Giant Mtb - commuting

empirix

Howdy, i am in the process of purchasing this giant mtb
http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=232&idproduct=30114

I am thinking of also using it to go to work - has anybody used a giant mtb for commuting - are they very slow for in and around the city etc? I was thinking of getting this too for commuting or rather suggesting to my boss to get it for me

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=32&idproduct=30489

Or else i could get a pair of slicks for the mtb too - but would they make a difference or will i just stick with the mtb and tyres for mtbing and work
any opinions appreciated

DirkVoodoo

A 1600 euro MTB commuter...hmmm, I can see this being reposted in a few months as "help, Giant MTB stolen".

It's a very nice mountain bike, for mountain biking.

What distance is your commute? From where to where, etc. What kind of parking is available, etc. You need to give more info: a commute is a slightly vague term, one man's epic is another man's commute and all that.

The second bike looks interesting, might make an excellent commuter depending on your requirements: disc brakes, wide tyres, relaxed geometry, hub gears. It may be suited to your city commute.

But again, hard to make a recommendation without knowing more, tell us about yourself.

empirix

commute is a half hour walk by foot either way slightly longer on the way back as its kinda a gradual slope, i had a ridgeback tempest a while ago and was making it in 10 mins or so but on the way back 20 mins as the bike was crap on a gradual slope just found it too slow. The mtb wont be stolen as its locked in a secure garage with security guards also there.

Me: fairly fit, regular gym goer but a stickler for precision which is where the problem with the ridgeback came in, i just found it dragging the road

btw the mountain bike is a definite - would also consider cycling it from Finglas to enniskerry and then up a few trails - so thats partly why i wanted a kind of nippy one on the roads, i have done in the past on a raleigh mountain bike, i can however just stick it in the car and drive up etc

DirkVoodoo

Hmmm...well, if you intend to also do some mountain biking then I guess.

It's hard to recommend either a commuter just for a short (~3km?) trip, or a road bike unless you plan to do some longer spins.

Is it just cycling to and from work?

If it was me, I would probably buy the mountain bike for the mountains and buy a lightweight, cheapish commuter, possibly singlespeed (maybe a specialized Langster).

Lumen

A 3km commute should take under 10 minutes whatever bike you use. The fact that it takes you 10 minutes in and 20 minutes back is more likely to indicate a weight problem than a bike problem.

I'd be more concerned with it getting nicked.

If I had a €1600 budget and a road bike aversion I'd buy a €300 hybrid (e.g. Carrera Subway) for the commute and leave the €1300 mountain bike safely tucked up at home.

They'll both be crap on the road anyway.

empirix

Lumen wrote: »

A 3km commute should take under 10 minutes whatever bike you use. The fact that it takes you 10 minutes in and 20 minutes back is more likely to indicate a weight problem than a bike problem.

I'd be more concerned with it getting nicked.

If I had a €1600 budget and a road bike aversion I'd buy a €300 hybrid (e.g. Carrera Subway) for the commute and leave the €1300 mountain bike safely tucked up at home.

They'll both be crap on the road anyway.

weight problem - cheers mate:D no actually there are more kind of dramatic slopes(3) on the way back, one of which is about 400m long - honest, although i am a 100kg muscle machine:P

DirkVoodoo

vermonaman wrote: »

weight problem - cheers mate:D no actually there are more kind of dramatic slopes(3) on the way back, one of which is about 400m long - honest, although i am a 100kg muscle machine:P

What's the exact route? Even Brian O Driscoll would be slow up a mountain, power to weight is key.

I forgot about the Subway, it would really suit your needs. I've been on some very nice mountain bikes, at the end of the day they are designed for absorbing impacts, gripping loose terrain and taking abuse. Even a top mountain bike will be a poor commuter compared to a well designed hybrid (I did see some almighty power from some guys riding mountain bikes on the road in Belgium though).

Added to that, the Giant is going to need more love and care from the combined commuting and off road use, hosing it down once after a weekend out is enough for most people, you will curse yourself for using it for such a short commute when you are constantly cleaning it.

I do like that second bike though. But for 3km I would forsake gears altogether.

blorg

The mountain bike will not be ideal for the commute. What was the cause of the "drag" you describe on the Ridgeback- you may well end up with the same on the MTB.

You will be using a very expensive and nice bike for a purpose it is utterly unsuited to.

Buy a cheap hybrid or road bike with slicks and no suspension for the road.

Also 100kg is 100kg and will inhibit you going up hills specifically.

I would normally think fixed or SS is a good idea for a commute but not if it involves a major gradient.

BostonB

Get some cheap even 2nd hand commuter hybrid or even a no suspension MTB again 2nd hand with slicks.

Keep the good MTB for the mountains.

WicklowRacer

I think MTBs are getting a bit of an unfair deal here :-)... I commute 40kms a day on an MTB during the winter because of the state of the roads and the much better braking that I get with Hydro discs. Its slower than the road bike but only by about 5 minutes in the hour. The tighter gearing means better acceleration and the MTB is much easier to control and maneouve in traffic. It needs to be light (mine is ~23lbs) which means expensive and I run the tyres at 45psi which roll sweetly...

SerialComplaint

I've used a basic Giant Boulder MTB for commuting (about 30 mins each way) for the past three years. I have a couple of short stretches over grass on my chosen route (to keep me away from cars as much as possible), hence my choice for an MTB. It has worked fine for me, and is very manoeuvrable in traffic and up/down paths when required. The only downside for me has been the amount of maintenance required on brakes & gears, but that is probably as much to do with lack of cleaning etc. I'm sure I could shave a few minutes off the commute with a hybrid, but who cares really - my main reason for cycling is for exercise reasons, so the extra effort doesn't really bother me. It is not the fastest bike in town, though I reckon that I pass out more cyclists than pass out me (if you exclude the ones that pass me out when I stop at red lights, that is).

I'm thinking about switching to a Specialised Crosstrail now with the 29" wheels. I was never entirely comfortable with the fit of the Boulder, and I always felt a bit of pressure on my wrists and palms. The Crosstrail seems a bit more comfortable.

Those particular bikes do seem like a bit of overkill for a shortish commute. Have you looked into the Bike-to-work scheme to let the Govt share the cost with you?

empirix

oh yeah - 470 discount coming my way, thats why i am going for the more expensive bike:)