Hats off to the mountain bike commuters.

[Nebulous]

The end of February will finish my first year of commuting on a hardtail mtb a Carrera Vulcan. I've only 2 miles each way though, but with quite a bit of a climb. If I'm out on my roadbike at the weekend and go in that direction the climb feels much easier, though it doesn't make as much difference in speed as I expect.

 

[DCLane]

I'm using the MTB atm - knobblies etc. Did 30 miles on it today up and down hills and it's certainly less stressful than the roadie.

 

[Mugshot]

I don't really mind it, it just feels soooooooo much harder, it's a Giant Rock, and it really feels like I'm riding one sometimes too. My road bike is a Defy 2, it just feels so much lighter and so much quicker, probably because it is
I don't have a long commute, it's about 4 miles there and I take the slightly longer 5 mile route home, both have reasonable climbs, they're not massive but they're there. As I said though, I look on it as extra training with my extra knobbly tyres.
However, it does feel an awful lot more solid than using the roadie at the moment, it feels a bit slippery to be clipped in for me I'm afraid.

 

[Matthew_T]

I purchased my new commuter (Trax TXC.1 MTB from Halfords) yesterday. Took it out for the first proper ride today and I just couldnt get used to the feel of it. The handlebars feel really wide and I just cannot maintain a good speed.

I went on an evening ride tonight on the race bike and i suddenly felt like I couldnt ride it. I couldnt get my balance and actually got to the stage where I went dizzy and had to stop. The handlebars also feel weird and I cannot understand why the front of the bike feels heavy.

I am not commuting yet (bloody job offer turned out to be a peice of sh1t). But I need to get used to the new bike quickly.

 

[fossyant]

I purchased my new commuter (Trax TXC.1 MTB from Halfords)

Oh dear - Good luck !

 

[potsy]

Oh dear - Good luck !

Think that's the same bike as a lad at work recently bought, back wheel bearings went after a week, wheel replaced, now it's on it's way out again after only 5 or 6 weeks.
Keep a close eye on things

 

[Matthew_T]

Keep a close eye on things

Will do.

I am going to try and not scratch this like I do to all of my bikes (even the beloved roadie )!

 

[cyberknight]

I purchased my new commuter (Trax TXC.1 MTB from Halfords) yesterday. Took it out for the first proper ride today and I just couldnt get used to the feel of it. The handlebars feel really wide and I just cannot maintain a good speed.

I went on an evening ride tonight on the race bike and i suddenly felt like I couldnt ride it. I couldnt get my balance and actually got to the stage where I went dizzy and had to stop. The handlebars also feel weird and I cannot understand why the front of the bike feels heavy.

I am not commuting yet (bloody job offer turned out to be a peice of sh1t). But I need to get used to the new bike quickly.

MTB bars do feel very odd after drops, i rode my MTB home the other day and as the roads were clear i ended up with my hands resting on the middle of the bar with my elbows tucked in almost like a TT position ( only did this when the road was clear and it was 5 am so not a lot about ) .It certainly made a difference but its still slower and harder work than a roadie even with semi slicks.

 

[Matthew_T]

MTB bars do feel very odd after drops, i rode my MTB home the other day and as the roads were clear i ended up with my hands resting on the middle of the bar with my elbows tucked in almost like a TT position ( only did this when the road was clear and it was 5 am so not a lot about ) .It certainly made a difference but its still slower and harder work than a roadie even with semi slicks.

I will have to purchase some of these after the standard ones have worn out.

 

[cyberknight]

scwable city jets , you can get them for around a tenner each if you shop around .

 

[BSRU]

I rode my MTB for the first time this morning, as it had snowed and the MTB is equipped with snow tyres thought it was at last my chance to try them out.
Of course very different feeling to my other bikes but just as enjoyable, especially watching the poor car drivers struggle on the worst roads.
I did realise I had forgotten to fit the SPD pedals, so no SPD shoes this morning.
As the bike only cost me £5 cannot really complain that the suspension is a bit soft plus the saddle was too low meaning a bouncy ride when I put some effort in. Also ran out of gears on the flat trying to catch some guy in front, my legs could not spin any faster without SPD's.

 

[2wd]

Bloke at worked turned up on one of these this week
http://www.sportsdirect.com/dunlop-special-edition-26-inch-939057

Now big hats off to him as it's the weight of a small donkey, he hasn't ridden for years,he's unfit and has to travel around 7 miles in to work, mainly uphill

He'll either throw it in a skip on the way to work then get the bus,or persevere and end up as fit a fiddle

 

[cyberknight]

I rode my MTB for the first time this morning, as it had snowed and the MTB is equipped with snow tyres thought it was at last my chance to try them out.
Of course very different feeling to my other bikes but just as enjoyable, especially watching the poor car drivers struggle on the worst roads.
I did realise I had forgotten to fit the SPD pedals, so no SPD shoes this morning.
As the bike only cost me £5 cannot really complain that the suspension is a bit soft plus the saddle was too low meaning a bouncy ride when I put some effort in. Also ran out of gears on the flat trying to catch some guy in front, my legs could not spin any faster without SPD's.

I must admit i wimped out last night , with the amount of snow given out i did not fancy my commute with up to 10 cm of snow and we had ... about 2 mm bloody typical

 

[fossyant]

Bloke at worked turned up on one of these this week
http://www.sportsdirect.com/dunlop-special-edition-26-inch-939057

£59 quid, crikey. My pedals cost more than that alone !

 

[cyberknight]

£59 quid, crikey. My pedals cost more than that alone !

Heck my tyres on my MTB cost close to that with inner tubes .