Hmm - MTB or road bike?

[Zippy]

Most commutes on my Specialised Hard Rock, fitted with slick tyres, I am still aware that if I were not in such an upright position I could really get some speed up and with less effort.

My MTB feels a bit like an upright exercise bike and my legs never really straighten out on rotation so my thighs don't get that rest at full stretch like you do with a roadie. I would raise the saddle slightly but silly me left the stem in all year and it has welded into the frame tube - luckily it is set at the right angle for most rides. Also I can't lay down the cross bar like you can with a road bike; everything seems bunched up.

The downside is I like to head off road and cycle dirt tracks on my commutes and MTBs are better around potoles and nippier in slower traffic.

Decisions, decisions.

If I had a bit of money spare I'd go for both.

 

[I am Spartacus]

My MTB feels a bit like an upright exercise bike and my legs never really straighten out on rotation so my thighs don't get that rest at full stretch like you do with a roadie.

Nothing to do with type of bike..
you simply have not set the bike up correctly for yourself.

 

[BentMikey]

Road bikes are nippier in traffic than MTBs, plus they are lighter so much better in your hilly part of the world.

 

[jonny jeez]

Road bikes are nippier in traffic than MTBs, plus they are lighter so much better in your hilly part of the world.

True, but how would they handle the off road bits....ouch!!

I agree with Spartacus on this one, sounds like a proper set up would cure all your issues.

Take some WD40 and a mallet to that saddle, it'll soon "un-weld" then look at maybe lowering your bars (or getting a flatter set).

Personally I don't like switching bikes as I never seem to get "properly" comfortable on either (I know, I know...flame on!!) so if you can get a little more life out of the Hard Rock, that cant be a bad thing.

How long is the commute, this may have a bearing?

 

[Bristol Dave]

Get a hybrid! My Marin Kentfield FS has front and seat suspension, a good upright position and decent gear ratios for commuting purposes. You can lock the front sus for road use and unlock it for the bumpy bits.

BD

 

[jonredhornet]

How about a hybrid like the Boardman Hybrid range in Halfords? I was looking at one of these the other day and I'm quite tempted

Halford's Hybrid

 

[Zippy]

Mallet to the seat - I tried penetrating oil down the tube and a good whacking the following day but nothing shifted. My local suggested using a long lever, but of course this may twist the frame if the seat post doesn't give.

Hybrid - I am prejudiced I admit it - but hybrids always sound to me like the kind of bike a middle class couple with 2.1 children get out of the garage to ride around Centre Parcs at weekends! Not aggressive enough - like a proper bike. >

I may have another inch of play where the saddle bolts to the seat tube, or maybe a higher saddle profile. The problem came about when I changed my footwear from low soled Hi Tec Squash to my first SPDs - sole must be deeper taking into account the solid sole, cleats etc. and I think I am more flexible than a while back, so need that extra inch on the seat tube.

What do folks think about the long lever idea? Suggested was a six foot tube placed over the saddle front and gently rotate around the seat post?

 

[Norm]

Tough call for a remote diagnosis. A sharp smack (percussive maintenance ) can free up lightly corroded parts but you need to have the frame rigidly mounted somehow, or the shock will be absorbed by the tyres.

A long lever would be more likely to bend the frame, again depending on how it is clamped.

I'd got with a good soak of penetrating fluid, a sharp smack or two, another soak with penetrating fluid etc.

I got lucky last night, when I dragged my 31 year old steel framed thing out and tried to raise the saddle, it moved easily. I quickly whipped it out and copper greased the whole thing.

 

[Theseus]

On the OP subject of MTB or road, I would opt for neither and go for a Cross Bike.

 

[Woz!]

For the seatpost:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/stuck-seatposts.html

As far as bikes go, what about a cyclocross bike? More aggressive for the road and it can take the off road bits too. And it will probably have rack mounts, so even better for commuting.

 

[J4CKO]

I eventually got my seatpost out of my old steel DiamondBack MTB, took weeks of having a go with freezing spray, WD40, Blow Torch,Amonia, saw, chisel. hammering, twisting etc but it may as well have been welded in there , my dad finished the job by chiseling enough out to get a shortened post in but sometimes they just wont come out without a real fight.

I am wondeing about getting a Road Bike, am on a Cannondale Hybrid with panniers, rack and all that, the lads at work on road bikes (Pinnarello, Bianchi etc) I struggle to keep up with but I am not sure how much is relative fitness and how much difference the bike makes, they dont dissapear but slowly pull away, if I were on a decent road bike I would then have my answer, if they still pull away its cos I am slow !

 

[Zippy]

Having pulled off from a give way line in easy gear and pulled the rear wheel out of the frame again I dropped my bike in a the lbs and they told me the QR was in tight enough, but perhaps new axle cones may give a bit more bite.

Tells me sometimes the frame wears smooth after a few years then nothing you can do to improve QR grip on frame.

True?

 

[jimboalee]

I eventually got my seatpost out of my old steel DiamondBack MTB, took weeks of having a go with freezing spray, WD40, Blow Torch,Amonia, saw, chisel. hammering, twisting etc but it may as well have been welded in there , my dad finished the job by chiseling enough out to get a shortened post in but sometimes they just wont come out without a real fight.

I am wondeing about getting a Road Bike, am on a Cannondale Hybrid with panniers, rack and all that, the lads at work on road bikes (Pinnarello, Bianchi etc) I struggle to keep up with but I am not sure how much is relative fitness and how much difference the bike makes, they dont dissapear but slowly pull away, if I were on a decent road bike I would then have my answer, if they still pull away its cos I am slow !

If you were on a decent roadrace bike, you would be EXPECTED to keep up. If you couldn't, think of the gossip!

This is why I never ride my roadrace bike to work.
I ride a sportstourer or my heavyweight gent's upright. I am not expected to ride either of them fast.

 

[XmisterIS]

Hybrid + skinny tyres.

Upright position doesn't slow you down, it's all about gearing, weight, position on the bike and tyres.

Spend as much as you can on frame, wheels and tyres, everything else is secondary.

(others may disagree!).

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Sounds like a cyclo-cross bike would be just the job.

This sort of thing -

http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/Kaffenback_and_Uncle_John_Drop_Bar_Builds.html