Still cant decide...hybrid or MTB

[swampyseifer]

So yeah, still cant decide on this. I thought I had decided...hybrid...the solid frame of an MTB but the lighter weight of a road bike.

But I just cant decide...does it really make *that much* difference if the frame weighs like 2 kilos less or something? Plus I am almost never going to ride on a plain road...but I am likely to be on gravel/grass most of the time.

I also read somewhere that MTBs are actually more responsive than hybrids and far more stable at higher speeds

I also read several forum posts about people saying its sometimes better to get a MTB frame and buy some slicker tires for it!

Then there's the cost, from what I can tell, MTBs seem to be cheaper in general to hybrids.

Also there's that little bit of me (probably from my father) who thinks that something made to be an MTB is good at offroad, a road bike is good onroad...a hybrid is average at either.

 

[Kestevan]

Have you considered a 29er MTB?

Something with rigid forks like the Genesis Fortitude would seem to tick all the right boxes ( pocket depth allowing).

 

[swampyseifer]

pocket depth allowing

As shallow as possible...maybe upto £400 for the right bike...

whats a 29er? you talking about wheel width or something

 

[Kestevan]

A 29er is a mountain bike with a 29 inch wheel. i.e. The wheel is the same size as a road/hybrid.
Normal mountain bikes normally have 26" wheels.

The larger wheel may help clear obstacles better, and will maintain speed better, although it;s harder to accelerate. Avoid front/rear suspension unless you're planning on tackling serious off-road terrain.

Something allong the lines of the Marin Muirwoods might be within budget (just).
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/35204/Marin_Muirwoods_29er_Bike_2011

 

[swampyseifer]

Thanks for the info...I'm not too worried about speed or going over obstacles...I just originally had a cheap halfords MTB and wondered if seeing as I dont do downhill slopes or anything of that kind whether it would be better to drop some weight and go to a hybrid...but for reasons above i'm not sure

£450 is pushing it...I have been looking at things like the Trek fx 7.2 or the Specialised hardrock (not the SE, read some baaad reviews about that)

 

[HovR]

Also there's that little bit of me (probably from my father) who thinks that something made to be an MTB is good at offroad, a road bike is good onroad...a hybrid is average at either.

This is pretty much correct. There will always be a compromise somewhere if you want to ride a varied range of surfaces on one bike.

My advice would be to get a hybrid with lots of tire clearance. If you feel that the bike can't cope with the terrain you ride on with the stock tires, get some wider ones - Possibly with more tread. This should solve the issue.

From your description, I get the impression that you will be riding on unpaved surfaces, however these surfaces won't be very technical/rough. For this reason I feel that you don't need a mountain bike. The main benefits that a mountain bike gives that you can't get from a simple change of tires on a hybrid is the robustness, suspension and off road geometry that is essential to riding truly rough terrain.

These benefits aren't needed on the type of terrain I gather you are riding on, therefore the only mountain bike properties you will need is the extra grip, which can be applied to a hybrid with a simple change of tires - Whilst still keeping the advantages a hybrid gives.

 

[swampyseifer]

Thanks! Thats v

This is pretty much correct. There will always be a compromise somewhere if you want to ride a varied range of surfaces on one bike.

My advice would be to get a hybrid with lots of tire clearance. If you feel that the bike can't cope with the terrain you ride on with the stock tires, get some wider ones - Possibly with more tread. This should solve the issue.

From your description, I get the impression that you will be riding on unpaved surfaces, however these surfaces won't be very technical/rough. For this reason I feel that you don't need a mountain bike. The main benefits that a mountain bike gives that you can't get from a simple change of tires on a hybrid is the robustness, suspension and off road geometry that is essential to riding truly rough terrain.

These benefits aren't needed on the type of terrain I gather you are riding on, therefore the only mountain bike properties you will need is the extra grip, which can be applied to a hybrid with a simple change of tires - Whilst still keeping the advantages a hybrid gives.

Thanks, thats very clear and informative!

 

[Muddyfox]

A slicked up MTB will be alot more versatile than a hybrid ... chunkier tyres on a hybrid will still be an awful ride on trails but with an MTB a change of tyres will give you a decent bike for trails and it will do everything a hybrid will do on the road with a set of slicks on

Trust me i know

 

[defy-one]

I have a Cheapo Giant Rock MTB, with Scwalbe city jets on it - it's pretty good now on the road, tow paths etc.
My next bike will be a drop bar road bike and the big chunky tyres will go back on the MTB. Use either bike depending on what/where I'm going/doing.

It sounds like you'll be going proper off road - get a MTB

 

[HovR]

A slicked up MTB will be alot more versatile than a hybrid ... chunkier tyres on a hybrid will still be an awful ride on trails but with an MTB a change of tyres will give you a decent bike for trails and it will do everything a hybrid will do on the road with a set of slicks on

Trust me i know

It's worth remembering that OP's riding isn't so much XC trails, but rather gravel towpaths that require far less off-road capability, and that OP's budgeted £400 won't get a bike which provides the same performance you experience on yours.

However if the sure-footedness of a mountain bike gives OP more confidence to ride faster, or he just prefers a comfy ride, then maybe a mountain bike is for him.

I know personally, giving examples of bikes I have experience with, I'd much rather ride a cheaper hybrid like the CB Urban 200 than a more expensive mountain bike like the Specialized Hardrock Comp, over the types of terrain the OP is talking about.

Ultimately Swampy, only you know what type of bike you like the feel of, so go down to your LBS, explain your situation, and see if you can get some test rides - That is the only way you will truly know what you want!

 

[Hebe]

Will you always be riding on tow-paths, or do you think that as you gain experience you might end up doing more road miles? I do far more on the roads now than I imagined when I started out.

 

[swampyseifer]

Hey all...thanks for the comments.

Well I had a few hours spare yesterday so I did visit a couple of LBS in my area. The first seemed to be very road bike orientated and despite having bikes that were more suitable to me (type and price-wise) on their website, there was nothing on show below sorta £600 and the person I spoke to did actually kinda direct me to a different LBS.

So I went there...spoke for just over hour and half to the owner/manager about various things to do with bikes...what type I wanted, the price range...things to consider...etc. He was a great friendly person and didnt even bat and eyelid when I explained that I had only just taken up cycling again for the first time in around 25 years and that I had only really just gotten the handle of going forward with a little bit of turning.

His recommendation (from his stock) was a Giant Roam 3 for £399, he said that its an x-road hybrid...that is, its a hybrid, which is road/offroad, but this one leaned more towards the offroad than the road. I sat on one for a test and it did feel like it fitted me better as we found out that an 18" frame is too small for me (I had been underestimating my inside leg measurement!)...which could explain why I maybe had so many issues with the last bike (like sore wrists). A 20" is a perfect fit. I mean, if you look at my profile pic you can see that my right knee is like 2-3" above the handbars on the uptake....

He had a Roam 4 for £379.99 but said that for the extra £30 to get the 3...it was well worth it as just the tyre difference would cost you more than £50 if you upgraded them. He also said that the 3 has a rounded wheel frame and dual-layer support system which means that if it does go offroad its a little more solid than the 4 which just has a flat single-layer frame.

He did go over a Giant 29-er with me...which looked quite cool (and big!) but was £600!

He did mention about putting different tyres on it as well, he said there's a type you can get where the centre strip is flat and smooth, like a road bike, but the outside is much more treaded...so if you're just pelting it along a road then mainly the flat, smooth section will be touching the floor but if you start bounding down dirt paths and your weight is flatening out the tyre more then the tread on the sides will come into play.

Anyway, was interesting talking to him but I didn't buy anything!