Mountain Bike Purchase

forumdedum · 04-05-2016 9:10pm #1

I'm thinking of buying a bike to help lose weight and keep fit. Any recommendations please? I like the idea of using the bike to cycle in a town also and mostly main roads.

I'm 6 ft 2"

Thank you

PowerToWait · 04-05-2016 9:50pm

Get a road bike instead.

forumdedum · 04-05-2016 10:06pm

Is a road bike what used to be called a racer?

uck51js9zml2yt · 04-05-2016 10:09pm

forumdedum wrote: »

Is a road bike what used to be called a racer?

Yes. Much lighter and more likely to be used on roads.

forumdedum · 04-05-2016 10:12pm

Thank you. I prefer the look of a mountain bike. I know it's not about looks but . . .

uck51js9zml2yt · 04-05-2016 11:06pm

forumdedum wrote: »

Thank you. I prefer the look of a mountain bike. I know it's not about looks but . . .

My road bike weighs 9 kg. A dream to ride.

jlm29 · 05-05-2016 6:29am

What about a hybrid bike?

forumdedum · 05-05-2016 10:11am

jlm29 wrote: »

What about a hybrid bike?

They look interesting. Any model suggestions welcome. Is Halfords a good spot to buy?

kirk buttercup · 05-05-2016 10:14am

forumdedum wrote: »

I'm thinking of buying a bike to help lose weight and keep fit. Any recommendations please? I like the idea of using the bike to cycle in a town also and mostly main roads.

I'm 6 ft 2"

Thank you

Get the Mountain bike and head up and do some mountain biking. I have taken it up myself in the last year and its brilliant fun. if your'e not going to do that get a hybrid.

forumdedum · 05-05-2016 10:16am

kirk buttercup wrote: »

Get the Mountain bike and head up and do some mountain biking. I have taken it up myself in the last year and its brilliant fun. if your'e not going to do that get a hybrid.

Thanks for the input. I probably won't do the mountain part. I would be cycling some country roads with some big potholes perhaps and bumpy roads. Hybrid ok for this?

murpho999 · 05-05-2016 10:28am

forumdedum wrote: »

Thanks for the input. I probably won't do the mountain part. I would be cycling some country roads with some big potholes perhaps and bumpy roads. Hybrid ok for this?

No matter the type of bike, you should avoid potholes.

I was in the same boat as you a couple of years ago, wanted a bike for commuting with the idea of taking up cycling. Thought initially about a mountain bike but research led me to a hybrid.

Now getting more into it and considering changing my hybrid for a proper road bike.

If I were you, get a road bike. You won't regret it.

murpho999 · 05-05-2016 10:29am

forumdedum wrote: »

They look interesting. Any model suggestions welcome. Is Halfords a good spot to buy?

I would buy my bike from a proper bike store rather than a car accessories retailer.

You will get better bikes, service and advice.

kirk buttercup · 05-05-2016 11:46am

murpho999 wrote: »

I would buy my bike from a proper bike store rather than a car accessories retailer.

You will get better bikes, service and advice.

True Bike shops offer really good advice and expertease but in fairness to halfords its hard to beat their Boardman range the specs are amazing for the price

Effects · 05-05-2016 11:52am

Cycling a mountain bike on the road is a bit of a waste. Too heavy and slow compared to a bike designed for the road. Get a cyclocross/adventure bike and you have the best of both worlds.

forumdedum wrote: »

I prefer the look of a mountain bike. I know it's not about looks but . . .

It often is about looks. But people will look at you and think you don't know what you're doing if you're riding a mountain bike on the street.

05-05-2016 11:59am

yes cyclocross bike could be what you're looking for - a road bike with bigger tyres and disc brakes that can handle surprisingly rugged terrain with a manageable weight penalty. hybrids are a bit naff in my opinion.

a lot of people seem to be put off by the road/racer handlebars. the thing to realise is that you never really hold them in the racing stance but rather on the top in a relatively upright position so you're not bent over all the time.

Definitely do not buy a mountain bike if you're not going to use it on singletrack. mountain bike on the road gets old fast with thick wheels and heavy frame.

kirk buttercup · 05-05-2016 1:10pm

glasso wrote: »

Definitely do not buy a mountain bike if you're not going to use it on singletrack. mountain bike on the road gets old fast with thick wheels and heavy frame.

I agree its like trying to pedal a tractor, great for singletrack downhill but going uphill or even on flat its bloody hard work

Effects · 05-05-2016 1:33pm

glasso wrote: »

a lot of people seem to be put off by the road/racer handlebars. the thing to realise is that you never really hold them in the racing stance but rather on the top in a relatively upright position so you're not bent over all the time.

I run my road bike with a flat bar. Purely as I don't like using drop bars.
A mate of mine recently got a really nice Lapierre bike on the bike to work scheme. Even though our bikes have the same group set (apart from shifters/brake levers) and wheelset he thinks I cycle a mountain bike.

Zillah · 05-05-2016 3:21pm

Effects wrote: »

I run my road bike with a flat bar. Purely as I don't like using drop bars.

This is my plan. I've a hybrid now, but it's getting a bit battered, so I'm either going to get a full service on it, or upgrade to a full road bike and retire the other one. But I hate hate hate dropbars.

Did you swap them out yourself?

Effects · 05-05-2016 9:42pm

Nah, just looked for a flat barred road bike and then took off the bar ends that came with it. Changed to a different set with a bend about two years ago which raised it by about another inch. Even more comfortable.
Currently restoring my dads old racer. First thing to go was his old dropped bars. Replaced them with raised mountain bike bars to counter the drop on the old quill stem.

thehamo · 08-05-2016 4:54pm

Youvcan get some mountain bikes that are lighter than a lot of the mid range road bikes, tho you'd pay a tad more. Stick a set of slicks on the wheels and lock out the forks and your grang for commutes and also set up for the lighter trails. Any road cycling further than a circa 20km round commute ud get a cyclocross with slicks or a road bike

forumdedum · 20-05-2016 9:16pm

Thanks for all the advice, appreciate it.

I have opted for a Trek 8.4 DS.

iwillhtfu · 21-05-2016 1:21pm

Effects wrote: »

Nah, just looked for a flat barred road bike and then took off the bar ends that came with it. Changed to a different set with a bend about two years ago which raised it by about another inch. Even more comfortable.
Currently restoring my dads old racer. First thing to go was his old dropped bars. Replaced them with raised mountain bike bars to counter the drop on the old quill stem.

You'd be hung for less. :eek:

Flat bars on a road bike look absolutely ****e.

In saying that there are some excellent hybrids that will give similar looks to a road bike but with flat bars.

http://www.giant-dublin.ie/en-ie/bikes/model/fastroad.slr/25089/90695/

OP I wouldn't bother replacing the drop bars just get a bike that suits.

From the sounds of it you'll be doing a bit of everything with the exception of what a road bike is intended for (going fast and on relatively smooth surfaces.) A hybrid or CX bike/gravel bike wold probably suit best.

http://www.giant-dublin.ie/en-ie/bike-catalogue/series/cross-gravel-bikes/47/

Mountain Bike Purchase

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