City Commuter

[MuttNut]

Hello all, this is my first post here. I was hoping you all could help me with this decision. I live in NYC and am uncomfortable riding a bike with drops around the city. I've done it (I have a Trek 520) but I'm really nervous and don't like being so low. I would, however, like to commute to work. I'm thinking of either getting a mountain bike or a hybrid (the Specialized Globe in particular) and am wondering what you all think between the 2 options. Would a mountain bike with front shocks prove to be too heavy/slow do you think? On test drives a mountain bike feels fine- very sturdy and comfortable, but I'm wondering if long-term I'd wish I'd gotten the hybrid with thinner wheels (the Globe also feels comfortable, but a little less solid).

Does anyone have any experience with mountain bikes vs. hybrids for commuting? Pros/cons?

Thanks for any help! This seems like a great forum.

[alpinerabbit]

definitely the hybrid for the smoother, lighter ride. MTBs are for the dirt, aren't they?

[tulip]

I had an urban commute for five years through DC. I found my Jamis Coda Comp was perfect. I highly recommend it. It's a hybrid. It replaced my mountain bike, and is much lighter and nimbler and easier to ride (and faster).

EDIT: Jamis Coda is actually more of a road bike with flat bars, so I guess technically it's a hybrid, but it's much lighter and faster than the clunkier hybrids. MuttNutt--I guess you need to define hybrid for us--what do you consider a hybrid??

[spokewench]

Just depends on the mountain bike - I have an old Klein rigid framed mountain bike - it does have a suspension fork; but because it is an aluminum racing bike, it is very light, very nimble and I just put narrower tires on it since I had to replace them anyway. You can also buy mountain bikes without suspension forks (rigid forks) and can be pretty light. I myself prefer a bike that is quick handling so I would prefer my mountain bike over a hybrid for that reason.

So, all mountain bikes are not always heavy, cumbersome and slow. Just depends on what you particularly like and what you want to afford. All of that said, I would recommend Breezer bikes if you are just looking for an all around commuter.

spoke

[Pedal Wench]

I hate to ask the obvious, but do you have to ride your road bike in the drops? I rarely do on my road bike -- I get a better grip on my brakes from the hoods.

[MuttNut]

I do generally ride on the hoods on my bike, but even then I feel hunched over/low and not as stable. I used to commute by a mountain bike in Richmond, VA, but I sold that bike when I moved to NYC. I do remember it being slow as compared to my commuting buddy's bike, which was a road bike, but when I was riding by myself it didn't really bother me.

I'm really interested in your response, Spokewench- do you find hybrids to be less nimble than mountain bikes? The roads up here are definitely rough, and there are always a lot of cars to dodge!

[HillSlugger]

I had an urban commute for five years through DC. I found my Jamis Coda Comp was perfect. I highly recommend it. It's a hybrid. It replaced my mountain bike, and is much lighter and nimbler and easier to ride (and faster).

EDIT: Jamis Coda is actually more of a road bike with flat bars, so I guess technically it's a hybrid, but it's much lighter and faster than the clunkier hybrids. MuttNutt--I guess you need to define hybrid for us--what do you consider a hybrid??

I bought one for commuting. It's considered a flat bar road bike, but some call it a "hyper-hybrid". It's nearly as nimble as a standard road bike but with a more upright position. It's also got the eyelets for racks and fenders.

[tulip]

I bought one for commuting. It's considered a flat bar road bike, but some call it a "hyper-hybrid". It's nearly as nimble as a standard road bike but with a more upright position. It's also got the eyelets for racks and fenders.

LOVE my Coda!

[KnottedYet]

How about putting a pair of mustache bars on your 520? I switched out the drops on my Surly for a pair of mustache bars, particularly because of my needs for commuting.

If you are going to buy a separate bike just for commuting, I'd definitely go with a hybrid over a mtb. (I used a Kona Dew for a while, then a Kona Smoke briefly until my son wanted that bike, now a Surly Cross Check.)

[Wahine]

I have turned my old cross-country racing MTB into a commuter. It is very light, has only a front end suspension and is very responsive. It's got a fairly aggressive geometry but I like that. Then I put on thinner/slick tires and I was good to go. The reasons why I liked it 1) I never worried about potholes 2) I could jump objects if need be to stay out of traffic or even onto the curb for quick evasive moves 3) it was lighter than most commuters but one should note that it was a $3000 bike new in 1998, so quite high end.

I would recommend looking for a high end used MTB, front end suspension or rigid and making the appropriate modifications.

Having said that, I have never ridden a hybrid so I can't really compare.

I like the idea of using a cross bike as well and switching out the handle bars.

[NJ Jess]

Mtb with slicks is a great commuter. Shocks really help in the city. Try craigslist.com for bikes too, lots of older inexpensive bikes.

[bikerHen]

I let my husband try some thinner (1.3) slick tires I got for my Surly. I don't think I'm getting them back! He rides an older rigid frame mtb to work and said the slick tires make the bike feel like a new ride. bikerHen

[MuttNut]

Thanks for all the tips/ideas- I'll keep you all updated on what I go with.

[obie]

I commute on a Specialized Hard Rock from 1994, with rack and fenders and slicks. It has front shocks which I like. It's a really bombproof bike for city-riding, and I see a lot of others around and they have a good reputation for being indestructible. So if you're going used, look for early/mid 90s Specialized bikes - they were still steel then.

For new bikes, I've been recommending the Specialized Sirrus a lotfor urban commuting. It's light in case you have to bring it upstairs!

I have a cross bike which I've considered commuting on, but I'm too lazy to add fenders to it SDER

[MuttNut]

Yes- I will definitely be hauling this bike upstairs! Thanks for bringing that up, a very good point. I'm excited, as soon as I get my bonus from work I'll begin bike shopping/scouring craigslist in earnest.