My first commute by MTB...

[kevin_cambs_uk]

I am a roadie at heart and the last 2 winters I have continued with the road bike, but this year I have decided to get a MTB, and today was my first ever commute by MTB.I decided to get a MTB to save the components on the road bike, as I have just replaced some stuff, and also when the snow comes, I am ready with spiked tyres, which last year when we have that severe cold snap, the road bike was a little scary at times.

So with my Trek 6500 on Gator Skin slick MTB tyres off I went.

Pro's

Maneuverability on the MTB is superb, espcially round tighter corners and that kind of stuff.
The hydraulic disc brakes are just delicious to use.
Gears are great, really good.
Great when you look behind, so much easier than the road bike for me.
Can take the cycle routes through many of the field areas in Cambridge.
Got my spiked tyres ready in the garage, just waiting/praying for the snow.


Cons

Not really cons, but for me

No more cruising like you do on the road bike, you need to always keep going, which is going to help even more with fitness.
Its harder work!
Not as fast as the road bike, but not as bad as I thought, maybe adds 5 - 10 mins each way
My saddle kept going down, but that's fixed now !

I enjoyed it more than I was expecting and the road bike is nicely on the wall waiting for spring.

So I thought I would share my thoughts.

 

[Moby Jones]

Interesting thread. I am thinking about picking up a cheap MTb to see me through the winter. Good to hear things went ok for you.

 

[jonathanw]

Glad you enjoyed it. How far is your commute? Good luck with the spikes when the snow does come, it's pretty mental up here at the mo, but I'm going to give it a go tomorrow on the studs

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Glad you enjoyed it. How far is your commute? Good luck with the spikes when the snow does come, it's pretty mental up here at the mo, but I'm going to give it a go tomorrow on the studs

Its 15 miles each way. If I was on normal knobbly MTB tyres it would be very hard work, so I will be interested in how you get on with your spikes tomorrow mate.

 

[jonathanw]

Yup 15 miles here too, each way. 4" snow in the garden and currently -6C at 150m and the roads are white with hard packed snow. No sign of the ploughs/gritters. Looking forward to it, sort of.....

I'm on a steel CX bike with 700x35mm studded tyres, so probably a little lighter than your MTB. Will let you know how it goes.

 

[fossyant]

We've had stacks of hail today - had only stuck this morning. Couldn't find my cycling glasses so had to drive. ~Found them now, but it's looking like it might be an icy mud fest tomorrow if I take part road/off road to work.

 

[potsy]

We've had stacks of hail today - had only stuck this morning. Couldn't find my cycling glasses so had to drive. ~Found them now, but it's looking like it might be an icy mud fest tomorrow if I take part road/off road to work.

That's what I did coming home, to say it was wet and muddy is an understatement

 

[coffeejo]

That's what I did coming home, to say it was wet and muddy is an understatement

Oh noes, looks like you'll have to treat the bike to more than an annual clean

 

[DCLane]

I've got my cheap (-ish) MTB - a Python Impact. £150 from Gumtree unused.

I've used it for the second time today for my commute instead of the road bike and I'm glad I did. Although hail in the face coming home wasn't nice.

 

[John90]

Good to see someone coming over to the dark side. For me, an MTB is the go-to commuter bike all year round for the reasons given by the OP, to which I would add that a MTB with even half decent forks makes very light work of crappy, pot holed roads.

 

[martint235]

I've just fitted my MTB with spd pedals so I can swap to it without any hassle should we get snow. Snow in London doesn't tend to be too bad so I'm not planning on fitting any special tyres to the MTB. I think that just the width of the slicks on it will give me enough traction compared to the 23s on the road bike. Just watch, we'll get no snow this year.

 

[fossyant]

That's what I did coming home, to say it was wet and muddy is an understatement

Looked out, checked temps - 3c, horizontal hail/sleet - took the fixed instead - so wet out there, full waterproofs. Hard enough on 23mm tyres never mind knobblies. Glad I didn't go for the mud fest route.

 

[Bicycle]

Pro's
Maneuverability on the MTB is superb, espcially round tighter corners and that kind of stuff.
Great when you look behind, so much easier than the road bike for me.
Can take the cycle routes through many of the field areas in Cambridge.

I enjoyed it more than I was expecting and the road bike is nicely on the wall waiting for spring.

So I thought I would share my thoughts.

Your thoughts are a very close match for mine when I did this. Don't write the road bike off for winter, though. There will be lots of crisp, cold dry days before spring.

I have a stiff neck from too many accidents and I also love the ease of looking behind on an MTB.
I also love the way you can chuck an MTB around.

But... beware of those Gatorskin slicks. My roadified MTB wears them and they're a good as you say they are... but wet grass is not their friend.

 

[cyberknight]

As posted on another thread i have just picked up a MTB to use as a winter commuter, all i need to do is stick some single sided SPD`s on that i am waiting for and its ready to go.

I have stuck conti Travel contacts on along with a rack and guards, considering its circa 1996 its lighter than i expected and i reckon its in the same ball park as my old subway 1 but with canti brakes and cromoly steel frame.

I cant wait to try it out

 

[Crankarm]

Its 15 miles each way. If I was on normal knobbly MTB tyres it would be very hard work, so I will be interested in how you get on with your spikes tomorrow mate.

Have you fitted mudguards?