Road Or Xc Bike

[BIG Drew]

Hey all. I really can't decide weather to get a road or xc bike. I have 500 quid to spend. I was looking at getting a Carrera Fury but I'm not sure how much I'll actually be able to use it riding off road trails so I then thought about road bikes but this really would limit me to road only. Is there really a huge difference in speed with a xc bike with some slick tires and a locked out fork then a proper road bike. I'll be using it to get to school and work and if i do get a xc bike i'd really liek to get out on some trails with it like I've said.

Also the other thing that is putting me of xc is I don't know of any trails around derby that are with in cycling distance or near a station. I may have not looked very hard but if any of you could point me in the direction of some that would be mint

Soo..If you own a road or xc bike then post some bull about why you like/don't like it to help me decide.

Oh what ever it is it needs to come from Halfords as I work there so get discount. (I know, I know. I said Halfords but the upper range Carrera's are actually pretty decent.)

I've also tried to put a poll up but I don't know weather it will work as I've never done one before

Thanks any help

[future orange 660]

just because its a discount doesnt mean its worth it. 15% is minute for halfords staff. grab a summer sale bike from any other bike shop for 30%+ off.

[JD™]

he's right, and I'll tell you for why at the moment. I work for Cycling Weekly and MBR magazines (i know, hardly very "trials" but hey) and pretty much all the staff have just come back from Eurobike over in Germany. This is the show where all the shops look at, and buy, their '08 kit. What does that mean? they need space for it. what does that mean? cheap '07 stuff is just about to come up, and I can guarantee you'll be better off with a discounted trek/scott etc than you will be with a tiny discount off of a carrera.

hope this helps.

J

p.s. oh, get an XC bike - extra set of wheels with slicks on

[BIG Drew]

just because its a discount doesnt mean its worth it. 15% is minute for halfords staff. grab a summer sale bike from any other bike shop for 30%+ off.

Yeah the discount is abit naff but even with out it the only bike that touches the fury on spec for the money is the decathalon rock rider 8.1 as far as I can see. I've had a look in the sales and there's a few nice bikes going cheap but I still don't know weather to get a road bike or xc..I think I'm torn more towards xc as they can be used more widely and I know nothing about what is good or bad on road bikes.

Ill go have a look around my lbs I know a few guys there who can get me 10% even the bikes that are already discounted. I'd just change the tires around anyway I wouldn't really need two wheel sets would I?

[Tomm]

Changing tyres every time you want to ride is annoying though, changing wheels slightly less so. But bear mind that you will need tyres and cassette and rotors for this plan. An XC bike with some 1.5” or so slicks would be pretty fast on the roads. Not as fast as a road bike (on road) but then far more versatile.

May I make a suggestion? See my signature £280 to you. Then put the rest of the money towards a road bike in the future – I’ve got a Carrera Valour road bike which is pretty decent.

[JT!]

Get a decent XC bike with lockout-able forks and you'll be fine. More comfortable on the roads that a roadie too.

[BIG Drew]

Cheers for the offer but I'm just over 6ft 2 so that is going to be way to small for me. I'll be fine changing the tires at most it will be twice a week (before and after weekend)

I was thinking about getting some semi slick tires. Either the continental travel contact or the panaracer mach ss so the tires would be suitable for road/hard pack and I'd only need to change them if I was to be riding mud/shitty conditions.

Um.. I think I've pretty much made my mind up for a xc bike now. I'll have a look at the sales and stuff see if I can find anything better than the Fury for the money.

[JT!]

Cheers for the offer but I'm just over 6ft 2 so that is going to be way to small for me. I'll be fine changing the tires at most it will be twice a week (before and after weekend)

There wa some guy with a XC bike for sale on here, 21" frame, lock out forks. I'll see if i can dig the topic out for you.

There we go click here.

[future orange 660]

as for comfort on road...thats not true once you are doing higher mileage. gearing is also different.

as pointed out, if you can afford it get a set of 700c rims on mtb hubs or get some mavic speedcity wheels. is expensive though adding up the price of disc rotors, cassette etc.

[BIG Drew]

That bike is seriously tempting for that money I'll give him a pm soonish:). As for changing the wheels I really can't afford that and school is 5 miles away pretty much all flat and work is a 3 mile uphill slog (both take about 30 mins on the trials bike)so I don't think I'd really need to change wheels for that sort distance. I may sort it out in the future if I do get annoyed with changing tires.