are right though - the idea of carrying the extra weight across the city is one of the things putting me off the idea of getting the MTB - but have to balance that with the budget. Although - figuring that the extra weight - if I survive might have a beneficial effect on my general health.
Well - figuring if it does not kill me it might just make me stronger.

Please keep the suggestions coming though - have been off the bike now for a long time. Last time I rode a bike was taken out by a car - who hasn't been

Thanks again for your suggestion.

kenmc

One other thing - your OH says she'd do off road ahead of road - has she done some off roading before? It's tough enough. My OH is not at all keen on offroad, but is happy enough to do road - was training for the ww100 before an accident broke her collarbone. Basically what I'm saying is don't make your decision based on what your OH thinks she may or not like.

Taltos

kenmc wrote: »

One other thing - your OH says she'd do off road ahead of road - has she done some off roading before? It's tough enough. My OH is not at all keen on offroad, but is happy enough to do road - was training for the ww100 before an accident broke her collarbone. Basically what I'm saying is don't make your decision based on what your OH thinks she may or not like.

Good point.
Thing is I think she distrusts drivers - however being a bit of a thrill seeker (bungee / whitewater / skydiving / kayaking) - she likes the idea of going off road around some of the woods around the place.

Will keep that in mind though - who knows - unless she tries it we don't know if she would be interested in keeping it up.

kenmc

For every nice long fun descent, there's a tough long sapping uphill
If you don't like cycling, you won't like going uphill to go back down. The downs make the ups worthwhile.

Enduro

If you're going to be doing any kind of serious mountain biking (beyond fireroads) then you going to need a proper MTB. No choice really. In Ireland disc brakes are a must have as well. I've commuted for years on MTBs (generally half an hour each way, so not quite 20 miles), and never found the weight to be too much of an issue. I'd be a slower than the fitter road bike riders, but faster than most other commuters I encounter, for what its worth. Switching tyres would be a good option. doesn't take too long to switch them, and if you're on slicks for the whole week then it doesn't need to be done too often.

I'm working part time in freewheel cycles in Arnotts at the moment, so feel free to call in there and have a chat about it if you like.

Your OH sounds like the kind of person who would love MTBing. If you live within striking distance of Dublin/Wicklow it would be worth the two of you going along to one of the beginner spins that the MTB clubs put on every now and again, or head to the ballinastoe MTB trail yourselves.

Taltos

Cheers Enduro.

OH works in town so will twist her arm to pop into Arnotts to have a chat.

Taltos

Thanks everyone for your advice again.

Just after popping into Staggs in Lucan - 3rd bikeshop in 3 days and the advice there was really good. After mixed experiences in the other 2 shops I had a nice surprise at how really helpful the crew are here. Not going to name em - but one in citycenter and the other in blanch (store assistant too busy chatting on the phone there to help...)

So looks like I will be getting a hybrid (stock pending) and once I talk to the oh a 2nd hand mtb...

Had my eyes opened to the differences between a mtb and a hybrid though - so once more - once more big cheers to all above and to Andy in Staggs.

petethedrummer

I would go along with what Enduro said and lean towards the MTB (with second set of narrow tyres), because it sounds like you might actually use the bike off-road.

Most people looking for a recommendation for a MTB seem to have no real intention of using it for MTBing purposes and get pushed towards a hybrid or road bike. In your case, I'd probably go for the MTB.

Taltos

petethedrummer wrote: »

I would go along with what Enduro said and lean towards the MTB (with second set of narrow tyres), because it sounds like you might actually use the bike off-road.

Most people looking for a recommendation for a MTB seem to have no real intention of using it for MTBing purposes and get pushed towards a hybrid or road bike. In your case, I'd probably go for the MTB.

Oh man.....
Torn between the Sirrus Comp and the Rockhopper Comp -
Had decided on the Sirrum - but you just reopened my ditherings...

Damn

edit: With split of on road looking at close to 95% - think for the moment will stick with the Sirrus - and see about a 2nd hand MTB - you never know in 6mts to a year might trade in both for a newer MTB. Cheers again.

Turbulent Bill

Taltos wrote: »

Oh man.....
Torn between the Sirrus Comp and the Rockhopper Comp -
Had decided on the Sirrum - but you just reopened my ditherings...

Damn

edit: With split of on road looking at close to 95% - think for the moment will stick with the Sirrus - and see about a 2nd hand MTB - you never know in 6mts to a year might trade in both for a newer MTB. Cheers again.

If the vast majority of your time is on-road then the Sirrus is the way to go. I'd echo what kenmc said, off-road is tough - if your OH hasn't done it before I'd definitely recommend a beginners' course with a club like MAD MTB or Epic. You could both build your fitness on-road, which would vastly increase your enjoyment of the off-road stuff. MTBs can be rented if you need to.

Enduro

I'd definitely recommend a beginners' course with a club like MAD MTB or Epic

But don't turn up to one of these on a hybrid. An MTB is a minimum requirement, along with a helmet.

Taltos

Enduro wrote: »

But don't turn up to one of these on a hybrid. An MTB is a minimum requirement, along with a helmet.

Can just imagine the response I would get - might be worth it though for a punked session on youtube. Thanks for the warning...