Road bikes vs. Mountain bikes?

Question

What are the benefits of getting a road bike? When do you think is most necessary in purchasing a road bike. (i.e. when riding 50 miles a day, when riding to your local store)

Answer 1

Depending on what type of riding you want to do, and what you're looking for.

Road bikes are made to ride fast on pavement, mountail bikes are built to handle all sorts of off road trails.

Each type of bike uses a different body position. On a road bike you are more stretched out and stay in one position for a longer period of time. They use slim tires to roll fast on pavement with low rolling resistance.

On mountain bikes you ride in a more upright position, which is probably more confortable than on road bikes, and you usually have some suspension to handle rougher terrain. On pavement you usually don't require too much suspension, so it is not the most efficient way to ride on trails. Mountain bikes uses wider tires with knobbies, which is good for dirt, but they don't roll as fast on pavement as road tires.

Which bike to buy? It depends on what you want to do. You could do long distances on pavement on a mountain bike, just don't expect to keep up with the road bikes in speed.

If you want speed get a road bike. If you want more flexibility in using your bike, probably a mountain bike is better as long as you don't want to go real fast. If you want to do some dirt now and then, don't buy a road bike.

Another type of bike you could look for are hybrids, which sort of have some of the features in each type. Probably easier body position, but tyres more adapted to pavement than dirt.

Answer 2

Buy the bike that you will ride most. This will depend mostly on your personal preferences and the sort of riding you are doing. When the benefits of one sort outway the other depend on no one else but YOU.

A mountain bike is quite versatile it will do most things reasonably well. They are usually more comfortable but are also heavier and sit you more upright. This means they are slower. They definately do tracks and off road work better, much better. If comfort and versatility are more important you are more likely to use it.

A road bike is designed for hard surfaces generally they are significantly faster for any given rider. The longer the trip, the more likely you are to use a road bike. Many road bike users find them comfortable enough to take on trips lasting all day.(literally 100's of miles). If it takes less time to get somewhere you are more likely to use it.

There are also a whole host of bikes that fall somewhere in between, Hybrids, flat bar road bikes, road wheeled mountain bikes, etc, etc, etc. Generally there are so many levels of compromise that you can buy a bike off the shelf these days that will suit your needs. They won't be exceptionally good at either but will do what YOU need them to do.

If you want something that does roads and trails very well buy both. Bicycles are cheap. The more you use them instead of your car, or going to the gym, the quicker they pay for themselves. (enviromental advantages also.)

Answer 3

Here's the short and sweet answer. Road bikes are designed for just that - riding on the road. They are muuch more efficienct and just roll better than mountain bikes. You have to decide what kind of iding you think you will be doing most. A 50 miles ride will DEFINITELY be easier on a road bike.

Answer 4

Road bikes are lighter and faster. Many of them have braze-ons for adding racks and water bottle cages. Most are available with a triple crankset for a wide gear range. If you will be riding on pavement, a road bike is the way to go, in my opinion. Although some people prefer the riding position of a hybrid or mountain bike.

Answer 5

Good road bikes are much easier to ride long distances...much much less friction. Of course they are unridable in even the slightest sand so you have to keep to the street...If you are doing miles work on your bike I would get a road bike...I used to do triathalons and used to do 25 mile work (in between lifting or swimming and running)...now I just have a mountain bike and go with the family for maybe 5 miles at the most...anything over 10 miles I'd go with a road bike.

Answer 6

I just got a road bike because I was planning on riding a 50 mile charity ride. Skinny 700c high pressure tires are much more efficient and it takes less effort to cover the miles than other categories of bikes.

But it does take getting used to the shifters, narrow bars, and rougher ride.

If you are looking for a bike for street use, there are many options to just the typical drop handle road racing bikes... there are bikes with wider, straight mtn-style bars with slightly beefier 700c tires. They ride more like mtn bikes, but are designed to be fairly efficient on the pavement. and the fatter tires are more shock absorbent (comfy)over rough pavement. Do searches for city bikes, urban bikes, hybrid bikes or flat bar road bikes to find these types of bikes.

Answer 7

Mountain bikes have more gears so you can climb hills and usually more meaty tires for traction. If you live in flat lands you don't need a mountain bike but if you found one that was comfortable to ride you could always change out the tires and only use a couple of gears. Seriously, the more comfortable the bike, the more you're going to use it.

Answer 8

I ride a cross country mt. bike and go any where. I put on 50mi. of road riding once or twice a mounth but not as fast as a road bike. You will get in shape fast and can ride any terrain.You can put a rack on the back and use saddle bag,s for going on longer rides.

Answer 9

Mountain Bikes-----rugged terrain, rock gardens, pure MUD on rainy weather,black diamond areas, leaps and bounds,freeriding and one word----GUTS. Road bikes----flat pavements, long distant highways, uphills, and absolutely zero suspension. one word....SPEED. ( Though a cyclocross will get you on the dirt track!) Mountain Bikes have front or dual suspension ( an advantage and the BEST way to battle horrendous routes!)....Road Bikes are only limited to the asphalt jungle. ( the Tour de France is a testimony of road bike GLORY----- ) Ride what you feel is BEST.......

Answer 10

Mountain bikes