Mountain Bike V Road Bike

chatter1316

Quick question. i am currently in the process of buying a bike. cant make up mind which to buy. on the one hand i love road racing and always wanted a road bike but i am quite overweight and am worried about weight restrictions etc.
i could just go for a mountain bike as they are a lot sturdier.
i will be using this bike as part of my training to lose weight.
any opinions/sugestions welcome

Lashed

Buy a road bike. If you've always wanted one you'll end up buying one in time anyway.
You haven't stated your weight but an aluminum road should be well up to the job.

Raam

If you are going to cycle on a mountain, get a mountain bike. If you are going to cycle on the road, get a road bike.

Stone Deaf 4evr

I wouldnt be worried about weight restrictions on a road bike - I've never heard of a hefty fella (i'm one too btw) crushing a bike. where do you see yourself riding most - mountains or roads? thats the answer to your question.

chatter1316

it would be on roads, thanks for the replies.

paddydriver

OP... I am fairly hefty too, 260lb/~18 Stone, and I picked up a full carbon bike earlier in the year 2nd hand. Is a very "light weight" bike but I knew history of it and for the price I was happy to take it.

Anyway, I have done lots of research on this area and nothing out there that definitively says any issues for us heavier lads on the road bikes; be they aluminium or carbon etc.

Actually got in a forum with one of the guys that created the Cervelo brand and design, and he says that a pro cyclist in a sprint is going to put far more pressure and stresses on a frame than my 18 stone is going to put on it...so the frames have to be designed to be extremely strong and well beyond day to day requirements. Wheels also come into play but again I looked through Mavic site and nothing on there about rider weight.

I had always had a mountain bike too and I can assure you that riding a road bike is a world away from it so like someone said, if your going up mountains then get a mountain bike but for the road then don't look beyond a road bike.

Hope this helps.

ford2600

What kinda money you thinking of spending?
Get decent sturdy wheels with high spoke count

Titanium with relaxed geometry would be an option if funds are right. Bike for life

chatter1316 wrote: »

it would be on roads, thanks for the replies.

chatter1316

budget would be 500 to 800 euro

dave_o_brien

You won't have any problems with the frame, it's the wheels you may encounter problems. These can crop up in two areas:

Flex. In order to overcome your wheels flexing, or spokes breaking frequently, get a pair of well built, high spoke count (36) wheels. These may cost circa €250, but will last. As a former 16.5 stone cyclist with basic wheels, you should do this to save yourself paying for replacement spokes and a wheel true.

Tyres. The narrower they are, the higher you'll need to run them at. Try to get a bike that will take 28mm tyres at least, and run them at around 130psi.

For your budget, you'll struggle to get something new. Either adjust your budget, or keep an eye out for a second hand bike, but seriously consider upgrading the wheels on anything you do get, until you're at least down to 15 stone. Also consider a cross bike, it may be more forgiving.

Mostly, get something that makes you want to cycle, and enjoy it.

route66

chatter1316 wrote: »

budget would be 500 to 800 euro

If you are going for a road bike, I'll offer my usual advice: Giant Defy 3

Lists at about €840 but you should be able to get up to 10% off easily. A first cousin of this bike won Bikeradar's 2013 bike of the year. Giant are the world's biggest manufacturer of bikes and this yoke will take your weight ok. The Defy 3 also has what I would consider to be the minimum spec for a bike that won't see you wanting to upgrade it after a few months; the main component I'm talking about here is the brake/gear levers with proper up and down selection control systems. I.E. no silly buttons.

munsterleinster

If you're not into going off road, I would definitely suggest a road bike.
You'll ride further with less effort (which should make it more enjoyable).

I'm not a skinny fecker so the only upgrade I made was a 36 spoke back wheel and a 25mm back tyre This was done for reliability as a broken spoke on the original 28 spoker would ruin a day out.
All other parts will be up to the job.

It's a good time of year to buy as all the online shops are clearing their stock of 2012 bikes. A lot of places doing 33% off

If you're really unsure about the strudyness you could go for something like this:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=95376