REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Riding: Road or Mountain?

976 Views 9 Replies 10 Participants Last post by thedumbopinion, Dec 30, 2008

GBD

Discussion Starter · Dec 27, 2008

Hey guys, sorry this is like the second thread ive done today.

my main corcern is this: (ill try to explain in short and try not to confused you with bad word choice, so interpret it any way you want)

i Live in perth, australia. i want to get a road bike when i am older to ride to work and all over the place... im not sure how much a good one costs < 1st question

i fell in love with them once i found and old one and got it up and running, i love the speed and pedaling efficiency. i knowing that having one bike would be enough, but i also want a mountain bike.

partly becuase of the things you can do of road with a bike, with almost limitless possibilities today, but then having two bikes is money draining eh?

i want a nice bike, probably XC or all mountain, but i will probably never get to go DH (too expensive and wouldnt travel to those places, unless i rent a bike < 2nd q - anyone know good place/ costs of rents?

also where to go mountain bikbing in the perth area. i would like to ask you guys, although you are maybe not in australia, the kinds of trails you ride and maybe advice on where i can go?

you guys... do you have car trip to get there.... our trails aernt that great and you have to drive to get to them.

rft:

it is bothering me, i mean, if i get a nice road bike, or i want a nice mountian bike... will i use it? it is confusing, probably over nothing, but it bothers me.

ill quickly sum up incase i confused you, its hard expressing yourself in words when you are confused or need direction

- Road/mountain or both
- Reccomended bike for road, and reccomened moutain bike
- prices?
- where? (perth and/or other places where you can go for a holiday and rent a bike)
- also, i feel wierd since you guys upgrade all your bikes and know good lubes and how to fix things, i only know the simple stuff (repair) and get mass produced bike cleaning and lubing stuff. you guys get awesome bikes and know awesome trails, and you keep you bikes sparkling clean and in great order? HOW? how u keep ur drivechain, chain and cassette shiny silver and clean, how you keep that beatiful metal in top shape? any pointers? please help, i strive to be like you guys, you are my role models (that sounds really weak, i know, but yea)
yea i am a bit crazy

ut:

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FBinNY

· #2 · Dec 27, 2008

If you can't decide which to buy first, a road or Mtn bike, buy the one that you'll use the most at the beginning.

One advantage of road bikes is that you can ride them starting right at your front door, whereas many people need to drive to decent mtn biking areas.

If there are trails nearby that you can ride your mtn bike to, you might start with a Mtn bike, and use combination tires that will be OK on the road so you can ride to the beginning of the off road trails.

Being about as far form Australia as you could possibly get, I can't help you with local choices and prices of bikes, but I do know that there a large communities of both road and Mtn bikers there. I suggest you start with the local shops and scope out your options.

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sstorkel

· #3 · Dec 27, 2008

Consider buying a cyclocross bike. Basically, they're slightly beefed up road bikes that can accept wider tires. They're great for commuting and general-purpose use. They'll also handle light off-road use. You'll be stuck without suspension, so you can't do anything too crazy but if you just want to get your feet wet riding some well-groomed trails, they'll handle that...

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traffic002

· #4 · Dec 29, 2008 (Edited)

A big turning point in my riding was organized rides.

I signed up for the STP (Seattle to Portland) ride that covers 200 miles in 2 days. It's supposed to be a recreational ride, but does require you to have some miles under your belt. It helped me stay on a riding schedule. Next thing you know, I'm putting 800-1500 miles a year on my road bike.

I was originally a mtn biker over two decades ago on a rigid bike. Then got a front suspension a decade ago. Then veered off the unpaved path on a road bike.

In the end, I put my money where I spend more time riding. I picked up a really nice road bike this last spring and logged on 1800 miles from late spring to late fall. This is after I picked up a lesser, but reasonable road bike to see if I would really get into it or not.

I'm trying to put in some saddle time on my mtn bike again. It does help that I have a couple trail heads within biking distance. Otherwise, if it's a quick work out I need, I just ride out of the garage on my road bike.

Also, find out what your co-workers, neighbors, LBS guys/gals are riding. See if there are group rides you can join.

Otherwise, go used.

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nachomc

· #5 · Dec 29, 2008

It's worth it to have two nice bikes. I have a mountain and road bike and love riding both. Mountain is great in summer and winter. Getting out in to the forest is too much fun. Road biking is great because it's convenient, and rushing down windy mountain roads at 40+ mph is an incredible feeling.

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perttime

· #6 · Dec 29, 2008

For me, a mountain bike is for riding trails and I can do that without driving anywhere. I'd see a road bike more as a means to go somewhere. Others will disagree on this one.

A cyclocross bike might be a pretty good compromise: with slick tyres it should be good for roads; with different tyres, they are good for dirt roads and many trails.

hmm, I think I have pics of some local guys on their cyclocross bikes... here's one:

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calenerd

· #7 · Dec 30, 2008

I'd go with a XC bike. You can take it for trail riding, and on roads as well.

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NYrr496

· #8 · Dec 30, 2008

I started as a kid strictly on road bikes. Had a really nice Fuji S12 for years. Once mountain bikes hit, it's all I've wanted to do for twenty years. NOW, I don't always have time to load up the truck and go for a 2 1/2 hour off road ride, so I'm back to wanting another road bike. Right now, I'm borrowing my brother's Fuji Del Ray but I really want a Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra. By the time I'm done, I'll probably have four purpose built bikes.

I wish I was closer to work so I could commute by bike.

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yokine

· #9 · Dec 30, 2008

I'm from Perth, living in Switzerland at the moment. The problem with Perth is the urban sprawl. To do anything resembling real MTB'ing you are going to head to the Hills, either by car or train to Midland. So for everyday riding I would vote for a road bike and an XC bike for weekend adventures. There are some great trails for the beginner to learn on listed on the WAMBA website, my recommendations being the Mundaring Loop and Mundaring Railway Heritage Trail to build some XC skills and fitness. The first stages of the Munda Biddi trail are also good fun.

http://www2.wamba.asn.au/
http://www.perthmtb.com/
http://www.mundabiddi.org.au/

My big recommendation is don't buy a "hybrid" bike like a Giant Sedona. Jack of all trades and master of none.

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thedumbopinion

· #10 · Dec 30, 2008

yokine said:
My big recommendation is don't buy a "hybrid" bike like a Giant Sedona. Jack of all trades and master of none.

I was just thinking about that with all of these cyclocross posts. Its an obvious answer and I absolutely love the one I bought a few weeks ago but you might not get either thing you're looking for. BTW a good/cheap one is about $1000US.

How about buying a good mountain bike that can take a beating and an old, used road bike for less that $100. The roadie won't take much abuse if you're just looking to go fast on pavement.

As for cleaning and repair I bought a book on bicycle repair that had a lot of pictures and some basic tools from Park. Got an old bike? Take it apart and learn how the things work. For cleaning stuff and lubes just go to your LBS and ask what they recommend.

What do the folks in the Aussie thread have to say? Did you ask there?

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