[mgreene]

Hey all:

Love the forum. I have been reading a ton and getting lots of good info. I don't think this question has been posted before (at least not in the clyde section) so here goes...

I have been riding my 2010 GF X-Caliber for the past couple of weeks and love it. I have a short commute to work that is mostly off road (short single track and a dirt road). I would love to get out and do some road riding in addition to my daily ride to/from work.

My dilemma is this: I'd prefer to ride on the road with road tires (I tried out some Bontrager Hardcase tires last week and thought the ride was great). However, switching tires out each time I want to ride road seems to be a real pain and I know that I will be less likely to do it.

So I see two options: a second wheelset or a road bike. I figure by the time I buy a decent wheelset with cassette and rotors I'm going to spend at least 50% of what a pretty nice road bike would cost (I am assuming $600 for the wheelset and roughly $1200 for a bike--maybe I am off on my assumptions). Another alternative would be to buy a less expensive bike from bikesdirect.com since I'll only be riding it once a week or so.

Questions:

Wheelset or roadbike?

Brand name (e.g. Trek 2.1, Specialized) or online "cheap" bike (e.g. bikesdirect motobecane Vent Noir $699). Any clydes with good experience with the cheaper online road bikes?

I will also take any recommendations on the wheelset. Current bike came with Bontrager Duster rims and, if possible, I'd prefer not to have to change break set up each time I switched out rims. If fact, that would probably make up my mind to get another bike.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

MG

 

[SexualChocolate]

There may be a third option. Semi Slicks..dual purpose tires. They work well in my area (mostly hardpack on trails with some sand here and there). I currently use Maxxis High Roller Semi Slicks on my hardtail and I love them. They hung in there on the trail climbs and stuck on the banked berms, plus they roll fairly quick on the pavement.

Other than that buy a roadie. I ride a cheapo Masi Alare and it works well on 20 mile rides. Anything more and I would probably want to upgrade lol.

 

[dysfunction]

between the two, I'd get a roadie.

 

[Mordy]

I would suggest a bike like a Surly cross check complete which can be had for about a grand or less if you can find a sale (http://www.speedgoat.com/Catalog.aspx/Browse?Cat=C61&Prod=16568). It will allow you to ride quite a bit of dirt if you feel like it.

 

[Bunyan]

Go with the road bike. I was in the same boat as you and went a head with the second road wheel set for my mtbk and had problems with the rotors lining up with the brake pads when switching the wheels. I was using tow diferent hubs though. The bike also felt a little weird when riding the road wheels.

 

[mgreene]

Thanks for taking the time to reply!

"SC": thanks for the tip on the semi slicks, I hadn't thought of that. I will look at the tire options for a 29er.

Bunyan: That was my exact concern with a second wheelset. I can't get the exact same wheels and there is no way, with my luck, they would work without headache. Sorry to hear that you had problems, but I a glad I can learn from your experience.

Mordy: Thanks for the nod to Surly. I'll check those out.

Any others care to weigh in on a cheaper online roadie vs the brand names available at the LBS?

 

[biggoofy1]

Roadie for sure I love mine!!

 

[PoorBehavior]

Check out Neuvationcycling.com
I mulled this same decision for some time. Test rode carbon, steel and several aluminum road bikes. Ended up getting a F-100 from Neuvation because the LBS's were not offering the same level of components for anywhere near the same price and I did not need the LBS to wrench or fit.
Enjoy the hunt, I did not but in the end I do like the F100 a lot as well as the Sram group.

I also tried the dual wheel set thing and it was by far too much a pain in the ass.

 

[dadtorbn]

I vote roadie... Then your always good to go no matter which bike you choose. Also, you can then do road rides for exercise also if you choose to. Additionally, if one bike has a problem (flat, bent rim...) then you have another to ride till it gets fixed. Lastly, if you ever sell you'll never get your money's worth out of a used wheel set.

 

[mgreene]

Thanks for all the replies. Think I am going to go for a roadie. Now I just need to find the right one. Nice tip on Neuvationcycling.com. Bikes look amazing. Especially for the price. But I think I need a triple and you can't order those bikes with one.

Back to the hunt for a good deal.

 

[clydecrash]

Consider cyclocross

I have both a road bike and a cyclocross bike. If I had to do over, I would just have a cyclocross bike. You can put road tires on it, and have a good road bike. Or occasionally put some tread on it and have a whole new experience on dirt. :thumbsup: I have done the slicks on a mountain bike many moons ago. That works OK, but not nearly as comfortable as a bike built for the road.

The Surly mentioned earlier sounds nice (I like steel), but there are a lot of options and a wide/value/cost range. Lots of on-line sellers (Performance has quite a few Performance brand and brand-name models at decent prices), but you may find a deal at your LBS too. Especially more likely towards the end of summer.