Question: bike style

[Jcb2ski]

Hi since I am looking to buy a bike preferably used if possible. Can one take a mtn bike and switch tires and handlebar if need be to make it more of a trial bike? Or are Mtn bikes heavier and clunkier?

My Mtn bike I had a few years ago was heavy and honestly I didn't like it .

But am just looking around and want to know what options of flexibility there are.

 

[altagirl]

I'm not sure what you want to switch it to? I think we have a terminology problem.

A "trail bike" is a mountain bike (also referred to as an "all-mountain bike") - usually heavier and with more suspension than a cross country mountain bike (built to handle rougher terrain.) Generally, I think of this as 5-7" of travel - could be anywhere from ~26-40lbs. An XC bike would be more like 0-4" of travel, weighing like 20-25lbs. Though that's a rough generalization. Frame geometry, tires, etc. are all a factor. You would put more heavy duty, burly tires on a trail bike, and fast rolling, lightweight tires on an XC bike.

A "trials" bike is something built for doing trials riding - which is crazy slow speed skills stuff. Trials competitions are basically a course where you go up and over boulders, wood obstacles and crazy things that to the casual observer aren't rideable at all, and the rider hops from one thing to a next, doing lots of balancing in between. Results are based on completing the course without putting a foot down. Those bikes are usually hardtails with almost no saddle at all (you'd never be sitting down on one), modified to withstand big drops to flat and they usually have a really heavy duty singlespeed drivetrain. It wouldn't be good for normal riding.

What types of surfaces are you wanting to ride the bike on?

 

[Jcb2ski]

Let me clarify, I am looking for a hybriad style bike that can ride easily on both off road flatter type trails and road not a bike for mountain type biking. The tires would be thinner and yet work in a gravel/dirt. The bike would be light enough for road biking. Without it being tons of hard work to ride on road.

Was just wondering if one can use a mtn bike and convert it to a hybriad style. Or if all mtn bikes are generally heavy frames.

Hope this clears things up.

 

[altagirl]

Let me clarify, I am looking for a hybriad style bike that can ride easily on both off road flatter type trails and road not a bike for mountain type biking. The tires would be thinner and yet work in a gravel/dirt. The bike would be light enough for road biking. Without it being tons of hard work to ride on road.

Was just wondering if one can use a mtn bike and convert it to a hybriad style. Or if all mtn bikes are generally heavy frames.

Hope this clears things up.

Gotcha. You definitely don't want a mountain bike for that. It would be way too heavy, and the geometry is all wrong for road riding.

A cyclocross bike might be your best bet. My experience with "hybrids" is that they are clunky and heavy and not good for much of anything (other than quick trips to the store or something). But a cyclocross bike is basically a road bike with clearance for wider (more durable) tires so you can ride it off-road (it's meant to do cyclocross racing, which is partly on road, partly off road, partly in mud/snow, and partly throwing it over your shoulder to run over obstacles). The geometry is slightly different than a road bike, but it's going to be a lot better than something marketed as a "Hybrid". Those tend to be more like "Comfort" bikes that you can ride off road. And by "comfort" they mean it has a ginormous squishy saddle and upright riding position - it's like trying to pedal a sofa up a hill.

 

[Bing]

I have a Fuji Silhoette Hybrid that works well for off-road but not mtb type trails - it is wickedly light for road as well. However, hubby has a Trek Hybrid that weighs a zillion tonnes, so you need to go by specific bike, not style alone.

 

[abc]

If you're buying new, cyclecross is the best. It's fast on the road and has relax enough geometry to be pleasent to use on easy off-road. However, used cyclecross are not that easy to come by.

Another good bet for used is a touring bike. Unfortunately, there're not that many touring bikes out there. And most of their owners are dedicated tourers and unlikely sell it.

So it really depends on your objective. If you have a fixed low budget, you might be better off with a decent mountain bike. After all, that's the most abundant supply of used bikes. Just have to accept that, even with skinny tires, it'll still be relatively slow. So if your objective is more serious road biking with occasinoal off-road use, bite the bullet and get a cyclecross.

Personally, I think that (cyclecross) is the best thing since sliced bread!

 

[bounceswoosh]

If you're buying new, cyclecross is the best. It's fast on the road and has relax enough geometry to be pleasent to use on easy off-road. However, used cyclecross are not that easy to come by.

Unless you're in Boulder. Plenty of used Cyclocross bikes on the Boulder Craigslist =)

 

[Little Lightning]

There's also touring bikes that handle wider tires. However, and this is strictly my observation, a friend was riding the Hiawatha trail in Idaho/Montana border, and she didn't appear as comfortable as those, me included, who were on their mtn bikes. The trail was mostly gravel, some places dirt but some places (washouts) heavy gravel.

Also, I'm 5'2" (almost) and I mentioned to my bike shop that I thought it would be neat to have a cyclocross bike and he pretty much laughed at me. He said I was too small to have the clearance needed for that type of bike. This was a few years ago and maybe things have changed for smaller riders.

My solution, my road bikes are for the road/tours and I use my mtn bike, with thinner tires for trails/ road, wider tires for mtn biking.

My mtn bike shocks can be locked out but they are not my favorite for the road. Last summer I rode 57 miles on a dirt trail on my mtn bike with road/dirt tires but those on cyclocross bikes had an easier time of it.

My advice, start with what terrain you feel comfortable, then progress from there.

 

[geargrrl]

Also, I'm 5'2" (almost) and I mentioned to my bike shop that I thought it would be neat to have a cyclocross bike and he pretty much laughed at me. He said I was too small to have the clearance needed for that type of bike. This was a few years ago and maybe things have changed for smaller riders.

jerk, find a new bike shop.

 

[NbyNW]

jerk, find a new bike shop.

Yeah, what geargrrl said!

I'm also on the short side, 5'1". If I were in the market for a cross bike, I'd consider this:

https://www.surlybikes.com/bikes/cross_check_complete/

 

[volklgirl]

Take a look at Redline's Commuter lines, as well:

https://www.redlinebicycles.com/bikes/commute

 

[abc]

jerk, find a new bike shop.

Third!

Unless you're in Boulder. Plenty of used Cyclocross bikes on the Boulder Craigslist =)

I wonder why...?

Used cyclecross and touring bikes are relatively hard to come by because these are usually bought by more experienced riders who knows exactly what they want.

 

[altagirl]

I'm guessing that cyclocross is just more popular out here maybe? If you race, you are always upgrading...

 

[abc]

I'm guessing that cyclocross is just more popular out here maybe? If you race, you are always upgrading...

I can see that being the case for mountain bikes.

Mountain bikes has been evolving continueously. So for a racer, it makes sense to trade up to the latest technology.

Not so much with cyclecross.

 

[altagirl]

I can see that being the case for mountain bikes.

Mountain bikes has been evolving continueously. So for a racer, it makes sense to trade up to the latest technology.

Not so much with cyclecross.

But as you become associated with a team, you get a deal on the "team" bike, therefore you replace what you have, sell the old one... change teams, or the team gets a new bike sponsor and it's time for a new bike again... It doesn't have to be about getting newer technology.

 

[abc]

Got it! Thanks.

Though it that case, I'd check the bike out VERY thoroughly. Cross bikes lives a hard life when they're being raced. Mud and sand does wonders to the components. ;-)

I suppose mountain bike live in even worse environments but most used mountain bikes for sale aren't cast off from pro's who use their bike hard and fast.

 

[Little Lightning]

jerk, find a new bike shop.

The reasoning behind the comment was this. Cross bikes have higher bottom brackets which allows for clearance over obstacles and for pedaling around corners. This person at the shop did not think that a small frame would handle well with the geometry required for a cross bike. At that time not many companies were putting frames smaller than 50 cm on 700c wheels. Things have changed and the companies that were mentioned here did have small frames but they were on 700c wheels.

I didn't pursue a cross bike because that style of bike just doesn't meet my needs.

 

[geargrrl]

My comment was more about the general attitude of some shops that small women can't get certain things. My good friend CM is 4'11" and has the most amazing stable of bikes of all kinds. She just shopped around for a LBS that was willing to take her seriously.

 

[Little Lightning]

This guy did take me seriously! He nurtured my passion for cycling in an era when most shops wouldn't give women the time of day. He helped me try to get best fit on bikes that really didn't fit, he answered dumb questions, built wheelsets for me because he didn't think there was anything available that was appropriate for me. When wheelsets became available that he thought were better than what he could build he ordered them for me. He kept 650c tires and tubes in stock for me.

In 2000 he found a small carbon frame when they were difficult to find. I still remember the smile on his face when he took that beautiful frame out of the box. I cried on his shoulder when it got it's first scratch, a nasty one. He took the components off and packed it for shipping to be repainted.

This guy knew how important bike fit was to me and didn't want to encourage me when I might be disappointed again. He's no longer my bike shop but he set a standard that I find many shops still can't live up to.

 

[geargrrl]

You are lucky. It's gotten a lot better than it used to be, but it surprising the amount of condescension surrounding women and bike shops.