Will a Road Bike Be Easier?

Question

I'm new to biking, so please bare with me with the obvious question:)

I've been biking as exercise on the road, but have been using my very cheap (purchased at Target) mountain bike. I bike mainly on the road.

This bike is ready to bust (the gears really don't work) and I'm getting really out of breath going up hills with this bike.

Will my miles be much easier if I purchase a road bike instead? Is there more speed and smoothness on the road?

Answer 1

I just bought a road bike. It is really fun to ride and really fast if I am riding on smooth roads, but if an unavoidable bump comes along, it doesn't feel  good. Meaning when hitting a small bump on a road bike, the force created has nowhere to go but to your hands and your bottom, and there is no suspension to lessen the force before it hits you.

I say look at the conditions of the roads in your town or the route that you will be riding. Maybe borrow a friends road bike just to get a feeling of how road bikes ride.

Answer 2

With entry level bikes, actually the frame quality isn't going to be much different from company to company in fact Giant makes a lot of frames for other people in this class.  Although even if Giant, or some other company makes the frame out the same materials, the geometry of the frames can differed a lot.  Its why fitting a bike is SO important.

In addition to looking at Trek, Specialized, and Cannondale, I would seriously look at Giant too.  They get a some flak be being made in Taiwan but I ride a top in Giant TCR frame, the same frame Mark Cavendish won 4 stages of the Tour De France in so they do make good bicycles.  

Since the frames are going to be pretty much the same, what you'll be shopping for is a frame that fits you.  And getting the best components (gears etc) for what you are paying.   For Shimano, the "food" tree (top to bottom is)

Dura Ace -  Top Racing mostly for the pros and people have serious $

Ultegra -  Racing, serious enthusiast.  

105 - Can race with this, but mostly for enthusiast

Tiagra - enthusiasts

Sora - enthusiasts - heaver

2200 - entry level

Components can vastly effect the weight a reliability of a bike.  Now that being said, I'm figuring your not going to be riding 1000 miles a year an climbing Le Alpe d'Huze.  So I would think a good aluminum frame, or good steel frame with Sora / Tiagra components will do well for you. I would recommend a triple (three chainwheels up front)  This will really help in your climbing)

Most important is GET FITTED for your bike!  so go to a bike shop!  not a department store.  Your comfort is worth it!

Here are some to get you started

Giant OCR2: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bike...   Trek 1.2 http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/200...

  Cannondale Synapsi 7 http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/08/cusa/...

Answer 3

Yes a road bike is many, many times times better on the road then a mountain bike.  You may want to look at a comfort/fitness bike.

If you don't have much to spend I would recommend one of the FORGE BIKES  from target.

I don't know how tall you are but a FORGE ATHENA-M may be what you are looking for, see the link below.  It has the smaller 700cx40 street tires on it and will fit a Woman 5'4" to 5'11".

The second link is the Forge bike site.

I will probably catch some flack by sending you back to Target but I just purchased a Forge Saranac bike from them and was very impressed with the bike.  I would put it up against any of the local bike shop bikes for around $350. I use it mainly on rails to trails bike paths.

The only problem is you have to mail order it and assemble it yourself.  Being able to true wheels and make adjustments to brakes and derailleurs would be a plus,  if you know someone that can do it or help you, it's not really that hard.

Check out some of the Local Bike Shops and see what they have, they can tell you what kind of bike you need and what size.

Having the correct size bike and one that is tuned up makes all the difference in the world.  Most LBS have financing and will give you free tune ups for a Season.

Answer 4

Road bikes are faster in general for several reasons:

1. Slick tires offer less resistance

2. They are lighter, thus going faster is easier

But, the ease of climbing is also dependent on the gear ratio. Very expensive road bikes will not have very low gear ratio and as such will be harder to pedal. This should not be a problem for you as you are on a budget.

Most brands (even good ones) will have entry level bikes. My suggestion is that you go to a bike store and explain your situation, do not buy another bike from Target or Wallmart etc. Sales people do not know what they are selling, to them a bike is a toy not a means of transportation or a serious sport item that need to be the right size etc.

Specialized and Trek are both very reliable and good brands, most bike shops will carry those in stock, ask for entry level bikes and go from there, take their advice as they are usually good experts.

Good luck,

Volodya