Mountain Bike Commuting is Bliss

[@25inspector]

For me the positives outweight the negatives. I have had road bikes, 3 speeds, cruisers and mountain bikes. Mountain bikes are so great because the combine the best off every kind of bicycle. They are durable, good for all riding surfaces, have good gearing for climbing hills and are easily modified with different seats, racks, fenders and handlebars. The only negative is they are not as fast as a road bike. For me all the positives outweight the one negative. I don't need to go super fast anyway...I would rather have the option of riding on any type of trail with gears for climbing the hills. For me they are the ultimate bicycle.

[@OliverJustChillin]

Your delivery is so casual and easy to watch. Nice work. I commute mainly on a road bike but my backup commuter is a rigid 90s Trek mtb. When I switch to that one, I do enjoy the softer ride and the ability to mash through gravel and dirt better on my way to work.

[@Bicycle2Work]

Thanks for the nice comment! I normally ride on a road bike as well as I like the speed and efficiency, but I do think it's fun to change it up and take the mountain bike out from time to time.

[@nDyimi]

Changing the tyres on my mountain bike to shwalbe marathon plus 26x1.75 hybrid tyres was a game changer. Commuting by mountain bike with those tyres gives you the best of both worlds. Plus never got any punctures in 4 years of cycling to work through standard UK city streets (lots of smashed glass)

[@scottmcintyre3896]

I ride to work on my mountain bike. 20 kms each way.

[@Bicycle2Work]

That's a good commute! You're really getting your exercise each day.

[@KandiKlover]

Lol 12 miles. That’s a short spin around the neighborhood.

[@SadBheeseChurger]

Did you lose weight

[@scottmcintyre3896]

@@SadBheeseChurger Yes, but then covid came along and I put it on again. About to start riding to work again after lockdown. Looking forward to it.

[@hugomuller2617]

@@scottmcintyre3896 That's great to know! I just got myself the GT Avalance Comp (Beginner rider) use it in the countryside but would also like to use it for my 10 Mile each way commute in London. Do you have any recommendation in terms of tires considering the UK's wet conditions?

[@HistoricalWeapons]

Don’t forget durability for cheap bikes. The mountain bike is much more durable in the $200 or less range especially when you’re carrying load such as delivering food when the wheel breaks on thin hybrid bike it’s garbage

[@Kevin_geekgineering]

nice video, man why you are not making more videos since 2-3 years ago?

[@KandiKlover]

The wider tires are also better at absorbing bumps on really crappy roads as well as bike lanes which are always full of little rocks and junk in a lot of areas. I hit a 1 inch little rock in the road against the side of my MTB tire while doing 18 MPH on a smooth road and the tire just gripped and went up over it. That would've bounced the wheel to the side and been a good front wheel slip on my road bike.

[@mtbeb5414]

anyone who loves commuting with mountain bikes?

[@KandiKlover]

Yes. That way I can take trails and off-road much as possible to be alone.

[@6Matt6Man6]

I ride a Sedona DX, rides the road well and I can cut off to hit the rougher trails to save time or have some fun.

[@FriendOfTrashPandas]

My city's roads are just a mess. Cracks, patches of gravel, pot holes... sometimes there is no bike lane or even a shoulder on a higher speed road, maybe even with a curb. Recently on my way to meet a friend I found myself on a dangerous road, and decided to hop up onto the unused sidewalk. That went fine until the road curved to the left and the sidewalk ended abruptly just ahead. I stopped, waited for the opportunity to cross the road, and took the sidewalk on the opposite side, which persisted through yhe curve and all the way to my destination. However, in a couple places this sidewalk dipped into a pronounced V shape so harsh that my front fork bottomed out on the first one and I worried I would be thrown over the bars, so I elected to hop off the sidewalk entirely to go around the second. A week later I read that a cyclist had been struck and killed by a motor vehicle on that same stretch of road. With a road bike, I probably would have felt like I just had to stay in the right hand lane and hope cars would see me and avoid a collision. With an mtb I feel like I have options open to me, and I can choose the route that keeps me safest without concern for whether my bike can handle a little bit of dirt, grass, mud, or gravel, or stretches of damaged or rough pavement like in some of the neighborhoods I rode through often.

[@SDL61904]

Ima start commuting to school back and forth starting tommorow so ill see

[@DinnerForkTongue]

I ride a knobby hardtail 26er to work every single day. The terrain versatility is _so_ handy when your road conditions are as bad as they are here - potholes everywhere, uneven patches where they're not, a number of unpaved roads, the whole nine yards that road bikes plain and simple cannot survive in. I'm moving to a new place this week and commute's 8km each way (double what it is today). Good exercise.

[@Bicycle2Work]

Yup - the tires really do help when the route isn't perfect pavement. You don't have to worry about running over a pothole. Thanks for subscribing and commenting!

[@LadyShadowSilence]

Man I hit a pothole so bad i thought i was gonna crash a few nights ago in the dark. I am ever so thankful i have my mountain bike to save me. I really can't wait for my usual trail to be reopened (having to replace a pipe so they ripped out my 6 month old trail extension to fix it). I should sometime in the future try a road bike lol.

[@LadyShadowSilence]

I have a lovely old Next Ascent 21 speed mountain bike that I have been using to commute to work. Its lovely cause until recently a section of my bike trails that go to my work was gravel though it has now been asphalted. I did wonder why some bikes were so much faster then my own as fast as I was going but i definitely think from watching so many videos about commutes they were probably road bikes. The hardest part for me was getting a rack installed with no eyelets on the frame, but it worked out. So glad I chose it. There's some nasty bumps in my area that my bike can handle with no issues.

[@my_boyfriends]

I thought I was watching a KZbinr with a couple k subs, keep up the good work!

[@Bicycle2Work]

Thanks for the kind words! I appreciate it.

[@my_boyfriends]

Bicycle2Work You worked for it so

[@DJ-yh8hm]

me too!

[@Rustee42]

I commute to work through an urban setting, all on back roads and lesser trafficked lanes. I find the more upright geometry of a mtb beneficial, and I don't have to worry about going up and down kerbs or dings in the road, as the wheels are more forgiving. I much prefer using a mtb to my old hybrid touring bike. The weight is comparable, but the mtb is just more comfortable and fun to ride.

[@marquesjohnson1069]

I commute on a rowdy hardtail 20mi a day and it's a blast. I hit every staircase, bunny hop all the curbs manhole covers railroad tracks construction sites 😍 I love construction sites lol. It's just way more fun than a road bike commute. Great video, Great insight!

[@RobBastien]

Hey bud, nice video. The fact that Mtb are slower is actually an advantage, meaning that you get a longer workout.

[@pepehorhae]

it is efficient since it can be applicable on different grounds be it concrete or grass or hard bumps and surfaces or soil and dirt. plus, it's a good exercise AND a good cost saver for commuting. love weaving through traffic and staying safe on the side when there's no traffic

[@OLD4EYES83]

I love it because as some who has a fear of riding in the street during peak hours , MTB gives me peace of mind knowing I can go anyway I please to get to and from work. Less anxiety is very important to me.

[@damianhla]

Run a hybrid tyre set-up. Leave the front as off road tyre, run around 30psi. Change the rear to a Schwalbe Super Moto and run at 42 psi. This will significantly reduce the rolling resistance and yet allow you to tackle loose sandy surface

[@nagisaayanami]

I commute on my MTB.. Mostly because 700c tires and snow dont mix at all and even less so on ice. It is slower then my 700c rig, however it is way more stable footed during the winter months. I have a cheapo BBS MTB for the bad weather and it has a rear rack on it. It does the job for commuting but its no trailblazer.

[@MattChance]

I couldn’t see doing it any other way right now. I do not work in a major city, so I have to combine road, grass, dirt, greenways and busted up sidewalks for max ride efficiency and safety for my personal commute. Not to mention I need most of my gears for some of the rough slog uphills that typical downtown commuters might not face. I have never found mountain biking to be a hinderance, but I did need to accessorize mine as well - to make the bike more of a commuter.

[@alexanderarellano1392]

I might gonna start to use my mtb next week. Thanks for the video!

[@betruly7894]

Good job explaining all this in a record time. The reason you don't have so many subscribers because no one want to wacht video about going to work after work 😂 change Bicycle2Work with BicycleCommute, Bicycle....??? I use to go work with a hybrid bike Riverside 500 to office, everything you said is right except one think when i get to office every morning i'm wet completely no matter if it is cold or hot outside. develop bad smell too🙄.... It was fun for a while... I learned not to go fast in descent to avoid that fast air cooling me down too much then when it come the flat road with no wind, i start sweating badly. So i learned the go 20 Km/h or less in descent to avoid air cooling me excessively, then go slow all the way to sweat less. My road bike is nervous ,fast but i sweat less.

[@28decdesigns46]

I have a mountain bike and I commute with it everyday. I love it more on a rough terrain. That’s the fun… it’s not too fast, but if you understand the gear system, you will know when and where to use certain gears…. I love MB… the interesting thing about MB is that you can ride it anywhere…

[@GreenChilliD]

I just finished setting up my Mtb for commuting. There are a few things to add on, like lights and a seat bag but the main change I made to my bike was to move from knobby tires to hybrid/slick tires. Kenda Kross tires was my choice. I almost went with Kenda Fat Slicks. But since my city has a lot of gravel alleys and trails I went with the Kross.

[@guandasin3099]

Hey man! Great content you got there, as mentioned by some other guy below, the delivery was smooth and casual, easy to listen to 🤙 very nice. I also use a Mountain Bike to get around the city faster, it is true though that you are a lot slower. You can get it upgraded for example a 3x7 to 3x10 speed. But I guess for me personally, the downside is that it is a lot slower than a roadbike. But hey, you can ride through anywhere with a mountain bike, all terrain! Haha. I've replaced the straight bars on my MTB to a Butterfly/Trekking Bars for comfort and various grip positions, so my arms can relax during long rides.

[@DanGleebowls]

I'm looking at getting a hardtail mountain bike for commuting (and leisure riding too) to complement my road bike, I do take my road bike across some grass and dirt sections which gets some looks for sure, but the added comfort will be a nice bonus

[@Bicycle2Work]

Sounds great!

[@juanpack8146]

Simple and straight forward.. very nice 👍🙂

[@paulocardenas2235]

I have a single speed Trek x-caliber and i commute to work 10 miles a day. It’s very relaxing and i love to ride!

[@Sherlock245]

Can you please please do a ride to work on a MTb and then compare that with a hybrid. How slow will it be how long it takes how much energy? Thanks! And tires mtb how long it last on the road?

[@velanrama]

I remember a similar video about an expat who works in Japan, cycling compared with RB vs MTB

[@Sherlock245]

@@velanrama its hard hard riding to work!!!!!!

[@velanrama]

Actually, the only real downside is need to park it outside, cannot fold it and bring it in office. This would help avoid environmental damage and from being stolen (especially if it is a new expensive bike).

[@chelsiejadexx6898]

You can get 26’ folding bikes, i have one and bring it into the dance studio with me, its stops it from being stolen

[@ghcheong]

I have a GT Backwoods cross country bike that I enjoy commuting with, as a beginner cyclist, I like how the mountain bike can accommodate the terrain should I overshoot a curve and ended up in a bit of grass/ mud. In terms of speed, of course, it's no where as fast as a light roadie, but still, I can pedal fast and hard on this thing and it will still go pretty quick.

[@Eduardo-vd8fo]

Best combo y mtb with tires that have a little of knobs and boom perfect balance between speed and grip and all the comfort of th mtb

[@jaredharris1970]

I have a mountain bike I commute on every day I prefer them because I live in a heavy traffic area and riding in the street isn’t the best idea so I’m always transitioning from street to sidewalk sidewalk to street to take short cuts over grass gravel uneven pavement and it’s full suspension so it can take pounding a road bike can’t

[@tjahangon7286]

I am commuting 50km on a daily basis with a hybrid bike. The tires are narrower than mountain bike but still wider than road bike.

[@fatman7100]

I my mountain bike commuter. Drawback is Community long distance puts stress on my wrist. Flat bars do not have many hand positioning options like that drop bar does.

[@BLUEARROW331GAMING]

I’ve been commuting back and forth to work on a bicycle for 3 years and I’ve used all different bikes. MTB is good if you want to take a different at route before or after work but I mainly use a road bike due to it being quicker. Pretty good video aswel

[@Saiarts_yt]

I was thinking about having to commute with my mountain bike for so long. The movie Premium Rush had encouraged me to commute with my bike and I have been dreaming it for so long. Unfortunately my mountain bike (downhill bike) is cheap, poor saddle, and weird noises on my (chain/pedal). I wish I had a bike like yours (trail bike). Taking shortcuts, riding in the places where foot is a accessible, and slowing down just to obey the traffic. Its my dream but with so much risks and damages I done to my bike, I really can't.

[@SmokeyVlogs]

i love mtb commute , everyday ! because i can go Anywhere :DD , one morning i was speeding along bumpy outer sections of our local airport :DD

[@turboseize]

I commute on a cheap rigid steel frame 1990s mountain bike. Paint is scratched, and saddle is ripped with foam showing through. Looks extremely ugly. But that is actually a good thing: it's so undesirable that nobody in his right mind would bother breaking the lock and stealing it. Also, it was cheap - 50€ for the bike and about 300€ in maintenance, tyres and parts (cassette, chain) over the course of 12 years that I have had it. All this means I can leave it anywhere without having to worry about it being stolen. I run Schwalbe Marathon plus MTB tyres - for two reasons: 1st, as part of the Marathon plus range, they are nearly indestructible, both in regards to punctures and wear. I currently have abozt 7 or 8 thousand km on them and wear is hardly noticeable. 2nd, the have a smooth centre strip, which means they roll relatively decent. Thy are heav AF, and you definitely will notice that when accelerating, but that's the price you have to pay for the puncture portection. Still reasonably knobby thread on the sides of the tread, so enough traction for gravel roads and even a muddy patch on a mild single trail. The only real drawback is that the super wear-resistant compound isn't the best gripping in the wet. Leaning knobby tyres on tarmac can be tricky, and if you add in weak wet grip, you may be up for a nasty surprise! That is, if you grew up on road bikes or have been riding motorycles and your understand if cornering is to get the inside knee as low to the floor as possible... If you are more sensible, the Schwalbe Marathon MTB are probably fine. There are two things that I don't like about my commuter mountain bike: 1) cantilever brakes are bad. There's a reason nobody is building these any more. Especially in the wet, cantilever brakes are no fun. 2) I have yet to find fenders that fit. A bike without fenders on a wet road surface is not very pleasant. With knobby tyres, the suck factor increases exponentially. The coarser the tread pattern of the tyre, the more mud, grime, dirt, and water they kick up. If there is the slightest chance that your commuting route sees a single drop of rain, get fenders. To summarize: PRO cheap, expendable, low risk of theft; wide puncture proof tyres easily deal with any surface, including potholes, unpaved roads, broken beer bottles etc. CONTRA: slower (but on the brightside, switching to the road bike on weekends feels like flying); knobby tyres kick up more water and dirt, so fenders even more desirable than with any other bike.

[@jonathansolares6936]

Great conclusions! I´ve been commuting with a electric MTB and its amazing, is almost like a motorcycle, even better, true not that fast even with electric motor (2000W) but I can go everywhere with it and jump everything, defenitly better that any other bike

[@Bicycle2Work]

Well said!

[@Matt-px2ev]

i'm going to do some touring on my MTB

[@robhingston]

Over a 12 mile commute it’s only 9 minutes slower for me on a mountain bike vs my light racing bike... yes the mountain bike feels a little bit heavier on the legs and need longer recovery time, however it’s not much difference unless you’re some sort of professional rider you’re not going to notice a mess difference..

[@fredflintstone3757]

I still ride my 2011 specialized hardrock, ride it everywhere, even though my back gears are shot, need to fix that, but at least I can switch my front gears to get up hills

[@twotime88]

Perfect for LA roads which many feel like you are off roading anyways

[@HelloHello-ql6lj]

Hi Guys, I live in Australia. I am planning to ride a bike for fitness purpose. We have very well maintained bike paths which are cemented (paved) which is where I plan to ride. May be eventuality on road as well. I would like to ride upto 10 to 15 kms on the weekends. I have had a Merida D40 road bike which I didn't like as I found the tyres were too thin and I didn't feels to confident specially around the bends and sharp turns. Also missed the suspension as well. I am considering a Trek Dual sport 3 2021 Hybrid bike and a Marlin 7 mountain bike. I really like the Marlin 7 due to its 1x10 drive train and nice broad look. Have had some people say Hybrid is the right bike for my style of riding. Need your suggestion to take an informed decision. Thanks in advance 🙏.

[@mygconsultingyou]

I have a dual sport 2 and love it. Which did you get? It’s lighter, faster and still has suspension.

[@gabrielestrada575]

Norco Mountaineer customized as a commuter bike. Use it two or three times a week.

[@tegian732]

I tried both of them road and MTB overall i think MTB are the best you can get on rough terrains and smoth terrains its perfect because on a road bike you can only ride on roads but you can find like hybrid bikes that have a suspension on it for some rough terrains but its not for MTB sport but overall MTB is my favorite

[@Jz-en9pi]

We can also Mathew handlebar upright;)

[@eliherrera6030]

Definitely I love Mtb commute xx

[@CyprinusCarpioDiem]

Cutting through parks on a fixed gear is a pain in the thighs.....and calves.....and ass.......and back....and neck....and arms.......shit, maybe i should get a mtb too.

[@dionwillis6381]

I start bike commute this week on my Trek 3700 three series mountain bike in Las Vegas. I'm trying to face my fear riding in the street especially in Vegas. Also crossing through the strip is challenging. It's different for me adapting to taken over a lane in the street in Vegas. The drivers here have no respect for cyclists. I'm taken it one day at time. We need more bike lanes for busy streets.

[@Lilymomable]

Interesting. I've been using a Hybrid and i got so use to it. Love it. Great on distance, uphill. Light weigh. Etc etc. My husband bought me a mountain bike for use on a regular road. And i find it heavy, and the low bars. It's a 10 x 3. Any suggestions. I'm 60 yrs. Old.

[@MajorProblem1990]

MTB is very practical and durable. You can ride anyware.

[@RobBastien]

You said it...the most fun.

[@Yoggabe413]

What gear should I have it on? When I’m on a normal road?

[@tonydavis9185]

Liked and Subscribed

[@Bicycle2Work]

Thanks Tony! If you're hoping for a video on a particular aspect of bike commuting just let me know! I'm here to help and inspire others to get out there and start pedaling to work!

[@tonydavis9185]

@@Bicycle2Work this may sound unbelievable, but I too ride a full suspension 26MTB about 20 miles a day on the back roads/asphalt just for turtles and bliss. But this weekend I took my first commuter to the ALDI, only about 15 miles round trip, but it was totally gnarly riding on the sidewalk, bumbs, trees, dogs, it was a adventure, and the full suspension, nimble tires, and extra frame weight made the 1% downhill return totally rad. But seriously I would like to see a comparison in handling between the 26MTB/Commuter and a fullly blown 26MTB/Gravel bike conversion costing less than 33 clams. Or you could just borrow a 700c/Road bike from the local bike shop and run it across that rocking road, through the wet grass and off that monster hill just to scientifically compare the two bikes equally.

[@gabrielsummerfield3182]

0:30 ocean?

[@Chaos.Kraken]

Tires and handlebars can easily be switched out if you're primarily using a mountain bike as a commuter bike

[@megatahmadmegatibrahim122]

Haha! Long time im in dilema a nother mtb rb gb and hyb or bmx fix🤣

[@BlackWolfessUSCM]

I live in the middle of an area with 3 state parks. The only way to commute around my county is mountain bike!

[@ifanhanitriono7949]

What size of tyre on your bike?

[@ApocaIypse666]

I really envy your big ass frame in my country one size fits all and I'm 5"11 I'm stuck at 17" frames

[@azmainearian7865]

ITS SO FRICKING COMFORTABLE

[@JeffErnst4]

I ride my mountain bike to work everyday. I hate every moment of it. Those pesky road bikers always yelling "left!" as they pass me quickly with their skinny tires. I just want to feel like I fit in. maybe one day I'll be able to afford a beautiful, superior road bike.

[@Bicycle2Work]

hahaha. maybe one day you'll become part of the elite road biking crew. :P

[@DinnerForkTongue]

I just train harder to keep up with them. The vast majority of road bikers where I live are posers that are only kinda fast because their road bikes are a crutch.

[@Crusty666]

Tell them roadies where to go. They should not spoil it fun

[@debbiepeter112]

@@Crusty666 well said. They have no right. I have a hybrid and can easily keep up with road bikes

[@allanmoral3867]

No need for haste. I put premium on safety first. We commute by bike to work because we think it is better than driving a car and for the main purpose of staying fit. Racing is another thing and for another day.

[@rnp497]

So glad you confirmed that it is possible to ride a MTB to work

[@TheRealGOTdurrrred]

I ride a mountain bike wherever I go. It's scary because I live in Boise Idaho which has the second worst drivers in USA.

[@spiceyfruit]

Lol "I survived" I use to commute on a mountain bike until It got stolen😪

[@philnightjar1971]

I used to walk to work till some guy sold me a bike with decent specs dirt cheap.

[@bhaskar2ndacc230]

Your MTB looks nice for commuting. It looks like it's a Mountain Commuter Bike.

[@madcapper6]

How tall are you? Just curious because I have an XL which is a bigger frame than recommended for me at a little over 5-9. I got no standover clearance to spare but the bike feels fine when I'm riding it. Cool seeing people riding the old school bikes. Is that a 2001 model 4900? I just recently acquired a 2000 trek mountain bike, an 8500. Bike's in pretty good shape too and got a good deal on it. I ride it about 90% of the time and ride my 2017 Cannondale (the XL one) about 10%. The Trek is lighter and faster, even with the 26" wheels.

[@michaelmcclure3383]

I got a ten year old 26" XL mountain bike, I'm 184cm.. so I'm really a large and so are you think. I got it from a friend who is 6'2, i have no space re stand-over height and the seat is set pretty low haha.. but it goes alright and its fun to ride. I'm trying to set it up as a general purpose bike, since i have a more trail ready bike as well (2020 trek roscoe 7).. i think the first tning i have to do is maybe change the continental race king tyres... they're super knobly tyres meant more for mud and wet weather.. they make a sound like frying bacon on paved surfaces haha.. Or maybe ill see how they go in the wet first.. I'm in Australia and its just hit autumn here. They might offer a fair amount of traction... i think the 26" wheels can be quick on the takeoff and tend to be pretty nimble, pretty sure its the tyres that are stodgy. What tyres are you running?

[@madcapper6]

@@michaelmcclure3383 Right now I'm mainly commuting on it, a lot of street riding/urban assault so I have a pair of Ritchey Tom Slicks on it right now. Gonna be looking for some tires for some moderate trail riding this summer though. The Race Kings are one tire I was looking at. Would you recommend them, or something different?

[@madcapper6]

@@michaelmcclure3383 Actually I was referring to the 2000 Trek that's got the 'Slicks. I sold the XL, which was a 2017 Cannondale Trail 3. Been thinking about getting a more trail-ready bike like your Roscoe, or maybe a Vitus hardtail but not sure. The Trek I think would hold up pretty well on the trails despite its age but it's got kinda vintage geometry and all stock parts still, including a longer stem. But it's great for commuting. Slap some knobby tires on it and it's ready to rip. Even got the original SID Air fork on it that's got some life left in it.

[@michaelmcclure3383]

@@madcapper6the race kings are great tyres if you're on gravel and dirt. They plow through that really quick. They might sound like cooking bacon on paved surfaces, but I think they're a very good general use tyre I guess you dont just want to be riding on trails with the bike. So they'd be a great option for trail and urban. Very fun.

[@michaelmcclure3383]

@@madcapper6 a friend of mine recently pulled a vintage specialized rockhopper out of a bin Haha I couldn't believe it. It's in terrific condition I'm gonna ask for a ride. Totally vintage geometry but it's a really nice bike!

[@jojonoel289]

🙂

[@weesamexpress6730]

Roads closed? No problem, I'm on a mountain bike *Proceeds to carry the bike over the barrier and ride the broken road like a trail*

[@nj4144]

Teach us how to ride

[@hukchone4521]

Thanks a lot Im thinking of what to buy Now i know A beautiful mountain bike

[@sammywilliam8156]

Did the outfits forget that mountain bikes are basically the SUV version of a bike

[@mustardtoast8328]

dude how old is that bike??

[@rmika9229]

Can skip traffic lights by going on footpath hah and way more fun than driving

[@topofthegreen]

Well, my inner child is correct, mountain bikes are more fun.

[@rabsaque]

i f you live in LATAM a MTB for commuting is a must too mant different terrains not even a gravel bike can do it actually MTB commuting in Lima where i live is the rule. here you are the weirdo if you ise a gravel or route one jajaja.

[@frog382]

I basically dont see a trail bike as a real mountain bike... Once you try full sus, all other is just a shit for road :D