Can anyone help me choose a bike for cross training. I am torn between a mountain bike or a road bike. I will be using the bike to cycle to work maybe twice a week, a distance of about 17 mile on roads and good cycle paths but I like the idea of off road cycling as well. Any suggestions ?
Comments
what's your price bracket?
Hubby has this one and it'll take some abuse over multi terrain
I've got one of these and it copes with mild offroading but the wheels and gear ratios of a bike this size dont suit proper cycle-cross.
The flip side is a bike with smaller wheels and suspension is less effiecient so it will feel like more effort getting to work.
That said I get overtaken by the cycle "hardcore" on their mountin bikes everyday
On the road the most expensive MTB will be rubbish compared to a cheap road bike, off road the best road bike will be rubbish compared to a MTB. If you really want to go MTBing on it then there's only one choice - but 17 miles (is this one way) is a fair commute and you really wouldn't want to make it any harder by doing it on a MTB. I've actually got a specialized HR without any suspension and I absolutely hate it on the road - it's just so much slower for the same effort. Either way for commuting mudguards are pretty much essential - or at least once you've had them you wouldn't commute without.
eM.milou : I only wanted to spend around £300, a bit limited on choice as the 'bikescheme', as far as I understand it, only allows you to purchase from 'Halfords'.
popsider : the 17 miles is one way, total 34 mile each day, only planning to use the bike for this twice a week and probably not at all during the winter months!
Sounds like I should start with a road bike and get an MTB at a later date if I am still interested in going off road.