Good road bike to buy?

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
What are the major differences between a ROAD and MOUNTAIN bike?

Road bikes are setup for speed. They have skinny tires, are very lightweight (generally) and the gears are generally closer than mtb gearing. You are also sitting in a more hunched over position so that you are more aerodynamic. The frames are setup to be more rigid which translates into more felt bumps but a faster ride.

Mountain bikes are setup for hillclimbing and durable offroad excursions. They have fat knobby tires and have full suspension or just front suspension. The knobby tires are good for off road traction for sprinting up a hill and turning but they also provide more rolling resistance. To ride a MTB on pavement you would exert more energy to keep up with someone on a road bike.

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: cpals

Originally posted by: bR
I'm 5'9" and my cycling inseam is 32"... is 29" the inseam on your pants?

To determine your proper frame size, you?ll first need to get an accurate inseam measurement . Stand with your back against a wall, your bare feet 6" apart on a hard floor, looking straight ahead. Place a book or carpenter?s square between your legs with one edge against the wall, and pull it up firmly into your crotch, simulating the pressure of your saddle while riding. Have a helper measure from the top edge of the book to the floor, in centimeters. (You can convert inches to centimeters by multiplying inches by 2.54.) Repeat two or three times, for consistency, and average the results to get your inseam length.

For a bike like that Trek with a traditional geometry I ride a 54", some people I know with roughly the same proportions as I do ride a 56"... I think a 58" is too big.

When I buy pants I buy 30" length. I'm probably 5'8" maybe close to 5'9".

Don't base it on what pants you wear. Take 60 seconds out of your day and do the measurement as described/linked. You do not want to mess up by buying the wrong size frame.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: RossMAN
What are the major differences between a ROAD and MOUNTAIN bike?

Road bikes are setup for speed. They have skinny tires, are very lightweight (generally) and the gears are generally closer than mtb gearing. You are also sitting in a more hunched over position so that you are more aerodynamic. The frames are setup to be more rigid which translates into more felt bumps but a faster ride.

Mountain bikes are setup for hillclimbing and durable offroad excursions. They have fat knobby tires and have full suspension or just front suspension. The knobby tires are good for off road traction for sprinting up a hill and turning but they also provide more rolling resistance. To ride a MTB on pavement you would exert more energy to keep up with someone on a road bike.

Thanks, I think the road bike would suit my city/exercise needs.

Now to find a good deal for around $350 - $500 with helmet and new Pearl Izumi gloves.

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: RossMAN
What are the major differences between a ROAD and MOUNTAIN bike?

Road bikes are setup for speed. They have skinny tires, are very lightweight (generally) and the gears are generally closer than mtb gearing. You are also sitting in a more hunched over position so that you are more aerodynamic. The frames are setup to be more rigid which translates into more felt bumps but a faster ride.

Mountain bikes are setup for hillclimbing and durable offroad excursions. They have fat knobby tires and have full suspension or just front suspension. The knobby tires are good for off road traction for sprinting up a hill and turning but they also provide more rolling resistance. To ride a MTB on pavement you would exert more energy to keep up with someone on a road bike.

Thanks, I think the road bike would suit my city/exercise needs.

Now to find a good deal for around $350 - $500 with helmet and new Pearl Izumi gloves.

You don't know what bike you want yet, but have the gloves all picked out?

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: sygyzy

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: RossMAN
What are the major differences between a ROAD and MOUNTAIN bike?

Road bikes are setup for speed. They have skinny tires, are very lightweight (generally) and the gears are generally closer than mtb gearing. You are also sitting in a more hunched over position so that you are more aerodynamic. The frames are setup to be more rigid which translates into more felt bumps but a faster ride.

Mountain bikes are setup for hillclimbing and durable offroad excursions. They have fat knobby tires and have full suspension or just front suspension. The knobby tires are good for off road traction for sprinting up a hill and turning but they also provide more rolling resistance. To ride a MTB on pavement you would exert more energy to keep up with someone on a road bike.

Thanks, I think the road bike would suit my city/exercise needs.

Now to find a good deal for around $350 - $500 with helmet and new Pearl Izumi gloves.

You don't know what bike you want yet, but have the gloves all picked out?

Pearl Izumi makes a lot of different models of gloves.

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: sygyzy

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: RossMAN
What are the major differences between a ROAD and MOUNTAIN bike?

Road bikes are setup for speed. They have skinny tires, are very lightweight (generally) and the gears are generally closer than mtb gearing. You are also sitting in a more hunched over position so that you are more aerodynamic. The frames are setup to be more rigid which translates into more felt bumps but a faster ride.

Mountain bikes are setup for hillclimbing and durable offroad excursions. They have fat knobby tires and have full suspension or just front suspension. The knobby tires are good for off road traction for sprinting up a hill and turning but they also provide more rolling resistance. To ride a MTB on pavement you would exert more energy to keep up with someone on a road bike.

Thanks, I think the road bike would suit my city/exercise needs.

Now to find a good deal for around $350 - $500 with helmet and new Pearl Izumi gloves.

You don't know what bike you want yet, but have the gloves all picked out?

Pearl Izumi makes a lot of different models of gloves.

5.5/10 for turning a fun joke comment into something serious. Surprisingly, I actually remember how you became such an expert on gloves.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: sygyzy

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: RossMAN
What are the major differences between a ROAD and MOUNTAIN bike?

Road bikes are setup for speed. They have skinny tires, are very lightweight (generally) and the gears are generally closer than mtb gearing. You are also sitting in a more hunched over position so that you are more aerodynamic. The frames are setup to be more rigid which translates into more felt bumps but a faster ride.

Mountain bikes are setup for hillclimbing and durable offroad excursions. They have fat knobby tires and have full suspension or just front suspension. The knobby tires are good for off road traction for sprinting up a hill and turning but they also provide more rolling resistance. To ride a MTB on pavement you would exert more energy to keep up with someone on a road bike.

Thanks, I think the road bike would suit my city/exercise needs.

Now to find a good deal for around $350 - $500 with helmet and new Pearl Izumi gloves.

You don't know what bike you want yet, but have the gloves all picked out?

Yep. I remember my first pair about 10 years ago, they're still good but I want a new pair.

 

[GreenGhost]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
What are the major differences between a ROAD and MOUNTAIN bike?

Frame geometry (different sitting positiong), handlebar, tires, gear ratios, wheel size/construction, brakes, supension systems in MTBs. Basically, everything. There also hybrids, which are faster than montain bikes and provide a more upright sitting position. A mountain bike can be used well in the city if tires are replaced, a road bike will not work offroad.