why do so many people use mountain bikes for the road and why are they cheaper than road bikes?

Question

why do so many people use mountain bikes for the road and why are they cheaper than road bikes?

im just looking for a cheap second hand bike to kick around on

Answer 1

Discount store mountain bikes are cheaper than road bikes. One from a real bicycle shop may or may not be. The Trek Superfly Pro on 1st link cost $6,829.99. How is that cheaper than a road bike?



Uneducated people use mountain bikes for street riding. Real cyclists use road bikes or performance hybrids for street riding. On the rare occasion I have seen those that do a lot of curb hopping or cutting through empty city lots use mountain bikes with very strong wheels and slick or semi-slick tread tires. Police also use mountain bikes. But again - they may have to jump curbs or go over rough terrain. 2nd link. This bike is ONLY $1319.99. Again...higher in price than an entry level road bike on 3rd link costing a mere $729.99.



So your theory that mountain bikes are always cheaper than road bikes just went out the window. If you do get a mountain bike for street riding, install a set of semi-slick tread tires. 4th link.

Answer 2

Bikes are not exactly cheap items.

Answer 3

Many people who buy so called "mountain bikes" from discount stores will never ride more than a mile or two at a pace not much faster than walking. As for price, the cheap ones are not mountain bikes at all, they wouldn't last more than a day or two for real hard core mountain biking. If you actually ride off road on hard, bumpy, rocky, rooty technical trails you need a bike that costs more than a decent entry level road bike. Mountain bikes became popular because of the perception that they are more rugged and comfortable than road bikes. They aren't. It is much like the current North American fascination with SUV's. Most small station wagons have as much interior space as a compact to mid size SUV. A few years ago a friend of mine was given a choice of cars for his company car. Like me, he is a cyclist, so he took his bike along when he went car shopping. He was shocked at how little space there was for his bike in several SUV's that he looked at. He ended up with a mini van, twice as much space, cheaper price at that time. I get mountain bikes, as long as they are used for mountain biking. I have a very good one, it sold for over $3000 when it was new. Off road it is a gazelle, on road it is a pig

Answer 4

So you think a mountain bike is less expensive compared to a road bike? Think again. Cheap ones are. The good ones ARE NOT! The so-called mountain bikes you see in discount stores are designed for "recreational use only". It's in the warranty. Most will say something like "Your bicycle has been designed for general transportation and recreational use, but has not been designed to withstand abuse associated with stunting and jumping." http://www.schwinnbikes.com/usa/support/warranties/



So why call it a mountain bike? Want to see a REAL mountain bike? Get ready for sticker shock. $8,750

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/anthem-advanced-0



If all you need is a good bike for city transportation, try to find a gently used HYBRID from one of the major manufacturers. A Raleigh, Giant, Trek, Marin, Cannondale, Fuji, etc. Nothing originally sold through a discount or big box store. Hybrid bikes make for great "city commuter bikes". They have the flat handlebar like a MTB but 700C size tires similar to those on a road bike - except a little wider. This is an example of a hybrid.

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/escape-3

Answer 5

Because not everyone has the money to buy a different bicycle for every task. Road, touring, MTB etc. I ran into a jam pedaling across country and blew out a rear tire, the only tire in town available was a MTB/ knobby tire. It did the trick and rode smooth and I finished the rest of my trip on it (1,500 miles). It's easier to ride a MTB on the road than to ride a road bike on a loose dirt trail.

Answer 6

Because many think a bicycle is a bicycle. They don't understand different types of bicycles are designed to be more efficient for what they were designed for. As for a mountain bike being cheaper than a road bike completely untrue. Mountain bikes designed for very rugged trails can cost many times more than a lot of really good quality road bikes. It seem like you're basing your knowledge on bicycles on department store bikes.



Go to a reputable bicycle shop. Explain what you want a bicycle for and where you'll predominantly be riding. They can suggest bikes for you to test ride. They'll also get one that is the correct frame size and adjust it for you. If you don't know what you're doing buying a used bike may be just buying somebody else's problems. As well as being the wrong kind of bicycle and frame size.