Derek
i've decided to use this old mongoose mountain bike that has been sitting in a shed for years to commute from home to work or near by stores. do they make for good commuter bikes? my home town (Tucson) is known for being a bike rider hotspot, but i hear about people on bikes being struck by vehicles often. i figured if i use the mountain bike i could ride on the dirt aside the roads instead of the tiny bike lanes on them. thoughts? opinions? thanks!
Answer
You may not like this answer... I use a mountain bike occasionally for "Urban Assault" riding. And it's a damn good one - the same kind the police use.
http://archive.fujibikes.com/archivebikes.php?prodid=2003&prodname=Police%20Patrol&modelyear=2012
It has lock out front forks & city tires. If that Mongoose has suspension forks & they can't be "locked out" - bad choice for a "commuter bike". But...at least install some Kenda Kross tires on it.
http://www.amazon.com/Kenda-TR0-Kross-24-Kross-Plus-Wire/dp/B003WO4CNW
The key to commuting in the city is being SEEN! Designated bike lanes are a joke. Separate but equal my @ss! Bike lanes put you to the far right - out of the "line of sight" of most tunnel vision motorists. Whenever there's a designated bike lane - I hug the LEFT part of it & go out into the traffic lane if need be. Most of these bike lanes also put you right smack dab in the "door zone" should some fool not look first before opening a car door.
Get a good helmet mirror...
http://www.safezonemirror.com/
And start reading...
http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm
https://www.stlbeacon.org/#!/voices/in-the-news/115410-knowledge-is-best-protection-for-bicyclist
And watching...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU4nKKq02BU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFjCza5e1kw
You may not like this answer... I use a mountain bike occasionally for "Urban Assault" riding. And it's a damn good one - the same kind the police use.
http://archive.fujibikes.com/archivebikes.php?prodid=2003&prodname=Police%20Patrol&modelyear=2012
It has lock out front forks & city tires. If that Mongoose has suspension forks & they can't be "locked out" - bad choice for a "commuter bike". But...at least install some Kenda Kross tires on it.
http://www.amazon.com/Kenda-TR0-Kross-24-Kross-Plus-Wire/dp/B003WO4CNW
The key to commuting in the city is being SEEN! Designated bike lanes are a joke. Separate but equal my @ss! Bike lanes put you to the far right - out of the "line of sight" of most tunnel vision motorists. Whenever there's a designated bike lane - I hug the LEFT part of it & go out into the traffic lane if need be. Most of these bike lanes also put you right smack dab in the "door zone" should some fool not look first before opening a car door.
Get a good helmet mirror...
http://www.safezonemirror.com/
And start reading...
http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm
https://www.stlbeacon.org/#!/voices/in-the-news/115410-knowledge-is-best-protection-for-bicyclist
And watching...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU4nKKq02BU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFjCza5e1kw
What's a good bike for commuting?
Q. I need to learn how to ride a bike, I'm 21 and don't know how. I'd like to use this bike instead of a car (not that I have one). But in the future I wouldn't mind learning how to ride competively.. I'd really like a bike that would be good for health and travelling, then.. I'm a student so I don't want anything too expensive, maybe £200 tops? Must be available in the UK - do you think I'd be better off going to a bike shop or ordering online?
Answer
Hey Rainbow,
Hate to be one of those that echos what you probably do not want to hear but yeah... An inexpensive bike put to use as a regular commuter will have you wishing you'd spent more in the first place.
While I'm not totally against online retailers there are a number of things you have to take into account like what bike is best going to suit your needs? What size frame is best for you? And the real kicker... Who's going to assemble the darn thing? A bike that's been improperly assembled can be a real nightmare to sort out and downright dangerous to ride. Most shops charge dearly for this service and with good reason.
There really is a lot you have to know and specific tools that you have to have to get a bike from out of the box to going safely down the road. Most online retailers make the assumption you already have the skills and tools so any directions that may come with the bike are generic at best and in most instances? Boxed bikes do not come with instructions.
If you have a mate that tells you he's willing to assemble a bike for you? Don't let his grubby paws anywhere near the thing unless he works on bicycles FOR A LIVING! and has ALL the necessary tools to do the job properly!
Used bikes can be a real can of worms as well... While you may find a gem of a bike for little money, you really have to know what you're looking at to be sure and that takes experience.
So my advice is this... Save up some more, Go to a few local bike shops, that's a brick and mortar establishment that sells ONLY bicycles, take a look around and ask some questions. Find out what they charge to assemble a bike,what they charge to check out a used bike, what they have to suggest for a commuter from their stock and see how the pricing stacks up. I think you'll find it's pretty much the same as for what you see online plus assembly. Check out a few shops and pick the one that treats you best. And keep enough in the budget for a good lock, lights and a HELMET and wear the bloody thing EVERY time you ride!
Hey Rainbow,
Hate to be one of those that echos what you probably do not want to hear but yeah... An inexpensive bike put to use as a regular commuter will have you wishing you'd spent more in the first place.
While I'm not totally against online retailers there are a number of things you have to take into account like what bike is best going to suit your needs? What size frame is best for you? And the real kicker... Who's going to assemble the darn thing? A bike that's been improperly assembled can be a real nightmare to sort out and downright dangerous to ride. Most shops charge dearly for this service and with good reason.
There really is a lot you have to know and specific tools that you have to have to get a bike from out of the box to going safely down the road. Most online retailers make the assumption you already have the skills and tools so any directions that may come with the bike are generic at best and in most instances? Boxed bikes do not come with instructions.
If you have a mate that tells you he's willing to assemble a bike for you? Don't let his grubby paws anywhere near the thing unless he works on bicycles FOR A LIVING! and has ALL the necessary tools to do the job properly!
Used bikes can be a real can of worms as well... While you may find a gem of a bike for little money, you really have to know what you're looking at to be sure and that takes experience.
So my advice is this... Save up some more, Go to a few local bike shops, that's a brick and mortar establishment that sells ONLY bicycles, take a look around and ask some questions. Find out what they charge to assemble a bike,what they charge to check out a used bike, what they have to suggest for a commuter from their stock and see how the pricing stacks up. I think you'll find it's pretty much the same as for what you see online plus assembly. Check out a few shops and pick the one that treats you best. And keep enough in the budget for a good lock, lights and a HELMET and wear the bloody thing EVERY time you ride!
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Title Post: mountain bike for commuting?
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Rating: 100% based on 9998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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