MTB vs road bike

[badger]

I've only ever commuted on my cyclocross bike. I did own a mountain bike once upon a time, but it's so long ago I can't really make any comparison.

I've been told by my DB that I need to switch to hard tail mountain bike with fatter tires because he worries about my safety.

I'm very reluctant to do this because I'm a snob and I like zipping past those on mountain bikes with knobby tires.

Having said that, I do have a tendency to ride a bit more recklessly than one should, and I do want to feel a bit safer on the road (I'm always paranoid about getting punctures now, and potholes in the winter are a definite hazard).

Have any of you gone from road to mountain bike? I know the normal progression is usually the opposite. While I love my bike, it's going to need a major overhaul soon, so rather than spending money on that, perhaps it's time for me to invest in a more sturdier horse?

[Biciclista]

Why does he worry about your safety? did you fall?

what's wrong with your cyclocross bike now? it seems like a perfect solution for commuting.
my husband who commutes in the worst of weather now has a winter bike, a 1990 Raleigh MTB (back when they just looked like bikes) but that was at my insistence since he was beating up his very expensive custom bike riding it all winter through all weather...

[divingbiker]

I tried commuting on my mtb and hated it. Couldn't stand the knobby tires, the twist shifters, the straight bars. I also didn't like having to put the rack on it to carry panniers, since I didn't want to ride with the rack while actually mountain biking.

So I got a hybrid-like bike (rivendell glorius).

I'd ride the cyclocross bike if that was my other choice.

[KnottedYet]

I commute on my cyclocross bike.

It is tough and fabulous and I certainly feel safer commuting on it than I did on my mountain bike. I can get away from bad situations quickly, I can go faster when I need to, and the bike responds quickly if I have to dodge something.

As far as sturdiness, I've ridden off curbs and on various hazards without damaging the rims or steel frame. My tires are tough and have put up with me blithely riding over broken glass and metal shards so far. If you need tougher or fatter tires, buy tougher or fatter tires... not a whole different bike than the one you like.

Knobby tires are actually more dangerous than smooth tires on asphalt, due to the lowered contact area. (you are only on the tips of the knobs)

[jessmarimba]

When I could ride, I commuted by mtb. My other choice was an ancient motobecane, and I hate friction shifters

Ultimately, my goal was to buy a really sweet mtb for trails and put slicks on the old one to commute. I like the fatter tires here bc my commute is by bike path that's in pretty rough shape. Also gets to one random block where you ride through grass or on the shoulder of a busy highway, and I pick the grass. Also, with other people on the path, I couldn't safely ride any faster than that bike goes.

I would say for you, ride what you feel safest on.

[badger]

I've gotten conflicting reports on the fatter tires vs skinny tires on which are safer. I guess by fatter, it's not the same as knobbier. I would never ride in the city with knobby tires, that's just asinine. I'd sooner buy 2 sets of wheels with different tires for whatever occasion calls for.

I'm actually not sure why he dislikes my bike so much. He thinks MTBs are the way to go, and that my skinny tires are unsafe in wet conditions. It also didn't help matters when I got 3 flats in as many weeks (total fluke).

The more I thought about it, the more I hated the idea of replacing my bike with something inferior to what I already have, so I think what I'll do is get a pair of fatter tires. My wheels need replacing anyways, so I'll just get something a bit wider, if nothing else than to assuage his anxiety over my safety.

I'll also likely get a longer, taller stem for my bars (straight, couldn't deal with the drop) as I do feel the reach on it is slightly too short for me (my wingspan is 2.5" longer than my actual height). That should get me more upright.

[Lesley_x]

I have read that skinnier smooth tyres are actually safer than knobbly mountain bike ones because of contact area and the grip comes from the road gripping the tyre as opposed to the tyre gripping the road, unlike a car. After all, you're not using a mountain bike for it's intended purpose?

Is your other half a cyclist?

I found my fiance was worried about me being interested in a road bike but he is a non-cyclist and didn't understand the differences. The logic was thick, knobbly tyres = grip. Often on the road this isn't true.

[Serendipity]

I switched to my mtb last year for commuting, primarily because the roads that I use on the ride in are crap for bikes! Did not want to have to deal with a flat that early in the morning.... Also, the mtb has shocks - very important and appreciated.

Yes, it is slower but I put slicks on so that improved things. Simplifies things also - the panniers clip on easily to the rear rack so it is ready to go in a flash. That way I don't have to transfer stuff between bikes or use a backpack like I did when riding the road bike in.

[Becky]

I'm rocking a cyclocross bike with 32mm urban tires for my commute. There's not much that this bike won't handle. The volume of the tires allows it to handle some pretty rough roads. I've even done some off-roading (non-technical singletrack and gravel) with it. But it's still plenty fast and corners like a bat outta hell.

What tires are you running now?

[Atlas]

I commute on a cyclocross bike and it's perfect for me. It has handled all the road construction and bad sections I've come up against. And like someone else mentioned, I feel better because I can get around/away from things quicker than if I was on a different bike.

[badger]

I'm rocking a cyclocross bike with 32mm urban tires for my commute. There's not much that this bike won't handle. The volume of the tires allows it to handle some pretty rough roads. I've even done some off-roading (non-technical singletrack and gravel) with it. But it's still plenty fast and corners like a bat outta hell.

What tires are you running now?

what brand tires are you using? I'm using the Specialized Armadillo (on I believe 32mm as well, it's supposedly 1.25"). A co-worker recommended the Schwinable 1.5" that is slick in the middle and knobby around the edges for the odd time that I may go off road.

and Lesley, you're right in asking if my partner's a cyclist - while he appreciates the occasional leisure cycle, he's not a commuter; he's thinking like a motorist.

[Becky]

what brand tires are you using? I'm using the Specialized Armadillo (on I believe 32mm as well, it's supposedly 1.25"). A co-worker recommended the Schwinable 1.5" that is slick in the middle and knobby around the edges for the odd time that I may go off road.

Panaracer Urban Max in 700x32. They're pretty fl#%*-resistant. I do give them a quick check about once a week to pick out any little shards of glass before they work their way through to the tube. IME, when they start fl&^%ing, it's because it's time for a new one.

I used to commute on my mountain bike, before buying the 'cross monster, and won't go back. I feel so much faster, more manueverable, and safer on my cross bike.

[badger]

I refused to accept that I needed a new tire as I only had it for about a year and I don't put that much mileage on it. So, I just keep maintaining at least 80psi on them and so far *touch wood* haven't had a flat since.

[JennK13]

If I didn't have a commuter (complete setup), and hadn't just switched out the tires on my CX bike to skinnier slicks, I'd ride my CX bike. As the others said, faster and more nimble to get out of the way, and with my knobby cross tires on it, I never had an issue with "safety", traction, or flats. Since I'm doing more road riding, races, and tris, I switched to 700/23 slicks for more speed and less weight (it had 700x30s with an aggressive tread). But I found the original tires were great for any trail, road or hazard I happened upon.