Considering a Spacialixed Vita.

[fit447]

I've been cycling over the last year on a cheap MTB that I bought as a sturdy commuter, and am managing 20 miles comfortably, on the flat. I recently went on an organised ride, and everyone else had a road bike, and there were HILLS. Needles to say, I struggled to keep up, but thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. I am now considering a new bike, and am unsure of what to buy. Most of my cycling is along cycle tracks, but I want to occasionally hit the roads.

Will a hybrid do better on the hills than my Raleigh Mountain bike? I have seen a Specialized Vita 2014 that Fits my budget, Would it give me enough speed to stand a chance when riding with road bikes. Road bikes are not an option because of health issues. Hope someone can guide me. I also saw the Vita sport for £100 More than I want to spend. Is there much difference in the two bikes?

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I might be wrong, but I think @Mo1959 had/has a Vita.

 

[Dave7]

Not a straight forward question to answer for several reasons.
I assume your mountain bike is a bog standard type? In which case it will be hard work on the road as it will a) have a heavy frame b) have mountain bike 'geometry' c) mountain bike gearing and small-26" wheels with 2.2" tyres which have lots of drag.
It is designed to give lots of grip in wet/muddy conditions and be very manouverable
The Specialized Vita is built for roads and has full size wheels/tyres 28mm wide......it will roll so much better.
The gearing is designed for roads.
Whether It will do cycle paths OK depends on what you mean by cycle paths. For straight forward tow paths/canal paths it should be fine........but if you mean forrest trails etc. then you will struggle.
A suggestion...........ask the dealer if it will accept 32/35mm tyres. If it will then you can buy a pair and easily swap them as required.
Hope that helps.

 

[fit447]

Thanks, Dave 7, you have helped a lot. You have reassured me about the Vita, and If I do want to go on rougher terrain, I will be keeping my MTB. Do you have experience of the Vita, or are your comments based on the spec?

 

[Dogtrousers]

My wife has a Vita, its a very nice bike. She rides on roads an cycle trails. Don't know anything about mountain bikes, so I cant help with choosing the right type of bike, but if you decide on a bike like the Vita, then be assured the Vita is a good un.

 

[fit447]

Thanks Dogtrousers, that good to hear.

 

[citybabe]

I have a Vita Sport and I love it!

 

[fit447]

I was about to ask how it copes on hills, Citybabe, then noticed your location.

 

[cyberknight]

I currently am using a rigid MTB for commuting, on the flat the weight does not make much difference once it up to speed but the hills kil it compared to a road bike .
Flat barred road bikes can be as fast as "racers " but you have less hand position options and might not be able to get as low if you want to get in a more aero position.
The vita come sin around 11 kg as far as i can work out

 

[Dan B]

My wife also has the Vita Sport, though probably does more miles on the Christiana at the moment. She says it's her favourite bike. I've borrowed it a few times to get to work when I had my bike written off, I think it would cope perfectly fine with cycle tracks.

 

[vickster]

Assuming it's this one, it has a triple chainset, should do fine on hills. Being lighter should also help of course, plus the bigger wheels than an MTB and no bouncy suspension! 32mmtyrss will give you plenty of comfort of rougher surfaces, just won't deal so well with proper mud

http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/vita/28634/14vita

The sport also has a triple, but 9 speed rather than 8 so you get three more gears

Go test ride the options, see which is best for you

 

[Mo1959]

I might be wrong, but I think @Mo1959 had/has a Vita.

Yep......still have it and enjoy riding it. Each model/year seems to have different specs. Mine has a triple so has a nice wide range of gearing for on or off road. Currently fitted with 700 x 23 Vredestein Fortezza for road use, but I could go back to wider tyres if I wanted to venture on some light trails and I'm sure it would be perfectly fine.

 

[citybabe]

I was about to ask how it copes on hills, Citybabe, then noticed your location.

It has a triple chainset so you've plenty of gears.
I went for the sport because I'm my opinion the shifters are better than the ones on the basic vita

 

[fit447]

Thanks everyone, for some good info.
Cyberknight, you have summed up my rigid MTB experience.

I currently am using a rigid MTB for commuting, on the flat the weight does not make much difference once it up to speed but the hills kil it compared to a road bike .
Flat barred road bikes can be as fast as "racers " but you have less hand position options and might not be able to get as low if you want to get in a more aero position.
The vita come sin around 11 kg as far as i can work out

Im off to go and weigh my MTB for a comparison.