[Gaz-Man]

Your Vote Counts, please help...

I currently ride an '08 Sepcialized Stumpjumper hardtail. I primarily ride Marin Headlands and Mt. Tamalpais as I can ride to those rides - which I do a minimum of three times a week.

What bike type should I get next? My three serious contenders are a new FS, a roadbike or a cross bike.

Factors to consider:
1. I want to and will continue to primarily ride where I already do - see above.
2. I would like to commute to work once a week (30 miles roundtrip)
3. I would like to ride road because I have a couple friends to ride with and all my MTB riding friends say it is a good compliment to my trail riding and insist it will improve my speed and skills on the hill. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

What say ye...?

 

[Ryan G.]

Cross bike

if you are only riding Mt. Tam and Headlands a full suspension bike is over kill and with a cross bike you can create epic mixed terrain rides throughout Marin.

 

[datenschwanz]

cx.

 

[singlespeed.org]

Cross bike.

 

[vaelin]

Cx.

 

[Big Daddio]

Cross is boss

 

[redmr2_man]

buy a 60lb dh sled and make those legs stronger!

 

[zorg]

Put skinny tires on your hardtail, and you got your cross bike. Then, get a nice 5" dualie. FS rocks!

 

[Punkeyboozter]

take the car and spend the extra time drinking beer.

in all honesty sounds like all you need is a set of skinny slicks on your HT

 

[Carl Hungus]

Sell the HT. Buy a 5" FS MTB and a CX bike. Yes, your bikes will be sometimes overkill and sometimes underkill (not a word) but you will never be able to turn down a ride in the bay area because you don't have a suitable bike.

 

[d-bug]

Put skinny tires on your hardtail, and you got your cross bike. Then, get a nice 5" dualie. FS rocks!

Yes, this is the correct answer. You can even get a set of CX wheels with disk hubs and put them on the hardtail. I did it and it made for an awesome commuter. My woman has that same setup now and prefers it over the CX bike for commuting.
Then get an Ibis Mojo for dirt.

 

[CHUM]

Yes, this is the correct answer. You can even get a set of CX wheels with disk hubs and put them on the hardtail. I did it and it made for an awesome commuter. My woman has that same setup now and prefers it over the CX bike for commuting.
Then get an Ibis Mojo for dirt.

N O T the SAME as a CX rig!!!!

and the only reason your lady likes it better is because her CX rig was stoled

 

[kc929]

Sell the HT. Buy a 5" FS MTB and a CX bike. Yes, your bikes will be sometimes overkill and sometimes underkill (not a word) but you will never be able to turn down a ride in the bay area because you don't have a suitable bike.

I agree. I have 5" FS that I use for trail riding and cross country racing. I have a cross bike that I convert into a road bike during spring and summer, and back into a cross bike during fall and winter (it is really only a wheel swap away from hitting the trails, but during the CX season it's a single ring). But if a FS is not in the budget, get the CX for it's versatility.

 

[grrrah]

hookers and blow

 

[530_singletrack]

hookers and blow

x2

 

[dsnow23]

Sell the hardtail and get a full suspension bike and a road bike. That way, you're doing both sports right. Granted, a dualie isn't necessary for a lot of trails on Tam and the headlands, but going down is more fun on a dualie, and to me, that's the fun part of mountain biking. The uphill part is to keep the beer belly in check.

 

[fervor]

CX. Good for everything.

Get a cross bike with eyelets for a rack. Now you have a bike that works offroad, on road, and commuting. Want to ride with your road buddies... get another set of tires.

 

[SFMatt]

Yet another opinion...

Buy all three:thumbsup:

Seriously, though, if you are a mountain biker who just needs a commuter, then do as some suggest and convert your HT, and buy a nice new FS bike.

If you are looking to switch up your riding, get a road bike. Marin has some of the best road riding around, and you will find yourself out riding far more on a road bike.

I would skip the CX bike, as it is just a poor second at either road or MTB. I have all three and almost never ride my cross bike. If I am on dirt, I take the FS. If I am on the road, I take the road bike.

 

[Ogre]

If you are happy with your current bike...

Then don't let the herd talk you into a full suspension bike. If you are happy with your HT then stick with it.

Get a nice commuter bike. Cyclocross is a good call so you can hit a little dirt on your commute.

 

[Stumpy_Steve]

get a road bike, no doubts about it. it will train your stamina like crazy and your climbing will improve tremendously. you've already got a bike for the dirt, whats the point of a cx when you've already got a hardtail? it'll be slower on the road, not as fun in the dirt, and unless you plan on doing some serious cx racing (which 90% of cx owners don't), stick with the roadie.