Hello,
As the title says, I am hoping to get into cycling as a means of exercising outside of running. I see road bikes being used around bike trails with drop handlebars, etc.; can the bike I am currently using be equipped with such additions? Does it need to be? Is this bike even be called a "road bike?" or this a bike to travel around the city only? Should I invest into a road bike instead of trying to "update" this one?
Any suggestions you can offer will be greatly appreciated, and please forgive my ignorance.
by Still_Village4551
5 Comments
This is a very well made Mountain bike from about 30 years ago. It would be fine for getting started in riding for exercise and even touring or bike packing. You don’t need drop bars to ride fast. The flat bars give you better control when on gravel or dirt roads. Going fast and easily on paved roads would be mostly helped by tires made for pavement. If it is a good fit and mechanically sound, it’s a good bike to start riding.
Like going for a run in some air max 90s. It’s doable
No, that’s not a road bike. It’s a classic rigid mtb
“Updating” this will be significantly more expensive and impractical than just replacing
No, you don’t particularly need drop bar bike. High end rigid hybrids such as specialized sirrus/trek fx sport are great as both general fitness/sport bikes.
Back in the day this would have been considered a mountain bike, but by modern standards it’s closer to being a hybrid. It’s good for short to medium trips, and offers a more upright ride than a road bike would. However, if you want to maximize speed and distance, a road bike would be a bit better suited.
Not a road bike, but it’s a quality (if old) bike with what seems like decent components. Get it tuned up and go honestly. If you want it to be faster, get road oriented tires. Investing in a road bike will get you a more aggressive position which is nice for putting down power and comfort on longer rides, but it’s not necessary to go out and have fun or get a decent workout in.
Might want to get that front brake fixed up at least!