Commuting on MTB

[harrow1977]

Hello everyone

I mentioned in my previous post, but I recently bought a MTB to get back into cycling

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/hardrock-sport-disc-2013-mountain-bike-ec040961

So far, I've been riding around on the weekends mainly, also some road cycling but wasn't going too far down that route until I'd completed the cycle training to make me more confident etc.

I live about 10miles from work, and was looking at possible routes to work on the excellent http://www.cyclestreets.net site.

I've read many threads about those converting their MTB's to road bikes through changing the tyres, but was wondering how much difference this really made? The commute in would on mainly quiet streets, I don't think I'd be burning it down the road quite yet

Is it acceptable to commute in using the standard MTB tyres? The bike has a lockout which I've enabled for road cycling.

Appreciate any advice!

 

[kishin]

Is it acceptable to commute in using the standard MTB tyres?

The only person it needs to be acceptable to is you and if you are happy to use them then they will be fine. Although they might not be the best suited tyres for commuting, they will do the job and are what you've got, so go ahead and use them.

 

[MikeW-71]

Changing the tyres for road ones makes a huge difference, even if you don't ride faster, it will take less effort without the knobbles on the tyres.

 

[paul04]

I have a MTB I use for riding to work, swapped the tyres for some slick road tyres, (from 26x1.95 to 26x1.50) the bike does roll a lot better, making it better to ride (less effort to pedal it)

 

[Gravity Aided]

A higher pressure, lighter tire helps a good deal. If you have bad roads, or have to deal with mixed road and trails in bad weather, a mountain bike may be a better choice for you. I find the old rigid MTB's that people regularly throw away are best used for this. Suspension seems to cause you more problems in this area than not. I also find the old hybrids work well, esp. with 700x35 tires. These setups cost me about 1 to 2 miles per hour,or 2-4 km per hour over a road bike on the same course, but comfort is greater.

 

[buggi]

a slick tyre would help but it won't hurt to ride in on the knobblies. it will get you fitter if nothing else! more effort = tighter ass!

 

[Roadhump]

I have commuted on an MTB (Specialized Rockhopper FS - too old for lockout forks) and enjoyed it, but that was when my only bike was my Rockhopper. I eventually found I was spending so much time on the road and so little off it and the suspension and fat knobbly tyres were slowing me down, so I bought a hybrid (Specialized Sirrus) that has much narrower tyres and rigid forks and is a flyer compared to my Rockhopper. I kept my Rockhopper and now use it for a weekly ride on a local off road trail, but for road use my hybrid is always my first choice, but as Kishin says above, if you like commuting on your MTB, just enjoy yourself.

 

[Boon 51]

I've just done a 90 Km ride on my mtb and all I did was pump the tyres up and locked the suspension.
Total climb was 1,106 mtres so a ride to work should be OK.
But I think you have two choices as well.
Change to road tyres as been said.. or get another pair of wheels tyres tyres so a quick change over takes about a minute