06-29-2012, 09:52 AM
The mountain bike should be fine for you, since your countryside looks more like Holland than anywhere else in the province 
Get some slick tires for less rolling-resistance, unless you're planning on off road adventures.
When I lived in Guelph, I had a 5 km uphill-both-ways ride to and from school... through the river valley. Those big fat tires were a pain to push up any sort of hill, so I got a hybrid - beefier frame and rims than a road bike, but taller and narrower than a mountain bike. It's been a good compromise.
That said, going from the road bike to the mountain bike was like jumping from a go-kart to an old El Dorado. The mountain bike will give you a soft, plush ride, it's just less efficient rolling on the road.
As far as new/used goes, if you're not handy and are going to pay someone to tune-up your Kijiji find, you may be better off going to a bike shop and buying a trade-in.
IIRC, Tetters is a bit of a bike-head, he may have some good advice for you.
Whatever your choice, good on you for getting out there!
Get some slick tires for less rolling-resistance, unless you're planning on off road adventures.
When I lived in Guelph, I had a 5 km uphill-both-ways ride to and from school... through the river valley. Those big fat tires were a pain to push up any sort of hill, so I got a hybrid - beefier frame and rims than a road bike, but taller and narrower than a mountain bike. It's been a good compromise.
That said, going from the road bike to the mountain bike was like jumping from a go-kart to an old El Dorado. The mountain bike will give you a soft, plush ride, it's just less efficient rolling on the road.
As far as new/used goes, if you're not handy and are going to pay someone to tune-up your Kijiji find, you may be better off going to a bike shop and buying a trade-in.
IIRC, Tetters is a bit of a bike-head, he may have some good advice for you.
Whatever your choice, good on you for getting out there!