Difference B/W MTB and Hybrid Gearing.....

[StormRider]

Hello peoples, I am after a bit of advice here . I have had a Carrera Kraken MTB from Halfords for the past 2.5yrs (new to this biking lark ) and seems to be ok for what I need it for, general riding on the road and a bit of riding "off road" i.e. tow-path etc.

I did my first "long distance" ride yesterday Cuffley to Tower of London via the Lea Valley tow path route with a bike buddy. My buddy had Ridgeback hybrid bike and I noticed even on the roughish terrain, on the exactly the same gearing as me, he required less effort. I was wondering is it something wrong with my bike/gears, or is his bike optimised for that sort of terrain than mine.

My company has recently joined the cycle2work scheme, and I am allowed bikes up to 1 grand, (unfortunately only from Halfords), should I be consider changing my bike, as next week we will be joined by 2 other riders we met on our way..... I checked their bikes, 1 had a nice looking Specialized road/bike and the other a Cannondale.... We plan to do Cheshunt to Welwyn garden city next weekend..... So do I replace my bike if yes, any ideas.... I was looking at Specialized ROCKHOPPER SL EXPERT/SL Comp,would this allow me to keep up with my new bike buddies ?

[frank9755]

The main thing to look at is the tyres. Fit thinner, smooth tyres, inflated to a higher pressure, and your bike will go faster for the same effort.

Another thing to try is locking your suspension forks to stop wasted 'bobbing' up and down when on tarmac.

After that, weight will make some difference if it is hilly and aerodynamics once you get to 20mph or so. To benefit you would then need a different frame that was lighter than a mountain bike and with drop handlebars so you can get yourself out of the wind.

However, pedalling harder will make more difference than any of that!

[StormRider]

Frank, thanks for the clarification.....You are right, my tyres were almost twice the size of his..... and well my weight... definitely weigh more than him... I guess a good 20kg more!

[StormRider]

Just an update, went to my local bike shop asked the cost of changing my mtb tyres, to an hybrid one, both tyres an inner tube 35quid, went to Halfords 60quid.... moral of the story shop around!

[frank9755]

I was referring to the weight of the bike, however your interpretation is the better one - weight of the rider makes far more difference!

If you are happy to change your own tyres (and you really should be as you would need to do it if you got a puncture out on the road) you can do far better than that - both in terms of price and, more importantly, quality of tyre.
These ones (Schwalbe Marathon) are the most common type of general purpose touring tyre, probably used by at least as many people on here as any other type:
http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s142p756
Spa are selling them for £11 each. 26x1.5 would be ideal for comfortable but faster riding on tarmac. You could re-use your existing inner tubes.
These will do a bit of off-road riding too - I did a rough ride over a 1200m high pass in Albania with a pair on my touring bike last month!

[al_yrpal]

A better tyre for you would be Schwalbe Land Cruisers. These tyres are £12 each, you wont need new inner tubes. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Sear ... 2Aod7XvgYw

They are better because they have a continuous centre rib that reduces friction AND nobbles both sides, Thus they require less effort on the road and still give you great grip off road.

I always leave the numpties riding on the road with MTB tyres standing when riding on these.

Al

[StormRider]

Cheers fellas, I have decided to opt for my company's c2w scheme and get a Boardman hybrid team.....


http://www.boardmanbikes.com/hybrid/hybrid_team.html

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bia ... paign=awin

It was a choice between these 2, but don't know if Halfords do the Bianchi model, and I have read good things about the Boardman Hybrid.... and besides this year may be the last year we get this opportunity , as there might be some fiscal discipline from the govt net year!