Need advice on a new bike

[Michael86]

I need advice on this bike, i would be using for commuting to and from work.

Carrera Vengeance Mountain Bike 2011/2012 - Large 20"

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_810721_langId_-1_categoryId_165499

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

If your commute is road based you would not want a suspension bike.
Whats the distance and surface you will be commuting on?

 

[User6179]

How many mountains between you and work?
Seriously , unless you are going down really mucky lanes then a hybrid would be your best bet for commuting.

 

[Biker Joe]

How many mountains between you and work?
Seriously , unless you are going down really mucky lanes then a hybrid would be your best bet for commuting.

I would agree with that recommendation.

 

[Michael86]

yeah, but i would be commuting in all weathers and hybrid bike tyres look a bit thin and they look like they wouldn't be any good in crap weather, just want know if that bike is any good for the price

 

[Michael86]

12 miles round trip, all on road

 

[themosquitoking]

If it's all on road get something with road tyres. Hybrid cx or road bike unless you plan to do some serious off roading for fun.

 

[Pale Rider]

Some mountain bike tyres don't like permanent road use and may wear quickly.

The gearing and general speed of a hybrid would be better, but if you fancy a mountain bike, consider putting some road-orientated tyres on it.

They will be the same size, so still nice and chunky, but with a shallower tread.

 

[Michael86]

The only thing that put me off a hybrid, is the tyres, i just thought they would be too shallow and thin for winter weather. I actually like the look off the hybrid bikes, what about this bike:

carrera crossfire 2 hybrid bike 2011/2012
http://halfords.con/webapps/wcsl/stores/servelet/ product_storeld_10001_

 

[Michael86]

I would like what would be better for me,

 

[ceejayh]

As others have said, get yourself a hybrid or road bike for that type of commute. Take it from someone who had a mountain bike for commuting some years ago - it got to the stage where I began to not enjoy it.

Now I've got a road bike I haven't looked back.

 

[bozmandb9]

14.6 kilos is quite heavy, not massively heavy for a mountain bike, but a good hybrid will be less than 10 kg. the tyres on this bike would be crap for road use, slow and not particularly grippy. Mountain bike tyres grip well in mud or soft ground, not on Tarmac. As others said you may also find the gearing wrong for road use.

If you want to make your commute as easy fast and fun as possible go for a road or hybrid bike. We all cycle on crap roads, and even if you have suspension, its not designed for road use, so generally you'll need to lock it out whilst on road. Hence all the advice to avoid the mountain bike unless you're really planning to tackle mountains!

 

[vickster]

I'd be looking for a second hand Trek 7.x with a carbon fork or similar

 

[Pale Rider]

The only thing that put me off a hybrid, is the tyres, i just thought they would be too shallow and thin for winter weather. I actually like the look off the hybrid bikes, what about this bike:

carrera crossfire 2 hybrid bike 2011/2012
http://halfords.con/webapps/wcsl/stores/servelet/ product_storeld_10001_

The Crossfire is much better suited to a commute than the mountain bike you were looking at.

The tyres are nearly two inches wide, so you still have plenty of rubber on the road.

If you are commuting in all weathers, you might want to think about mudguards.

 

[SquareDaff]

The only thing that put me off a hybrid, is the tyres, i just thought they would be too shallow and thin for winter weather.

Having ridden a hybrid with 28mm wide tyres through a couple of winters I can put you mind at ease and say they're just fine. I used to put on some with tread over the winter/more extreme weathers e.g Schwalbe Marathon Plus, and something a little more slick (and nomally a 25mm width) over the spring/summer.