Getting both a road and MTB

[Mason77]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to cycling and am looking for some advice on where to start. I've been thinking about getting a road bike and hitting the trails, but I'm not sure what to look for in a good bike or what kind of equipment I should get.

I'm also a bit intimidated by the traffic on the roads, so I'm wondering if there are any tips for staying safe while cycling on the streets. Any advice for a beginner like me would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance for your help."

 

[concord]

Hey Mason, I can only tell you what I did when I first got started. I didn't know if I even wanted to keep riding. So my wife bought me a cheap-o bike and that is what I got started on. Nothing fancy, it wasn't even a Huffy! I couldn't ride more than three miles and I would have to walk back. Wife had to come pick me up a time or two. Once I got used to the traffic and my body started to get into shape the bike fell apart. Now I knew what I needed. Started looking at bikes and got a nice road bike by the end of the summer and did my first century. The rest is history. Good luck and enjoy the sport... you will get hooked.

 

[cobbwheels]

If you've never done any serious riding before, any kind of bike would feel the same. Cheap or expensive would feel the same because you won't have any point of comparison.

I recommend to start slow and cheap. Because chances are, like many who seem interested at the beginning ends up NOT liking the hobby and their bike ends up collecting dust in the garage. At least if you bought something cheap, it would not have been a huge waste of money and you can simply donate it or give it away for free.

An exception would be for riders >200 lbs, you definitely need to start with a decent bike like >$700 or good quality used *metal* bike bought from someone you trust. Never buy used carbon bikes. Always buy carbon bikes brand new.

For dealing with traffic, make sure to get rearview mirror like those mounted on the helmet or radar. It helps bring huge peace of mind to those who are scared of traffic. Trust me, it's a huge improvement. Also make yourself quite visible. Wear high visibility, brightly colored clothes like those with black and bright color stripes. Use bright light for early morning, late afternoon, overcast, and night rides.

 

[NOOYAH]

If you've never done any serious riding before, any kind of bike would feel the same. Cheap or expensive would feel the same because you won't have any point of comparison.

I recommend to start slow and cheap. Because chances are, like many who seem interested at the beginning ends up NOT liking the hobby and their bike ends up collecting dust in the garage. At least if you bought something cheap, it would not have been a huge waste of money and you can simply donate it or give it away for free.

An exception would be for riders >200 lbs, you definitely need to start with a decent bike like >$700 or good quality used *metal* bike bought from someone you trust. Never buy used carbon bikes. Always buy carbon bikes brand new.

For dealing with traffic, make sure to get rearview mirror like those mounted on the helmet or radar. It helps bring huge peace of mind to those who are scared of traffic. Trust me, it's a huge improvement. Also make yourself quite visible. Wear high visibility, brightly colored clothes like those with black and bright color stripes. Use bright light for early morning, late afternoon, overcast, and night rides.

Very experienced sharing，This is a great help for newbies

 

[baker3]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to cycling and am looking for some advice on where to start. I've been thinking about getting a road bike and hitting the trails, but I'm not sure what to look for in a good bike or what kind of equipment I should get.

I'm also a bit intimidated by the traffic on the roads, so I'm wondering if there are any tips for staying safe while cycling on the streets. Any advice for a beginner like me would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance for your help."

It's great that you're interested in getting into road cycling and hitting the trails.

As a beginner, it's important to find a road bike that fits your body and riding style. A good starting point would be to visit your local bike shop and talk to the staff about your goals and budget. They can help you find the right bike and equipment for you.

As for the traffic, it may seem intimidating at first but with the right precautions, you can stay safe on the roads. One thing you can do is to invest in a radar such as a Garmin radar. This device can alert you to approaching vehicles, giving you more time to react and stay safe.

Another tip is to always follow the traffic laws and obey the signs and signals. It's also important to be visible to other road users by wearing bright clothing or using lights and reflectors. It's also worth to mention that you should consider the time of day you plan to ride, as well as the route you take. It's safer to ride during the day and avoid busy roads if possible.

When it comes to equipment, there are a few essential items that you will need to get started:

1. A Bike: obviously
2. Helmet
3. Gloves
4. Shoes: Look for cycling shoes that are stiff-soled and have cleats that clip into the pedals.
5. Clothing: Look for cycling-specific clothing that is designed to wick moisture away from your skin and keep you cool.
6. Water Bottle and Cage
7. Bike Tools
8. Optional items: You can also consider purchasing additional equipment such as a cycling computer, lights and mirrors, or a cycling specific backpack.

As a beginner, it's important to find a road bike that fits your body and riding style. A good starting point would be to visit your local bike shop and talk to the staff about your goals and budget. They can help you find the right bike and equipment for you.

 

[Mason77]

Thanks everyone for your kind advice. I will definitely will upload an update about my situation. Happy Biking!

 

[cobbwheels]

Hope it's not too late but have you considered gravel bikes? These bikes are competent enough for both road and trails / gravel.

A gravel bike is also safer to use on road with traffic than traditional road bikes. The wide tires allows you to pay more attention to the vehicles around you. Why? If riding a road bike with skinny tires, you are compelled to watch out for road imperfections like potholes or some poor repair work. Then you'd probably want to swerve around these and that leads to unsafe conditions in the presence of vehicular traffic.

You can either get hit by vehicle by swerving OR you may spook other drivers when you swerve near them, causing dangerous distraction, which may lead to accidents. Or it may be too late to swerved around a big pothole, there's a car beside you, you hit the brakes pretty hard which may lead to a crash or you ride over the pothole anyway at high speed and pray to God, nothing goes wrong. But a skinny tire of a road bike can get damaged if you do that. It can pinch flat and at high speed, can lead to a crash.

You can also 'bunny hop' over a pothole but honestly, such action can be quite harsh on a road bike. I wouldn't buy a used bike from someone who regularly bunny hops their bike even if they never crashed and competent in bike maintenance UNLESS I'm buying a used MTB from them. Plus, bunny hopping can also cause dangerous distraction to drivers so don't even bother unless it's absolutely the last option available to you like a huge crack opening on the ground.

A gravel bike on the other hand with wide tires will allow you to ride fast over potholes and other road imperfections without any problems as long as you're using the right tire pressures. That allows you to keep riding straight, safe, and be able to pay attention to traffic around you, instead of scanning the road for potholes and bumps. Some gravel tires are good for both paved and gravel rides. They tend to have flat center and knobby sides.

And a gravel bike don't really slow you down even on fast group rides on the road even if riding with wide tires. Your kit, riding position, training, and mental state will make a bigger difference on speed unless you're actually riding a heavy steel commuter bike with full fenders, racks, solid tires!!, and baskets. Heck, I've been on fast group rides pushing 25 mph on long flat sections where everyone is riding hard tail MTB's on wide knobby tires!

 

[Delilah]

Welcome to the cycling community! Starting out can be overwhelming, but don't worry, we've all been there. When looking for a road bike, make sure to consider the fit and comfort of the bike, as well as its components and overall quality. As for equipment, a helmet and proper cycling shoes are essential for safety and performance. To stay safe on the roads, familiarize yourself with traffic laws and try to ride on designated bike lanes or paths when possible. Also, make sure to use hand signals to communicate your intentions to other cyclists and drivers. There are plenty of resources online and in local bike shops to help guide you on your cycling journey. Don't hesitate to reach out to more experienced cyclists for advice and tips as well. Happy riding!