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coremac
October 6th, 2011, 01:59 AM
In order to have a single bike for both the road commute to work, as well as all-terrain, but not necessarily technical, trail riding, would it be better to A) Put a flat handle bar on a Felt Breed (http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2012/Cyclo-X/Cy/BREED.aspx), or B) Put skinny tires and and a larger crank on a Monocog (http://www.redlinebicycles.com/bikes/mtb/2012-monocog-flight-29er) or something similar?
Longshanks
October 6th, 2011, 10:42 AM
It kind of sounds like you'd be trying to make the Monocog into a cross bike, so I'd just go with the cross bike with the flat bar. IMHO.
TheSlav
October 6th, 2011, 01:09 PM
I would agree. Go with the cross bike but instead of a flat bar go with some dirt drop's like the On One Midge. More control off road than standard drops but you still get the hand positions for commuting.
ne_dan
October 7th, 2011, 08:14 AM
If you alreay have the Monocog you could just get some WTB Vulpines, or any other semi slick or fast rolling tire like the Crossmark.
fixed
October 9th, 2011, 10:59 PM
How long is your commute? How much of a hurry are you in to get to work?

Personally I like fenders for commuting. The best all-rounder that will take fenders and or bigger tyres is the Surly cross-check?

But if your commute is short then an MTB would be more tempting. This might lead you to thinking about some gears.
coremac
October 10th, 2011, 12:10 AM
How long is your commute? How much of a hurry are you in to get to work?

Morning commute is 4 miles from Dorchester to BU end of Boston, mostly up mass ave and park drive, usually done in 25 minutes with a 42/16 gear.

Night commute has been 10 miles of riverway, Jamaicaway, arboretum, and Franklin park with connecting roads, although as its gotten darker earlier I've had to start dropping off the later trails until I get a brighter headlight. I really like the higher gearing of non-MTB, but also like wide handle bars and wide, but not knobby tires, of CX bike.
fixed
October 10th, 2011, 11:01 PM
10 miles or road/mixed terrain on a SS MTB sounds like daily torture/boredom.

I like my fixed gear kinda cross bikes for those kind of commutes. I had a cross-check and regret selling it. I have something similar, but fancier. Being able to run big tyres and full fenders makes commuting much more pleasant.

Here is an older picture of mine:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2775/4383717840_b302d9270e_b.jpg