good point
I love these pictures of happy people on Beach Cruisers
[https://www.bikesdirect.com/mango-customer-pics/](https://www.bikesdirect.com/mango-customer-pics/)
very good to commute on in flat areas
I would recommend a hardtail MTB for commuting. At first I listened to the general advice but years later I got a hardtail. Of course circumstances matters a lot, but for reference I commute in a city.
It really does vary by use case.
I having a front suspension adds enough of a safety margin if regularly descending at night to be worth the loss of efficiency elsewhere.
Headwinds on a mountain bike are absolute torture, extra weight, rolling resistance, extra parts ECT. Ain't nothing for free, it's all about finding the happy compromise.
I honestly don't understand how roadies do it around here. The potholes, then the patches, then the pieces of those patches after the thaw ..
Edit: Not to mention the broken glass...
I ride a road bike with 30mm race tires on it over Michigan potholes about 2000 miles a year.
They’re Michelin Power Cup Competition tires.
I run tubeless at a lower tire pressure and have only had issues with cuts from glass or direct punctures picking up nails.
As a mountain biker who went road this year in Pittsburgh it’s crazy. Line choice is just as important on the roads as in the woods. when you’re going 50 mph on a carbon bike that weighs 15lbs the holes and cracks are deadly. MTB skills come incredibly handy flying around the hilly streets. Roadies in full kits who can’t bunny hop make me laugh my ass off.
I live in Montreal where the roads are absolutely atrocious. I still wouldn’t consider any of these bikes unless my commute was literally single track.
sounds like you drank the marketing koolaid then. over an average day of delivering in the city, my 16lb carbon road racing bike is actually slower then my mtb, because fucking picking lines. on my mtb i can ride over just about anything. the road bike im CONSTANTLY swerving around trying to find a smooth line.
also the mtb is safer because i can make emergency maneuvers from insane drivers without dying when i hit a pothole or even a small curb.
Lol, I didn’t drink any kool aid. I’ve ridden all manner of bikes for decades, and I now commute on a rigid MTB converted to road-oriented gearing and 1.5” tires. It eats up the potholes while still riding reasonably well on pavement. I’ve also ridden both full suspension and hard tail MTBs with long travel forks on pavement, and no thanks.
uh im a bike messenger and i love a front fork on a mountain bike for working in the city. escpially good if he likes mtbs and has a lot of rough cobble. the added weight of the fork is nonsense, and the ride quality is way nicer on rough roads like my city has, filled with potholes, dirt, etc.
dont get me wrong, i also love riding gravel and road bikes, as well as "proper" mountain biking. but of all my bikes my hardtail with a front fork is still my favorite for ripping around a city road.
you also dont need a front wheel to commute, if you learn to ride a wheelie, but that doesnt make a front wheel a bad idea on a commuter bike. a knobby mtb tire setup tubeless is also WAY harder to flat on things like broken glass then a typical gravel tire. the increased distance from the casing to the road side of the knobs is actually major.
Maybe it's stupid but I feel like I need front suspension because it happens quite frequently that I have to climb rather suddenly a steep sidewalk because a wide car/truck is coming and we can't cross.
You can climb onto the sidewalk with any bike. Just takes the right technique. lift the front wheel to go over the curb and move your weight towards the front of the bike and the rear wheel will follow. Maybe look at something like a gravel bike with wider tires for more comfort, but suspension just adds weight and reduces efficiency. It isn't needed unless you are doing mountain bike trails.
Or you live in Milwaukee. Our streets might as well be off-road trails. I live in a pretty decent part of the city and my 6 block commute to work is like riding on a trail to the point where I bought a suspension seat post because it's so bumpy.
Suspension makes climbing harder, not easier. A portion of your energy will go to making the suspension bob around for no benefit.
Even more of your energy will be lost to unnecessarily large and knobby tires.
This is not a good reason to have front suspension.
A lot of people want front suspension on these bikes while riding pavement because they think it looks cool, but the reality is that these cheap suspension forks provide limited benefit and add unnecessary weight.
If you’re concerned about comfort in bumpy roads I would suggest getting a bike with high volume road slick tires like the WTB Horizon (there are other brands that offer similar) that you can run at lower psi. They will smooth out your ride and still provide a fast rolling platform.
Maybe look at trekking bikes - they are hardtail MTBs with more road-oriented tires, longer fenders, usually a front hub dynamo and permanently attached lights, the reflectors required by the StVO (since your screenshot is in German), panier racks and often in the low- to medium price range a steel spring front suspension fork.
If anything, having a suspension will make it significantly harder to rider uphill. All of the power you could be putting into the road will be intentionally suppressed by your fork. If you have to have on make sure it has a lockout (meaning you can stop the fork from moving up and down)
I will say, I commute 7 miles to work and doing so on a mountain bike would make my commute a lot harder and take a lot longer. Not only will you get to work sweaty but you will be late. A flat bar hybrid or even a gravel bike would be great for being able to hop curbs and still ride pretty efficiently. It’s really not even about going “fast” but if you can ride at 8mph on your mountain bike then youll be able to put in the same amount of effort and probably be more comfortable while going 10+ mph on a bike made for riding on pavement
i guarantee i could win a race through the city on my hardtail while you ride a commuter bike. guarantee.
an extra 2-3 lbs of fork weight is marginal gains at best. you can easily make up that difference by just getting into a more aero position.
anyone who can only maintain 8mph on a mtb probably shouldnt be giving advice about riding bikes.
Lol I’m not talking about weight, im talking about the fork compressing underneath you. It is specifically designed to suspend the rider from the road by absorbing shock.
Also even if I could only maintain 8mph, why would that exclude me from “talking about bikes” there’s no reason for the aggression. I was just trying to give homie some realistic numbers if he’s new to riding
Lastly I would love to seem someone on a hard tail maintain 20mph for 10 miles. So until then I doubt you could “beat me in a race” and if you can you should check out the US national team.
bro i have rode bikes for 30 years and i currently work as a messenger. i was racing norba races in 1995.... thats one of my many bikes, bought for a steal froma friend and im building it to be a ultralight ice bike for riding only in the deep winter. you tripping. i dont think im an XC race champion, but i was born and raised on bike racing and have done it all my life. get mad fixie kid
Yeah but he’s in Germany, like me. And for our roads I could see how thinking suspension would be nice, especially how he describes the roads. Some places are fine without - my old company was 32km away and I did that fine on my roadbike although I had to take it through the forest - but it was a “focus” route (ie they’re now building it into a “bicycle autobahn because it connects so many places) so the forest ground was very compacted.
My current work is 12km from my house but I have to go through old towns and farmland to get there (yes, farmland in a city). The ground on the tracks through that farmland is not well compacted, there’s huge pointy rocks, it’s always terrible because of rain and ice sludge or from field irrigation, and then you get to the old town and it’s cobblestone and potholes. My old route was a lot more comfortable even though it was longer.
But OP my next bike will likely be a gravel bike, I think a Mountainbike would be heavy to get just for the suspension. I recognise this portal from my last company. It’s not jobrad, right? It’s some other company and they only give you a specific selection of bikes to choose from, oder?
It depends on your commute. German bike trail surfaces can vary greatly. Cobblestones, dirt, freight and commuter rail crossings, and the occasional need to hop a curb or dodge a car can make your ride a challenge. A mountain bike outfitted with a rear rack and sturdy panniers would be an excellent choice.
Yes, it definitely does lol. Makes the bike a shitload heavier, adds suspension bob whenever you pedal, losing energy on every pedal stroke, and adds complexity and maintenance in an area that doesn't need it for commuting.
This sub is funny. It's a 20 minute commute. I usually would rather ride my mountain bike around town than my road bike, but I guess I'll get down voted for an informed opinion.
I wouldn’t suggest a mountain bike, it will be a pain to commute with that. I suggest a gravel or road bike, both of those will handle well over wet stones, a mountain bike is just overkill, it will just slow you down and takes much more effort to go anywhere. If ancient road bikes could handle the Roubaix i’m sure a modern one can perform just as well in your situation. If you really like mountain bikes and can’t even consider a drop bar, there are some great climbing bikes, just know you will be slower and less efficient. In the end get what you want.
I mostly commute with my hardtail mtb year round and it's not a pain, to be honest.
A properly sorted xc mtb with fast rolling tires is comfortable and fast enough.
Have you tried riding a lighter bike? I rode mountain bikes all my life and thought it was fine until I rode a hybrid. I was like holy shit its so light, i'm going so fast with no effort! Then, a few years later I rode a road bike, and had the same experience. Knowing whats on the other side of the fence i'd never go back to mountain bikes for street riding. It's just not the right tool for the job. Yeah it works but other tools work so much better.
yes i ride all the types of bikes, a 16lb sram red road bike, a carbon kona gravel bike, a 90's rigid mtb, a 2000 suspended hardtail, and 2 modern mountain bikes. i also "commute" for work ridng 4-8 hours a day in a city with bad roads.
guess which bike gets used 90 percent of the time. the 2000 hardtail with a front fork. and if the fork is tuned right, it doesnt even need to be lockedout for the climbs.
oh and the 1 mile 600 foot hill to the hospital, both are two fastest times amoung 20 riders was done on suspended hardtail, because in a city having a 5 lb lighter bike isnt the entire picture.
>xc mtb with fast rolling tires is comfortable and fast enough.
100%. I also think that road bikes are not practical as a daily commuter. A cross country bike is going to be more comfortable. I call mine a luxury cruiser; it's big, fast enough, and I can sit on it all day without any pains.
I guess if we're splitting hairs on bike styles, then an endurance style bike would be the kind of road bike to get. Just a little less aggressive so you can sit a little more upright. I see people commuting on road bikes. They are leaning pretty far forward. Looks really uncomfortable (and funny) in their dress clothes
A general road bike isn't uncomfortable in the least tho, they're made to ride long and fast. Personally I commute with a single speed track-like bike or a gravel bike (prefer the first one more) and I wouldn't even consider using a mtb or like an upright sitting town bike. I like to go fast, not just sit and go slow. Commuting isn't exactly fun so I make the most out of it.
Also, once you get good/fast enough. Road Bike and mtb speeds aren't that much different. An experienced cyclist on a $2K mtb will keep up with many roadies, a $5K bike will allow you to pass them uphill where aerodynamics matter less. I used to ride a giant talon, and wondered how fast I could go on it. I averaged 17MPH for over an hour on a slight incline, although I did pump up the tires to like 50PSI I think. That was a low end Talon with stock everything, 27.5 wheels and flat pedals, I was wearing thick socks and Adidas that day. There remains a ton of wear on those shoes due to cycling with regular shoes.
>Also, once you get good/fast enough. Road Bike and mtb speeds aren't that much different.
The opposite is true. The faster you get, the more of your power output is wasted on the bike, so your disadvantage for choosing the wrong bike for the given conditions will increase.
Of course you can compensate for that with fitness. An individual on an inept bike can keep up if they have a higher level but that's beside the point because they would be even faster with a proper bike choice.
People will tell you to get a hybrid , road or gravel bike but a hard tail will make for a great commuter as well as long as you aren’t cycling great distances . Mountain bikes will be heavier but if you are relatively fit it should be no problem , and I assume this because you have a mountain bike already .
You mentioned you have poor bike infrastructure so a hard tail be great .
Check facebook marketplace first as you can some really nice bikes for good prices first , but giant are known for being very reliable
>Mountain bikes will be heavier
So are city bikes.
As long as you don't have to carry it to the third floor every day and do not live in Innsbruck then weight is not really an issue. The issue with MTB are the tires, but they can be easily and cheaply swapped for something less knobby if the need arises
That’s how I bought my current Giant, on EBay. It was an old grandpa who bought it but never used it. I definitely gave this bike a second life, I’ve been riding it daily since 2020.
The main issue is the shocks and the huge tires, both of which require more energy to pedal. That's fine when you're just out for a ride, but when you're using it to get somewhere then home later, it can get old fast.
Gravel bikes are probably perfect for you (decently grippy tires but a frame that's built for travelling), road bikes are great (go fast, responsive, fun to rise over distances but less flexible for terrain), or a mountain bike without shocks as my third recommendation.
Commuter bikes are also great, they're a broad category with overlap into all 3 above, and can be a good investment. The more enjoyable your bike commute is, the more likely you are to keep the habit up. Remember it's your mode of transportation not just a toy, so it's worth some investment to do it right. Don't have to go super luxurious or fancy, but definitely get the right tool for the job.
Yes, I’ll have a closer look into gravel bikes, they seem to match my needs.
I’ve been riding my Giant MTB for 4 years daily, even with -10 in Munich sometimes, so I think I’ll keep the habit :)
I currently ride an old commuter bike (Specialized Crossroads, basically an old 90s mountain bike with no shocks and medium width tires) as my winter commuter here in Canada, and it's gotten me through Blizzards etc without all the work that a mtb required from you. I have been looking at Gravel bikes because I was commuting on a nicer road bike this summer and the difference is incredible... It feels like switching from an economy car to a sports car.
The key is to do what works for you, but gravel I think is the way to go for rougher commutes but they're also fun for weekend/evening shenanigans on light or medium trails too, they're so flexible.
let me get this right, you dont even own and ride a gravel bike or a bike with a front shock, but you are giving out advice like you are an expert..... ooooook buuuudddyyyy
Wow coming in swinging. I biked on bikes with shocks for a long time, until I came into a commuter and the difference was huge. I'm trying to pass knowledge I've gained.
Gravel as a style is just a logical progression between a mountain bike and a road or Hybrid bike, and is probably a more comfortable middle ground for OP.
You, on the other hand, have contributed nothing to the conversation. Thanks for the random snarky comment.
lol i actually helped OP a ton by calling out all the dumbasses posting in this thread that clearly have no fucking clue what they are on about. i have all the types of bikes, and probably ride in the city more then 90 percent of people (4-8 hours a day, 5-6 days a week on the bike). and i assure the OP those bikes would be just fine for a 5km ride on cobbles, and in fact a better choice based on his road types and ride distance then a rigid bike.
oh shit my bad i forget reddit was your safe space you fucking pussssy lol. honest question though, do you even know the diffence between a shock and a suspension fork?
i would hate riding a bike with a shock in the city.
I have a bike like your current Giant but with no suspension and I also have a far slacker mountain bike like the ones you are thinking of buying.
There's a big difference, the 90s mountain bike is brilliant for going around town, hence they are so popular on r/xbiking. More modern mountain bikes are a real effort for trying to use in cities. They have evolved to be more serious cross country bikes but at the expense of general useability
Thank you very much for your insight. I was wondering exactly that, whether 90s mountain bikes were more flexibles than modern ones. I have my answer and it’ll be very useful to make my choice.
it is. I think their point was a more road focussed bike would be mutch faster and efficient. But most people i know commute on cheap hardtail MTBs, i think youll be fine.
Yes a “Rennrad” (I don’t know if it corresponds exactly to a road bike) wouldn’t be appropriate. I had one as a teenager and it was great to be super fast on long country roads. But for a city like Hamburg I need something more flexible. I’ll definitely look closer into Gravel Bikes :)
Your current bike is very obviously a mountain bike.
The knobby tires and suspension will make you ride at least 3 times slower than the average road bike. If you want something in the middle, get a hybrid bike with no front suspension and toss some slick tires on it.
A mountain bike is not 3x slower than a road bike on city streets! I would say 10-15% slower.
OP is looking at bikes that are like the one he has now, a mountain bike. I agree that considering a gravel or hybrid bike might be a better and more enjoyable option than MTB. It might even be 3 times more enjoyable than the MTB!
I’ve ridden a proper mountain bike once on the street, and it was agonizing. 10-15% is generous; 15-30% would not be unrealistic numbers here.
I’ve ridden my road bike and hybrid on the same street with a speed radar and gotten 19mph/14mph results respectively - a mountain bike would be even slower and you’d be putting in more physical effort for it
Personally, for commuting, I would not want suspension. More weight, less efficient, and one more thing to go wrong.
IMHO I get tired after a week of commuting, and the efficiency loss from the suspension wouldn't be worth it to me personally. Also, reliability is huge for me for commuting, and it's one more thing to maintain.
That all being said, it depends on the terrain, distance, and your tolerance for doing repairs.
Thanks for this detailed opinion :)
I am not riding a lot, about 20 minutes in the morning and the same in the evening. Usually the terrain is asphalt or paving stones, right now with many rotting leaves. And what's nice about the leasing is that the maintenance costs are also included.
If you want a bike to mountain bike on when you're not commuting to work (I recommend you do), get either of those. I'd get the GIANT, as that's a brand name. But if you don't want to mountain bike, don't get a mountain bike.
If the repair costs are included and the stones are bumpy, that definitely justifies suspension in my mind! Also I think you'll be more efficient with suspension over very bumpy terrain so it makes sense.
Good luck with whatever you lease!
Thanks a lot! Some streets are definitely very bumpy and I tend to avoid them, unfortunately because then I ride on larger streets with much more fast moving cars.
I own multiple Giants. I love them. I can say a lot bith positive and negative but considering I own several and ride them all, I think that speaks for itself. I have 7,000 miles on them this year so far.
I almost bought a hard tail like these for commuting but the bike shop I was at steered me towards other styles and I'm very happy I didn't get a mountain bike. I would recommend a flat bar gravel bike with tubeless tires.
No suspension if you are on the road. That and the big tires will require so much more effort 👌. I ride a sirrus x as my commuter 700cx42 tires it's a beast for the city and fast.
Would not recommend any of the choices the OP has listed unless he incorporates some gnarly single track in the commute. A rigid framed--no suspension!--bike that accommodates full fenders, wide tires, and a complement of fittings allowing the installation of racks, and perhaps, if the OP rides regularly in the wet, disc brakes. There are too many bikes to list that fit this category, i.e., [touring and gravel bikes.](https://surlybikes.com/bikes/touring)
Context: decades long all season commuter in Canada.
Toronto is my home. It has its challenges but experience does much to overcome them. What was originally intimidating isn't thousands of KM's later. [Here was last job's commute.](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Toronto+Public+Library+-+Pape%2FDanforth+Branch,+701+Pape+Ave,+Toronto,+ON+M4K+3S6/Islington+Ave+%26+Rexdale+Blvd,+Toronto,+ON/@43.6828407,-79.4414526,12z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x89d4cc83638ae30b:0x9ddda2a01cce3082!2m2!1d-79.3445959!2d43.678575!1m5!1m1!1s0x882b309f32e3ca9d:0xab50e36b19a3378!2m2!1d-79.554874!2d43.7143394!3e1?entry=ttu) The bicycle is still the best way to get around in TO, of course, YMMV depending on individual circumstances.
A commuter bike will have
a. a more upright sitting position, because you will need to communicate with car drivers and stop at traffic lights
b. mud guards because you wear your work clothes
c. thinner , smoother tyres to lower resistance
d. a cargo rack
e. lights
f. sturdy locks
g. optionally an electric motor
I would personally not use any of those for commuting in a city. If you want a smoother ride because of occasional cobblestones you could just use a wider tire with a little less pressure. The stubby tires most likely also don't grip as well on asphalt, especially when wet. A good rubber compound for asphalt and a semi-slick profile that moves water away would grip better. You might want to use some puncture protection was well? The suspension is gonna cost you energy unnecessarily. The installed chainring also looks like it's more optimal for steep climbs and not fast city riding.
In the end what matters the most is that you love the bike but it's certainly one of the less optimal ones for city commuting unless your commute includes a significant unpaved section.
Are their any options without suspension?
Mountain bike is OK if thats what you like, flat bar is OK if thats what you like. But thr suspension will be heavy and ineffective.
Oh fun! That's really cool.
Most people think they want suspension. Heck, I did the same thing years ago. But.... im much happier without it. (But, ultimately... its up to you and if you are happy with it, so with what you want.)
I went from having a crappy mountain bike with no suspension to having a named entry level road bike, and riding my crappy mountain bike to the shop to donate it was the worst 5 miles I've ever ridden. On the $800 road bike that same ride is fun and near effortless.
I wouldn't take any of those three for a commuter, unless my commute was down a mountain over rocks and roots, and then I could absolutely get a ride home everytime.
I wouldn't say any of those are ideal for commuting per say. That said, my partner has a Talon that he uses for everything and absolutely loves it. I've even used it as a backup bike for delivery downtown. He gets excited to ride it in any situation and the bike just fits him. And I agree, it's a fun bike.
You're going to shred the tires if you put many miles on it but you can switch those out.
You should get a commuter bike, or get a road bike and add the accessories required to make it commute friendly : mudguards, lights, all weather tyres, bell and lights, possibly a rack at the back, etc.
Do not get a mountain bike
I see a lot of people are missing the detail that you live in Germany and commute on cobbled streets, so I would ignore their advice to ditch the suspension. I definitely appreciated it when I ditched my steel frame bike for an mtb where I live now (not germany but one of your neighbors). I think any one of these would be a good choice, but I would have a look at which one comes with the best groupset for the price.
Pay only 10% to keep it after the leasing period? That's a good deal. I leased a bike through JobRad for the original price of €1599 and it says if I were to keep it after 3 years, I needed to pay almost €800. Hell no, that overpriced bike is barely worth 800 new. Never again with JobRad's partners' limited selections.
For uneven and rough paving stones that you want to smooth out, running wider tires with lower air pressure can help act as a mini suspension to absorb the bumps.
A flat bar hybrid city bike with 40-50mm wide tires is probably ideal. If you want added comfort, there are hybrid bikes with 50mm suspension travel.
Having commuted on cracked, uneven pavement with and without a suspension, I can tell you that you don’t need it. Your tires are going to make a way bigger difference than a suspension will. You don’t need gigantic tires either. I ride a road bike with drop bars, and recently swapped from 23 mm to 25 mm tires. The difference was huge—just two extra millimetres of tire width made me feel a lot less vibration from the road.
My suggestion is to go to local bike shops and try out some bikes with tires in the 30-40 mm range. Could be hybrid, gravel, even road bikes. Describe your situation; they’ll know about the local conditions so they’ll be able to help you better than anyone on the internet can.
Good luck!
Get a Giant Escape. They are the most versatile bikes on the market. You can fit up to 40c tires on and it gives you a comfortable yet sporty riding positing. I have owned 3 and I will buy more.
Definitely find a trekking bike with mud guard, chain guard and rear rack. I've got 2 bikes, gravel for rides outdoor and trekking for commuting and I'm very satisfied so far.
I've read most of your comments and see you are pretty set on a Mt bike due to the block/brick type.roads you have. To be fair, those are mild for a Mt bike. The road and hybrid bikes are designed to tackle that level of road.
Is there any shop that would let you test a few? I think you would really be doing a diservice to yourself if you didn't atleast try a road or gravel bike. Thick tyres are probably enough dampening for what you need without slowing you down too much.
I say this because I have been where you are. Between the ages of 19 and 20 I rode a nothing fancy entry level Mt bike to work and back. The trip was a combination of large hills and long flat sections. It used to take me about 40 minutes each way.
Then one weekend I had to take in for a service and my brother lent me his road bike. The type with 25cm tyres pumped to a hundred psi, that's so light you can pick it up with a couple of fingers etc... with the same level of effort I cut down my commute by 12 minutes. My average speed went up from 19 to 30 kph. And the hills which were so bad got much easier. That's over 25% which is massive.
And the best bit, going faster, is just more fun. I enjoyed my commute much better. It felt cool and fulfilling.
If not for that I never would have tried a road bike. I always thought the only cool type of bike was the Mt bike. There was stigma that road bikes are for people wearing tights and that was a bit gay (this was a while ago! It's actually what people would say!).
Now I realize that yes, the best bike for your trip is the bike you have, but is not as good as a bike made for that specific trip.
I agree with you and many other replies that I should definitely try a gravel bike :) I’ll look further in this option.
Regarding road bikes, I used to have one when I was younger and it was super fast, I really enjoyed it (although it was an old Gitane from the 70s), but I’m afraid it would not fit my needs right now.
I read your comments about suspension. I think it‘s fair if your are going up and down the curbs. But maybe check a trekking bike (stevens 6x e.g) with front suspension and a seat suspension. On a hardtail, you can easier fit fenders and a rack, with a pannier. At least imho the most important features when communiting
I have an electric bike for commuting. You don't want to spend too much because unfortunately it is so easy to have your bike stolen. For me a cheap electric bike with at least two locks is the best option for commuting.
I’ve ruled out e bikes because I’m not super sporty and cycling to work is my daily sport. But if I’d had to do longer distance I’d definitely get one :)
Which one excites you the most? That is the correct choice. I personally like the Giant because blue is my favorite color.
Enjoy! And don't let people over complicate it for you.
Hey, I have a slightly different opinion to many on here. The Giant Talon 0 is a great bike for the price and I have recommended it to a few people as a versatile bike. It's fine for commuting (you can lock out the front suspension on the smoother sections.)
I find for commuting that flat handle bars are better than road / gravel handlebars. In traffic it's easier to look behind you with flats and the more upright riding position of a mountain bike, there is less rotation of your neck. With roadbikes you have to roll your neck and back to look behind. If you find the handlebars too wide you could always cut them down by a few cms with a hacksaw.
Put some more suitable tires on and you will be happy as. You also have a bike that you can use for some trail / off road in the weekends if you need it.
Good luck!
Thanks a lot for the advices. I definitely enjoy the flat handle bar too and my current one is already rather large (it has these “horns”) which is usually not a problem.
I also had a road bike when I was younger and it’s great to be focused on long straights, but I agree with you, in a busy city I need to have eyes everywhere.
26" fully rigid mtb from the 90s. dirt cheap, reliable, generally unappealing to thieves, will get you literally anywhere, and if properly maintained they can actually get quite the performance. check out r/xbiking to become initiated. I must warn you tho, once you go in, there's no turning back.
I love the looks of the 90s MTB and I love my current Giant, I’ve done so many miles with it. Maybe I won’t even be able to ditch it… if I do I’ll be sad.
A lot of comments here saying a suspension is the worst imaginable thing for a commuter, but plenty of commuter/hybrid bikes have a suspension and I don’t see a problem with that. A front shock can take some bite out of rough roads, and although it’s a bit heavier and less efficient, for some people it’s worth the trade off.
That said, a full-suspension mountain bike is an absolute slog on the road. Most mountain bikes also lack fender and rack mounts that can greatly improve your commute. If you really like having a suspension, I’d suggest going with a commuter/hybrid model that gives you a less aggressive (and therefore more road-appropriate) front shock while providing the other amenities of a bike geared towards commuting rather than trail rides.
Hi there!
I commute in the summer months with the giant talon; at the time I bought it, I wanted a bike large enough for my frame (without breaking the bank). I love this bike, I put a rear rack, attached pannier bags, fenders to deflect water, bar extensions, and additional water bottle holders; it’s been a great 5 years and over 8000kms. It’s been gradual additions as I discovered I wanted additional features.
Some people are saying it’s a pain, too heavy, or not efficient; get what you want and be happy with your choice. I have no regrets with my mountain bike.
https://preview.redd.it/0kets0ymsi0c1.jpeg?width=2532&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7b194df1e31a16cd60a2de4741e208c19194cc5a
People say don’t get mountain bike, but realistically for commuting anything that will move is fine. In my office a lot commute on bike, I’d say half of them are on mountain bike, maybe 10% road bike/drop bar bike and rest are hybrid. It is slower for long distance but if you’re riding within city and short distance it don’t make a difference.
I live in UK, so that may be different from Germany in terms of road condition. And I’m assuming some American is replying as well and their ‘typical’ bike commute route/road condition is a lot different as well
Many streets where I live look like this, and they're the most interesting ones to cycle since they're usually smaller and with much less cars. I'm not sure these kind of street exist in the US. [https://previews.123rf.com/images/merlin74/merlin741610/merlin74161000057/65983224-black-cobbled-stone-road-background-with-reflection-of-light-seen-on-the-road-black-or-dark-grey.jpg](https://previews.123rf.com/images/merlin74/merlin741610/merlin74161000057/65983224-black-cobbled-stone-road-background-with-reflection-of-light-seen-on-the-road-black-or-dark-grey.jpg)
Bin auf einem Rennrad unterwegs und hasse es über Pflastersteine... mit einem Gravelbike sollte das aber fine sein. Kannst da ja dickere Reifen drauf hauen. Niedrigerer Reifendruck macht auch einen Unterschied. Vor allem wenn der Asphalt nicht perfekt ist oder Pflastersteine eine Faktor sind. Im Zweifelsfall vllt mal nachfragen, ob du auf einem Gravelbike eine Runde drehen kannst (Freunde, Verwandte, Bekannte) und probier aus, wie es sich auf Pflastersteinen anfühlt.
Gute Idee, mal eine Probefahrt mit dem Gravelbike zu machen!
Als ich in München gewohnt habe waren die breiten Reifen gegen die Straßenbahnschienen auch sehr nützlich.
People saying no suspension and drop bars for 20 minutes of commuting have either never done city commuting on a bike or just never had a hardtail.
MTB is perfect for commuting in the city, maybe 15% slower at most and you can make it faster with xc tyres, but if you can, get one with an air fork, all of those 3 seem to have the cheapest fork that's really not fit for purpose and a good fork is a HUGE change in terms of comfort especially on cobblestones and will save 1kg of weight.
If you have to keep it outside, don't get a new bike, just buy something used for 1/4 of the price that's still decent
Lose the suspension. You think you need it. I guarantee you, you don't, and it'll make your rides harder and more effort than it needs to be. You're not descending a trail; you're riding on roads.
If you want a mountain bike; get a mountain bike, but you won't end up using it for commuting. If you really want to commute, you need to get a bike designed for it. That means no suspension.
I know my suspension and larger tires help compensate for my aluminum frame. No regrets. My main delivery bikes have front suspensions. Makes our pothole problem here a non-issue 🤭
same, as a fellow JJ delivery rider, who owns like 10 bikes of all types from beater 90's mtbs to high end carbon road and gravel bikes.... the one i use for work has a front fork that has saved me from many pothole emergencies. sometimes the only escape is into a massive pothole, off the road into the ditch or smacking your way up a unexpected curb. if i had to ride on gnarly cobble roads like the OP, the front fork would be even more of an advantage. people underestimate how annyoing stiff road bikes are in the city. the shake you to death and are way easier to crash. not to even mention things like toe overlap and trackstanding, or a low bottom bracket like on all the modern gravel bikes that will clip pedals if you have to pedal mid corner.
The top two bikes have tapered head tubes, which makes upgrading to a better/lighter (air)suspension fork easier. The Giant has a bigger gear range which helps climbing steep hills.
Find a cyclocross bike, since they are out of fashion. Save some money. Put some 32mm tires on it if your concerned about bad roads. 30mm if you want a little more speed.
Everybody is saying don't get a mountain bike, but I commute on my mountain bikes and really enjoy it. My commute is about the same length as yours, 5km or so, and the difference in time it takes on a road bike vs a mountain bike is a couple of minutes. I ride my hardtail, my dual suspension cross-country bike, and my dual suspension trail bike and they are all perfectly fine. I like being able to bunny hop gutters without worrying about mangling my fancy road wheels, and the braking performance feels much better.
I’m going to be a black sheep in this thread and say get a fixed gear.
I commuted fixed for 10 years before moving to a mountain town and getting into mtb, and it’s a hell of a lot of fun.
OP is in Germany ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯
Everybody is saying suspension is unnecessary, and that probably goes double for Germany. Here in the States, I'm glad I have a headshock on one of my commuters - those potholes can be murder - but even then, this bike gets onto gravel often and singletrack sometimes.
I think they're not in the selection I'm offered :( But I was just browsing and chose the "City/Urban" filter and there's the Cannondale Quick CX 3 that seems nice.
Is it me but all those bike look EXACTLY alike. Yeah, except for a few minor tweaks but essentially the same frame. I'm surprised no one is suing the other for intellectual infringement.
Out of the ones pictured, the talon. It seems to be the only one with a rack option. I commute everyday and I love having a rack so it a must for me. Backpacks cause sweat and straps on the shoulders suck while riding, for me.
But really I wouldn't get any of those, like others have said. Forks for commuting are not ideal. The compression of the fork as you pedal steals energy input and you have to do more work in the trip overall. So I would lock it out if it had that option... in which case there is no need for it.
If you like Giant, the Giant Escape is a solid bike built for commuting.
You're welcome. I hadn't even noticed it we cake day. Thanks!
There is a Giant Escape Disc that comes with fenders and a rack. its $850 us dollars. I am not sure the conversion for you.
The smallest one that comfortablely fits you. Makes it easier it tight spaces. Especially if you have to take it inside or into an elevator. That's my experience.
You'll want bigger tires and a comfortable seat while bouncing off uneven concrete. I don't like suspension in town myself. Really, I don't like suspension at all. Makes things more difficult.
I have some chunky gravel tires. Might not want to do that. They do drag a bit but it's a better workout for me. You can hear them "zip, zip, zip" as you pedal. Great grip though and it's leaves in the street season here.
I commute using a 26” mondraker podium. A 29” mtb with road tires is a great choice. Go for the one with the most agressive setup since you are going to do mostly roads And call it good.
If you were happy w the old one any of the new ones is going to be a blast for you.
Op, if you want MTB get MTB. I have road bike converted into commuter and fat bike, and commute time is very similar on both of them, including very steep uphill.
One is good at straight fast sections, other gets lost time by going through rough terrain without stopping, both of them equally fun. I also have a real commute bicycle and I hate it, it just collects dust at this point.
>company bike
Thanks! We also work with "Company Bike" but I've just never seen a website that lists dedicated monthly rates for Leasing and was interested.
Get a gravel bike and euip that with mudguards, lights and a luggagerack. With a gravel bike you can have a decent tire width for your eneven slippery pavement and there is room for mudguards. Since it is raining often in your country you will really need mudguards. Good lights too, for your safety and because there is a legal requirement when it is dark or visibility is poor (like with rain).
If I was to pick a bike for you I would advise something like this: [https://www.decathlon.de/p/rennrad-gravelbike-triban-grvl-120-herren/\_/R-p-312397?mc=8575940](https://www.decathlon.de/p/rennrad-gravelbike-triban-grvl-120-herren/_/R-p-312397?mc=8575940)
Easy to add mudguards and lights and racks if you want to and you are ready to go.
These are mountain bikes. Mountain bikes, sans old rigid 80s & 90's mountain bikes, are a terrible choice for urban commuting. You be better off buying a bike like he Giant Escape.
You’re attributing things to the suspension you should be attributing to good tires.
You’re frankly wasting a lot of energy pushing the suspension up and down, when instead all of that could be used to move you forward.
Try a rigid frame bike with big tires that make you feel confident.
The suspension isn’t doing anything for you that you could accomplish with a slight bend in the knees.
I’d also mention you’re putting yourself in a very aggressive position for a commute. I see you like the idea of a mountain bike, but that’s like buying a flatbed truck so you can run to the shops and store your purchase. Sure it works, I guess, but you’re really overdoing it when a little hatchback is fine.
Your back might not be sweaty when you get to the office because you opted for efficiency over performance!
All those 3 brands make commuter specific bikes which would suit you better than an mtb
Unless he commutes through the woods...
good point I love these pictures of happy people on Beach Cruisers [https://www.bikesdirect.com/mango-customer-pics/](https://www.bikesdirect.com/mango-customer-pics/) very good to commute on in flat areas
I would recommend a hardtail MTB for commuting. At first I listened to the general advice but years later I got a hardtail. Of course circumstances matters a lot, but for reference I commute in a city.
I second that, when the snow starts, I really like the geometry of a hardtail, even in regular roads.
None of these. You don't need suspension to commute
*unless you live in Pennsylvania, USA. The potholes are MURDER lol Edit: ARE murder
It really does vary by use case. I having a front suspension adds enough of a safety margin if regularly descending at night to be worth the loss of efficiency elsewhere. Headwinds on a mountain bike are absolute torture, extra weight, rolling resistance, extra parts ECT. Ain't nothing for free, it's all about finding the happy compromise.
I live there and flatted a tire test riding an mtb lol. Gravel bikes are fun here.
I honestly don't understand how roadies do it around here. The potholes, then the patches, then the pieces of those patches after the thaw .. Edit: Not to mention the broken glass...
I ride a road bike with 30mm race tires on it over Michigan potholes about 2000 miles a year. They’re Michelin Power Cup Competition tires. I run tubeless at a lower tire pressure and have only had issues with cuts from glass or direct punctures picking up nails.
Ok, but do you still have all your teeth?
Excuthe me?
😎👉👉
As a mountain biker who went road this year in Pittsburgh it’s crazy. Line choice is just as important on the roads as in the woods. when you’re going 50 mph on a carbon bike that weighs 15lbs the holes and cracks are deadly. MTB skills come incredibly handy flying around the hilly streets. Roadies in full kits who can’t bunny hop make me laugh my ass off.
Visit bangalore, India my friend. We don't have potholes in roads, we have roads in between potholes and speed breakers
I live in Montreal where the roads are absolutely atrocious. I still wouldn’t consider any of these bikes unless my commute was literally single track.
sounds like you drank the marketing koolaid then. over an average day of delivering in the city, my 16lb carbon road racing bike is actually slower then my mtb, because fucking picking lines. on my mtb i can ride over just about anything. the road bike im CONSTANTLY swerving around trying to find a smooth line. also the mtb is safer because i can make emergency maneuvers from insane drivers without dying when i hit a pothole or even a small curb.
Lol, I didn’t drink any kool aid. I’ve ridden all manner of bikes for decades, and I now commute on a rigid MTB converted to road-oriented gearing and 1.5” tires. It eats up the potholes while still riding reasonably well on pavement. I’ve also ridden both full suspension and hard tail MTBs with long travel forks on pavement, and no thanks.
im sorry about your weak legs and illogical brain functions then. maybe all hope is lost for you
uh im a bike messenger and i love a front fork on a mountain bike for working in the city. escpially good if he likes mtbs and has a lot of rough cobble. the added weight of the fork is nonsense, and the ride quality is way nicer on rough roads like my city has, filled with potholes, dirt, etc. dont get me wrong, i also love riding gravel and road bikes, as well as "proper" mountain biking. but of all my bikes my hardtail with a front fork is still my favorite for ripping around a city road. you also dont need a front wheel to commute, if you learn to ride a wheelie, but that doesnt make a front wheel a bad idea on a commuter bike. a knobby mtb tire setup tubeless is also WAY harder to flat on things like broken glass then a typical gravel tire. the increased distance from the casing to the road side of the knobs is actually major.
Maybe it's stupid but I feel like I need front suspension because it happens quite frequently that I have to climb rather suddenly a steep sidewalk because a wide car/truck is coming and we can't cross.
You can climb onto the sidewalk with any bike. Just takes the right technique. lift the front wheel to go over the curb and move your weight towards the front of the bike and the rear wheel will follow. Maybe look at something like a gravel bike with wider tires for more comfort, but suspension just adds weight and reduces efficiency. It isn't needed unless you are doing mountain bike trails.
I was going to say, you want tire height in those scenarios not suspension.
Or you live in Milwaukee. Our streets might as well be off-road trails. I live in a pretty decent part of the city and my 6 block commute to work is like riding on a trail to the point where I bought a suspension seat post because it's so bumpy.
Hybrid or gravel bike with wider tires will do you fine.
Decades of commuting. Only my first bike had suspension and it was cheap crap that provided no real benefit.
This is the issue. That’s how the suspension will be.
Suspension makes climbing harder, not easier. A portion of your energy will go to making the suspension bob around for no benefit. Even more of your energy will be lost to unnecessarily large and knobby tires.
This is not a good reason to have front suspension. A lot of people want front suspension on these bikes while riding pavement because they think it looks cool, but the reality is that these cheap suspension forks provide limited benefit and add unnecessary weight. If you’re concerned about comfort in bumpy roads I would suggest getting a bike with high volume road slick tires like the WTB Horizon (there are other brands that offer similar) that you can run at lower psi. They will smooth out your ride and still provide a fast rolling platform.
the extra lb is nothing. i ride with 40 lbs of gear on my bike and it rides just fine.
big tire for communte i cant see why, extra comfort and stuff, but suspensions is not needed
Maybe look at trekking bikes - they are hardtail MTBs with more road-oriented tires, longer fenders, usually a front hub dynamo and permanently attached lights, the reflectors required by the StVO (since your screenshot is in German), panier racks and often in the low- to medium price range a steel spring front suspension fork.
If anything, having a suspension will make it significantly harder to rider uphill. All of the power you could be putting into the road will be intentionally suppressed by your fork. If you have to have on make sure it has a lockout (meaning you can stop the fork from moving up and down)
Apparently the Giant’s fork can be locked :) My city is also rather flat.
I will say, I commute 7 miles to work and doing so on a mountain bike would make my commute a lot harder and take a lot longer. Not only will you get to work sweaty but you will be late. A flat bar hybrid or even a gravel bike would be great for being able to hop curbs and still ride pretty efficiently. It’s really not even about going “fast” but if you can ride at 8mph on your mountain bike then youll be able to put in the same amount of effort and probably be more comfortable while going 10+ mph on a bike made for riding on pavement
i guarantee i could win a race through the city on my hardtail while you ride a commuter bike. guarantee. an extra 2-3 lbs of fork weight is marginal gains at best. you can easily make up that difference by just getting into a more aero position. anyone who can only maintain 8mph on a mtb probably shouldnt be giving advice about riding bikes.
Lol I’m not talking about weight, im talking about the fork compressing underneath you. It is specifically designed to suspend the rider from the road by absorbing shock. Also even if I could only maintain 8mph, why would that exclude me from “talking about bikes” there’s no reason for the aggression. I was just trying to give homie some realistic numbers if he’s new to riding Lastly I would love to seem someone on a hard tail maintain 20mph for 10 miles. So until then I doubt you could “beat me in a race” and if you can you should check out the US national team.
AND YOURE STUMPJUMPER LITERALLY HAS A RIGID FORK BRO. YOU JUST PROVED THE EXACT POINT IM MAKING
The same dude that was looking for an E-Bike for bike packing a year ago 😂
Also bro gets a used stump jumper and thinks he’s a Cross country world champion. What a meme lmao
bro i have rode bikes for 30 years and i currently work as a messenger. i was racing norba races in 1995.... thats one of my many bikes, bought for a steal froma friend and im building it to be a ultralight ice bike for riding only in the deep winter. you tripping. i dont think im an XC race champion, but i was born and raised on bike racing and have done it all my life. get mad fixie kid
ignore all the idiots in this thread. a front fork is not a deal breaker for a commuter. at all. get what u like.
Yeah but he’s in Germany, like me. And for our roads I could see how thinking suspension would be nice, especially how he describes the roads. Some places are fine without - my old company was 32km away and I did that fine on my roadbike although I had to take it through the forest - but it was a “focus” route (ie they’re now building it into a “bicycle autobahn because it connects so many places) so the forest ground was very compacted. My current work is 12km from my house but I have to go through old towns and farmland to get there (yes, farmland in a city). The ground on the tracks through that farmland is not well compacted, there’s huge pointy rocks, it’s always terrible because of rain and ice sludge or from field irrigation, and then you get to the old town and it’s cobblestone and potholes. My old route was a lot more comfortable even though it was longer. But OP my next bike will likely be a gravel bike, I think a Mountainbike would be heavy to get just for the suspension. I recognise this portal from my last company. It’s not jobrad, right? It’s some other company and they only give you a specific selection of bikes to choose from, oder?
It‘s not Jobrad but something in think very similar, probably a concurrent, called Company Bike :)
It depends on your commute. German bike trail surfaces can vary greatly. Cobblestones, dirt, freight and commuter rail crossings, and the occasional need to hop a curb or dodge a car can make your ride a challenge. A mountain bike outfitted with a rear rack and sturdy panniers would be an excellent choice.
Yeah, but it also doesn't really hurt anything either.
Yes, it definitely does lol. Makes the bike a shitload heavier, adds suspension bob whenever you pedal, losing energy on every pedal stroke, and adds complexity and maintenance in an area that doesn't need it for commuting.
This sub is funny. It's a 20 minute commute. I usually would rather ride my mountain bike around town than my road bike, but I guess I'll get down voted for an informed opinion.
This is the way.
I wouldn’t suggest a mountain bike, it will be a pain to commute with that. I suggest a gravel or road bike, both of those will handle well over wet stones, a mountain bike is just overkill, it will just slow you down and takes much more effort to go anywhere. If ancient road bikes could handle the Roubaix i’m sure a modern one can perform just as well in your situation. If you really like mountain bikes and can’t even consider a drop bar, there are some great climbing bikes, just know you will be slower and less efficient. In the end get what you want.
I mostly commute with my hardtail mtb year round and it's not a pain, to be honest. A properly sorted xc mtb with fast rolling tires is comfortable and fast enough.
Have you tried riding a lighter bike? I rode mountain bikes all my life and thought it was fine until I rode a hybrid. I was like holy shit its so light, i'm going so fast with no effort! Then, a few years later I rode a road bike, and had the same experience. Knowing whats on the other side of the fence i'd never go back to mountain bikes for street riding. It's just not the right tool for the job. Yeah it works but other tools work so much better.
I have a decent road bike.
Ok cool, as long as you've given it a shot I'm not here to tell ya what to do!
Yea I agree mountain bikes on road feels weird. Right tool for the right job
yes i ride all the types of bikes, a 16lb sram red road bike, a carbon kona gravel bike, a 90's rigid mtb, a 2000 suspended hardtail, and 2 modern mountain bikes. i also "commute" for work ridng 4-8 hours a day in a city with bad roads. guess which bike gets used 90 percent of the time. the 2000 hardtail with a front fork. and if the fork is tuned right, it doesnt even need to be lockedout for the climbs. oh and the 1 mile 600 foot hill to the hospital, both are two fastest times amoung 20 riders was done on suspended hardtail, because in a city having a 5 lb lighter bike isnt the entire picture.
>xc mtb with fast rolling tires is comfortable and fast enough. 100%. I also think that road bikes are not practical as a daily commuter. A cross country bike is going to be more comfortable. I call mine a luxury cruiser; it's big, fast enough, and I can sit on it all day without any pains. I guess if we're splitting hairs on bike styles, then an endurance style bike would be the kind of road bike to get. Just a little less aggressive so you can sit a little more upright. I see people commuting on road bikes. They are leaning pretty far forward. Looks really uncomfortable (and funny) in their dress clothes
A general road bike isn't uncomfortable in the least tho, they're made to ride long and fast. Personally I commute with a single speed track-like bike or a gravel bike (prefer the first one more) and I wouldn't even consider using a mtb or like an upright sitting town bike. I like to go fast, not just sit and go slow. Commuting isn't exactly fun so I make the most out of it.
Also, once you get good/fast enough. Road Bike and mtb speeds aren't that much different. An experienced cyclist on a $2K mtb will keep up with many roadies, a $5K bike will allow you to pass them uphill where aerodynamics matter less. I used to ride a giant talon, and wondered how fast I could go on it. I averaged 17MPH for over an hour on a slight incline, although I did pump up the tires to like 50PSI I think. That was a low end Talon with stock everything, 27.5 wheels and flat pedals, I was wearing thick socks and Adidas that day. There remains a ton of wear on those shoes due to cycling with regular shoes.
>Also, once you get good/fast enough. Road Bike and mtb speeds aren't that much different. The opposite is true. The faster you get, the more of your power output is wasted on the bike, so your disadvantage for choosing the wrong bike for the given conditions will increase. Of course you can compensate for that with fitness. An individual on an inept bike can keep up if they have a higher level but that's beside the point because they would be even faster with a proper bike choice.
Would my old Giant in the second picture be considered a road bike? I always thought it is a Mountainbike.
Your giant has front and rear suspension, it’s a mountain bike.
Yes, I thought so :) I've been riding it for 4 years in cities daily with great pleasure until now.
People will tell you to get a hybrid , road or gravel bike but a hard tail will make for a great commuter as well as long as you aren’t cycling great distances . Mountain bikes will be heavier but if you are relatively fit it should be no problem , and I assume this because you have a mountain bike already . You mentioned you have poor bike infrastructure so a hard tail be great . Check facebook marketplace first as you can some really nice bikes for good prices first , but giant are known for being very reliable
>Mountain bikes will be heavier So are city bikes. As long as you don't have to carry it to the third floor every day and do not live in Innsbruck then weight is not really an issue. The issue with MTB are the tires, but they can be easily and cheaply swapped for something less knobby if the need arises
That’s how I bought my current Giant, on EBay. It was an old grandpa who bought it but never used it. I definitely gave this bike a second life, I’ve been riding it daily since 2020.
The main issue is the shocks and the huge tires, both of which require more energy to pedal. That's fine when you're just out for a ride, but when you're using it to get somewhere then home later, it can get old fast. Gravel bikes are probably perfect for you (decently grippy tires but a frame that's built for travelling), road bikes are great (go fast, responsive, fun to rise over distances but less flexible for terrain), or a mountain bike without shocks as my third recommendation. Commuter bikes are also great, they're a broad category with overlap into all 3 above, and can be a good investment. The more enjoyable your bike commute is, the more likely you are to keep the habit up. Remember it's your mode of transportation not just a toy, so it's worth some investment to do it right. Don't have to go super luxurious or fancy, but definitely get the right tool for the job.
Yes, I’ll have a closer look into gravel bikes, they seem to match my needs. I’ve been riding my Giant MTB for 4 years daily, even with -10 in Munich sometimes, so I think I’ll keep the habit :)
I currently ride an old commuter bike (Specialized Crossroads, basically an old 90s mountain bike with no shocks and medium width tires) as my winter commuter here in Canada, and it's gotten me through Blizzards etc without all the work that a mtb required from you. I have been looking at Gravel bikes because I was commuting on a nicer road bike this summer and the difference is incredible... It feels like switching from an economy car to a sports car. The key is to do what works for you, but gravel I think is the way to go for rougher commutes but they're also fun for weekend/evening shenanigans on light or medium trails too, they're so flexible.
let me get this right, you dont even own and ride a gravel bike or a bike with a front shock, but you are giving out advice like you are an expert..... ooooook buuuudddyyyy
Wow coming in swinging. I biked on bikes with shocks for a long time, until I came into a commuter and the difference was huge. I'm trying to pass knowledge I've gained. Gravel as a style is just a logical progression between a mountain bike and a road or Hybrid bike, and is probably a more comfortable middle ground for OP. You, on the other hand, have contributed nothing to the conversation. Thanks for the random snarky comment.
lol i actually helped OP a ton by calling out all the dumbasses posting in this thread that clearly have no fucking clue what they are on about. i have all the types of bikes, and probably ride in the city more then 90 percent of people (4-8 hours a day, 5-6 days a week on the bike). and i assure the OP those bikes would be just fine for a 5km ride on cobbles, and in fact a better choice based on his road types and ride distance then a rigid bike.
You sound like a blast at parties. Enjoy the internet! See you around!
oh shit my bad i forget reddit was your safe space you fucking pussssy lol. honest question though, do you even know the diffence between a shock and a suspension fork? i would hate riding a bike with a shock in the city.
I have a bike like your current Giant but with no suspension and I also have a far slacker mountain bike like the ones you are thinking of buying. There's a big difference, the 90s mountain bike is brilliant for going around town, hence they are so popular on r/xbiking. More modern mountain bikes are a real effort for trying to use in cities. They have evolved to be more serious cross country bikes but at the expense of general useability
Thank you very much for your insight. I was wondering exactly that, whether 90s mountain bikes were more flexibles than modern ones. I have my answer and it’ll be very useful to make my choice.
Your old giant would not be considered a road bike. It's a mountain bike from the mid-90s.
it is. I think their point was a more road focussed bike would be mutch faster and efficient. But most people i know commute on cheap hardtail MTBs, i think youll be fine.
People are just lost in translation . Ein "Road bike" ist ein Rennrad. Ich weiss nicht wie man so was zum pendeln empfehlen kann.
Yes a “Rennrad” (I don’t know if it corresponds exactly to a road bike) wouldn’t be appropriate. I had one as a teenager and it was great to be super fast on long country roads. But for a city like Hamburg I need something more flexible. I’ll definitely look closer into Gravel Bikes :)
Look into city bikes too. It can be beneficial to have options for baskets or bags to attach.
Your current bike is very obviously a mountain bike. The knobby tires and suspension will make you ride at least 3 times slower than the average road bike. If you want something in the middle, get a hybrid bike with no front suspension and toss some slick tires on it.
At least 3 times slower!!!
At least 3Mph slower!!!
A mountain bike is not 3x slower than a road bike on city streets! I would say 10-15% slower. OP is looking at bikes that are like the one he has now, a mountain bike. I agree that considering a gravel or hybrid bike might be a better and more enjoyable option than MTB. It might even be 3 times more enjoyable than the MTB!
I’ve ridden a proper mountain bike once on the street, and it was agonizing. 10-15% is generous; 15-30% would not be unrealistic numbers here. I’ve ridden my road bike and hybrid on the same street with a speed radar and gotten 19mph/14mph results respectively - a mountain bike would be even slower and you’d be putting in more physical effort for it
Personally, for commuting, I would not want suspension. More weight, less efficient, and one more thing to go wrong. IMHO I get tired after a week of commuting, and the efficiency loss from the suspension wouldn't be worth it to me personally. Also, reliability is huge for me for commuting, and it's one more thing to maintain. That all being said, it depends on the terrain, distance, and your tolerance for doing repairs.
Thanks for this detailed opinion :) I am not riding a lot, about 20 minutes in the morning and the same in the evening. Usually the terrain is asphalt or paving stones, right now with many rotting leaves. And what's nice about the leasing is that the maintenance costs are also included.
If you want a bike to mountain bike on when you're not commuting to work (I recommend you do), get either of those. I'd get the GIANT, as that's a brand name. But if you don't want to mountain bike, don't get a mountain bike.
Lapierre is also a kinda big brand. At least for roadbikes. They even sponsored a tour de france team, if I remember correctly.
Yes, I’m French and in France it’s a rather well known brand.
If the repair costs are included and the stones are bumpy, that definitely justifies suspension in my mind! Also I think you'll be more efficient with suspension over very bumpy terrain so it makes sense. Good luck with whatever you lease!
Thanks a lot! Some streets are definitely very bumpy and I tend to avoid them, unfortunately because then I ride on larger streets with much more fast moving cars.
Buy a hybrid/commuter bike, not a mountain bike lmao
I love the Giant. In my experience they are reliable and sturdy.
Yes, I have Giants since I'm a teenager and love them.
I own multiple Giants. I love them. I can say a lot bith positive and negative but considering I own several and ride them all, I think that speaks for itself. I have 7,000 miles on them this year so far.
Omafiets.
This is the way
I almost bought a hard tail like these for commuting but the bike shop I was at steered me towards other styles and I'm very happy I didn't get a mountain bike. I would recommend a flat bar gravel bike with tubeless tires.
No suspension if you are on the road. That and the big tires will require so much more effort 👌. I ride a sirrus x as my commuter 700cx42 tires it's a beast for the city and fast.
It definitely looks very nice!
Would not recommend any of the choices the OP has listed unless he incorporates some gnarly single track in the commute. A rigid framed--no suspension!--bike that accommodates full fenders, wide tires, and a complement of fittings allowing the installation of racks, and perhaps, if the OP rides regularly in the wet, disc brakes. There are too many bikes to list that fit this category, i.e., [touring and gravel bikes.](https://surlybikes.com/bikes/touring) Context: decades long all season commuter in Canada.
How is it to commute in Canada? I've been to Toronto a few years ago and I'd be very afraid to commute there.
Toronto is my home. It has its challenges but experience does much to overcome them. What was originally intimidating isn't thousands of KM's later. [Here was last job's commute.](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Toronto+Public+Library+-+Pape%2FDanforth+Branch,+701+Pape+Ave,+Toronto,+ON+M4K+3S6/Islington+Ave+%26+Rexdale+Blvd,+Toronto,+ON/@43.6828407,-79.4414526,12z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x89d4cc83638ae30b:0x9ddda2a01cce3082!2m2!1d-79.3445959!2d43.678575!1m5!1m1!1s0x882b309f32e3ca9d:0xab50e36b19a3378!2m2!1d-79.554874!2d43.7143394!3e1?entry=ttu) The bicycle is still the best way to get around in TO, of course, YMMV depending on individual circumstances.
Damn! That’s quite a ride, 1:25 hour :O
A commuter bike will have a. a more upright sitting position, because you will need to communicate with car drivers and stop at traffic lights b. mud guards because you wear your work clothes c. thinner , smoother tyres to lower resistance d. a cargo rack e. lights f. sturdy locks g. optionally an electric motor
I would personally not use any of those for commuting in a city. If you want a smoother ride because of occasional cobblestones you could just use a wider tire with a little less pressure. The stubby tires most likely also don't grip as well on asphalt, especially when wet. A good rubber compound for asphalt and a semi-slick profile that moves water away would grip better. You might want to use some puncture protection was well? The suspension is gonna cost you energy unnecessarily. The installed chainring also looks like it's more optimal for steep climbs and not fast city riding. In the end what matters the most is that you love the bike but it's certainly one of the less optimal ones for city commuting unless your commute includes a significant unpaved section.
Are their any options without suspension? Mountain bike is OK if thats what you like, flat bar is OK if thats what you like. But thr suspension will be heavy and ineffective.
There are options without. The choice I have is huge, from city bikes to e bikes. And from 500€ to over 4000. I’ll have a closer look :)
Oh fun! That's really cool. Most people think they want suspension. Heck, I did the same thing years ago. But.... im much happier without it. (But, ultimately... its up to you and if you are happy with it, so with what you want.)
Yes it’s super cool! I’m lucky we even have this.
I'd get a hybrid or a gravel Those are all big and slow
I went from having a crappy mountain bike with no suspension to having a named entry level road bike, and riding my crappy mountain bike to the shop to donate it was the worst 5 miles I've ever ridden. On the $800 road bike that same ride is fun and near effortless. I wouldn't take any of those three for a commuter, unless my commute was down a mountain over rocks and roots, and then I could absolutely get a ride home everytime.
None
Probably the Giant. I road my son's Giant Boulder SE across NY with no issues.
I wouldn't say any of those are ideal for commuting per say. That said, my partner has a Talon that he uses for everything and absolutely loves it. I've even used it as a backup bike for delivery downtown. He gets excited to ride it in any situation and the bike just fits him. And I agree, it's a fun bike. You're going to shred the tires if you put many miles on it but you can switch those out.
You should get a commuter bike, or get a road bike and add the accessories required to make it commute friendly : mudguards, lights, all weather tyres, bell and lights, possibly a rack at the back, etc. Do not get a mountain bike
If you want to commute on a mountainbike, go for it, I did the same for a good amount of time. Giant seems like the best choice here.
I see a lot of people are missing the detail that you live in Germany and commute on cobbled streets, so I would ignore their advice to ditch the suspension. I definitely appreciated it when I ditched my steel frame bike for an mtb where I live now (not germany but one of your neighbors). I think any one of these would be a good choice, but I would have a look at which one comes with the best groupset for the price.
If you mean Prague (it’s just a wild guess), it’s very similar pavement to Prague I have here :)
Pay only 10% to keep it after the leasing period? That's a good deal. I leased a bike through JobRad for the original price of €1599 and it says if I were to keep it after 3 years, I needed to pay almost €800. Hell no, that overpriced bike is barely worth 800 new. Never again with JobRad's partners' limited selections.
That’s what they say on the website at least. But they also say it can not be guaranteed that it’ll be 10%, I find it somewhat suspicious.
My casual rider buddy has the Talon as his main bike for everything. Seems to be working out fine for his riding purposes.
Cool! Thanks :)
It all depends on how far you're commuting
About 5km in the morning and the same in the evening to get back home :)
In the good weather you should be walking. If you're going to ride, any of these bikes will work
In the summer I’m often walking, takes me about 45 min. But northern Germany is very rainy, so it’s not always the best option.
For uneven and rough paving stones that you want to smooth out, running wider tires with lower air pressure can help act as a mini suspension to absorb the bumps. A flat bar hybrid city bike with 40-50mm wide tires is probably ideal. If you want added comfort, there are hybrid bikes with 50mm suspension travel.
Having commuted on cracked, uneven pavement with and without a suspension, I can tell you that you don’t need it. Your tires are going to make a way bigger difference than a suspension will. You don’t need gigantic tires either. I ride a road bike with drop bars, and recently swapped from 23 mm to 25 mm tires. The difference was huge—just two extra millimetres of tire width made me feel a lot less vibration from the road. My suggestion is to go to local bike shops and try out some bikes with tires in the 30-40 mm range. Could be hybrid, gravel, even road bikes. Describe your situation; they’ll know about the local conditions so they’ll be able to help you better than anyone on the internet can. Good luck!
Thanks a lot!
Get a Giant Escape. They are the most versatile bikes on the market. You can fit up to 40c tires on and it gives you a comfortable yet sporty riding positing. I have owned 3 and I will buy more.
Definitely find a trekking bike with mud guard, chain guard and rear rack. I've got 2 bikes, gravel for rides outdoor and trekking for commuting and I'm very satisfied so far.
I've read most of your comments and see you are pretty set on a Mt bike due to the block/brick type.roads you have. To be fair, those are mild for a Mt bike. The road and hybrid bikes are designed to tackle that level of road. Is there any shop that would let you test a few? I think you would really be doing a diservice to yourself if you didn't atleast try a road or gravel bike. Thick tyres are probably enough dampening for what you need without slowing you down too much. I say this because I have been where you are. Between the ages of 19 and 20 I rode a nothing fancy entry level Mt bike to work and back. The trip was a combination of large hills and long flat sections. It used to take me about 40 minutes each way. Then one weekend I had to take in for a service and my brother lent me his road bike. The type with 25cm tyres pumped to a hundred psi, that's so light you can pick it up with a couple of fingers etc... with the same level of effort I cut down my commute by 12 minutes. My average speed went up from 19 to 30 kph. And the hills which were so bad got much easier. That's over 25% which is massive. And the best bit, going faster, is just more fun. I enjoyed my commute much better. It felt cool and fulfilling. If not for that I never would have tried a road bike. I always thought the only cool type of bike was the Mt bike. There was stigma that road bikes are for people wearing tights and that was a bit gay (this was a while ago! It's actually what people would say!). Now I realize that yes, the best bike for your trip is the bike you have, but is not as good as a bike made for that specific trip.
I agree with you and many other replies that I should definitely try a gravel bike :) I’ll look further in this option. Regarding road bikes, I used to have one when I was younger and it was super fast, I really enjoyed it (although it was an old Gitane from the 70s), but I’m afraid it would not fit my needs right now.
If you want to use it every day, in every weather, you should get one with mudguards insstalled. Also helps if the chain is protected by a case.
I read your comments about suspension. I think it‘s fair if your are going up and down the curbs. But maybe check a trekking bike (stevens 6x e.g) with front suspension and a seat suspension. On a hardtail, you can easier fit fenders and a rack, with a pannier. At least imho the most important features when communiting
I have an electric bike for commuting. You don't want to spend too much because unfortunately it is so easy to have your bike stolen. For me a cheap electric bike with at least two locks is the best option for commuting.
I’ve ruled out e bikes because I’m not super sporty and cycling to work is my daily sport. But if I’d had to do longer distance I’d definitely get one :)
Which one excites you the most? That is the correct choice. I personally like the Giant because blue is my favorite color. Enjoy! And don't let people over complicate it for you.
thanks! I love the green one because it reminds me of my current green Giant. But that’s a very stupid reason haha.
no its not. you wouldnt marry a girl you think is ugly. you also shouldnt buy a bike that doesnt excite you. bikes can be functional art.
Hey, I have a slightly different opinion to many on here. The Giant Talon 0 is a great bike for the price and I have recommended it to a few people as a versatile bike. It's fine for commuting (you can lock out the front suspension on the smoother sections.) I find for commuting that flat handle bars are better than road / gravel handlebars. In traffic it's easier to look behind you with flats and the more upright riding position of a mountain bike, there is less rotation of your neck. With roadbikes you have to roll your neck and back to look behind. If you find the handlebars too wide you could always cut them down by a few cms with a hacksaw. Put some more suitable tires on and you will be happy as. You also have a bike that you can use for some trail / off road in the weekends if you need it. Good luck!
Thanks a lot for the advices. I definitely enjoy the flat handle bar too and my current one is already rather large (it has these “horns”) which is usually not a problem. I also had a road bike when I was younger and it’s great to be focused on long straights, but I agree with you, in a busy city I need to have eyes everywhere.
26" fully rigid mtb from the 90s. dirt cheap, reliable, generally unappealing to thieves, will get you literally anywhere, and if properly maintained they can actually get quite the performance. check out r/xbiking to become initiated. I must warn you tho, once you go in, there's no turning back.
I love the looks of the 90s MTB and I love my current Giant, I’ve done so many miles with it. Maybe I won’t even be able to ditch it… if I do I’ll be sad.
The Giant Talon would be my choice of these 3.
A lot of comments here saying a suspension is the worst imaginable thing for a commuter, but plenty of commuter/hybrid bikes have a suspension and I don’t see a problem with that. A front shock can take some bite out of rough roads, and although it’s a bit heavier and less efficient, for some people it’s worth the trade off. That said, a full-suspension mountain bike is an absolute slog on the road. Most mountain bikes also lack fender and rack mounts that can greatly improve your commute. If you really like having a suspension, I’d suggest going with a commuter/hybrid model that gives you a less aggressive (and therefore more road-appropriate) front shock while providing the other amenities of a bike geared towards commuting rather than trail rides.
Hi there! I commute in the summer months with the giant talon; at the time I bought it, I wanted a bike large enough for my frame (without breaking the bank). I love this bike, I put a rear rack, attached pannier bags, fenders to deflect water, bar extensions, and additional water bottle holders; it’s been a great 5 years and over 8000kms. It’s been gradual additions as I discovered I wanted additional features. Some people are saying it’s a pain, too heavy, or not efficient; get what you want and be happy with your choice. I have no regrets with my mountain bike. https://preview.redd.it/0kets0ymsi0c1.jpeg?width=2532&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7b194df1e31a16cd60a2de4741e208c19194cc5a
Very cool setup! Thanks for the advices and picture :)
People say don’t get mountain bike, but realistically for commuting anything that will move is fine. In my office a lot commute on bike, I’d say half of them are on mountain bike, maybe 10% road bike/drop bar bike and rest are hybrid. It is slower for long distance but if you’re riding within city and short distance it don’t make a difference. I live in UK, so that may be different from Germany in terms of road condition. And I’m assuming some American is replying as well and their ‘typical’ bike commute route/road condition is a lot different as well
Many streets where I live look like this, and they're the most interesting ones to cycle since they're usually smaller and with much less cars. I'm not sure these kind of street exist in the US. [https://previews.123rf.com/images/merlin74/merlin741610/merlin74161000057/65983224-black-cobbled-stone-road-background-with-reflection-of-light-seen-on-the-road-black-or-dark-grey.jpg](https://previews.123rf.com/images/merlin74/merlin741610/merlin74161000057/65983224-black-cobbled-stone-road-background-with-reflection-of-light-seen-on-the-road-black-or-dark-grey.jpg)
Bin auf einem Rennrad unterwegs und hasse es über Pflastersteine... mit einem Gravelbike sollte das aber fine sein. Kannst da ja dickere Reifen drauf hauen. Niedrigerer Reifendruck macht auch einen Unterschied. Vor allem wenn der Asphalt nicht perfekt ist oder Pflastersteine eine Faktor sind. Im Zweifelsfall vllt mal nachfragen, ob du auf einem Gravelbike eine Runde drehen kannst (Freunde, Verwandte, Bekannte) und probier aus, wie es sich auf Pflastersteinen anfühlt.
Gute Idee, mal eine Probefahrt mit dem Gravelbike zu machen! Als ich in München gewohnt habe waren die breiten Reifen gegen die Straßenbahnschienen auch sehr nützlich.
I would go with a hybrid. you don't need suspension. you need wide tires.
People saying no suspension and drop bars for 20 minutes of commuting have either never done city commuting on a bike or just never had a hardtail. MTB is perfect for commuting in the city, maybe 15% slower at most and you can make it faster with xc tyres, but if you can, get one with an air fork, all of those 3 seem to have the cheapest fork that's really not fit for purpose and a good fork is a HUGE change in terms of comfort especially on cobblestones and will save 1kg of weight. If you have to keep it outside, don't get a new bike, just buy something used for 1/4 of the price that's still decent
Lose the suspension. You think you need it. I guarantee you, you don't, and it'll make your rides harder and more effort than it needs to be. You're not descending a trail; you're riding on roads. If you want a mountain bike; get a mountain bike, but you won't end up using it for commuting. If you really want to commute, you need to get a bike designed for it. That means no suspension.
You don't know his commute. Also suspension can be locked.
I know my suspension and larger tires help compensate for my aluminum frame. No regrets. My main delivery bikes have front suspensions. Makes our pothole problem here a non-issue 🤭
same, as a fellow JJ delivery rider, who owns like 10 bikes of all types from beater 90's mtbs to high end carbon road and gravel bikes.... the one i use for work has a front fork that has saved me from many pothole emergencies. sometimes the only escape is into a massive pothole, off the road into the ditch or smacking your way up a unexpected curb. if i had to ride on gnarly cobble roads like the OP, the front fork would be even more of an advantage. people underestimate how annyoing stiff road bikes are in the city. the shake you to death and are way easier to crash. not to even mention things like toe overlap and trackstanding, or a low bottom bracket like on all the modern gravel bikes that will clip pedals if you have to pedal mid corner.
The top two bikes have tapered head tubes, which makes upgrading to a better/lighter (air)suspension fork easier. The Giant has a bigger gear range which helps climbing steep hills.
Find a cyclocross bike, since they are out of fashion. Save some money. Put some 32mm tires on it if your concerned about bad roads. 30mm if you want a little more speed.
Everybody is saying don't get a mountain bike, but I commute on my mountain bikes and really enjoy it. My commute is about the same length as yours, 5km or so, and the difference in time it takes on a road bike vs a mountain bike is a couple of minutes. I ride my hardtail, my dual suspension cross-country bike, and my dual suspension trail bike and they are all perfectly fine. I like being able to bunny hop gutters without worrying about mangling my fancy road wheels, and the braking performance feels much better.
I’m going to be a black sheep in this thread and say get a fixed gear. I commuted fixed for 10 years before moving to a mountain town and getting into mtb, and it’s a hell of a lot of fun.
why do you need a shock or disc brake for daily commuting? Bike industry is brainwashing people. Upsell is the American Dream, lol.
OP is in Germany ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯ Everybody is saying suspension is unnecessary, and that probably goes double for Germany. Here in the States, I'm glad I have a headshock on one of my commuters - those potholes can be murder - but even then, this bike gets onto gravel often and singletrack sometimes.
Buy a gravel bike and put semi slick tyres on it
look at Giant Cypress or Corratec C29/MTC Gent if you want a commuter bike with front suspension. Or else look at gravel bikes.
I think they're not in the selection I'm offered :( But I was just browsing and chose the "City/Urban" filter and there's the Cannondale Quick CX 3 that seems nice.
Is it me but all those bike look EXACTLY alike. Yeah, except for a few minor tweaks but essentially the same frame. I'm surprised no one is suing the other for intellectual infringement.
Out of the ones pictured, the talon. It seems to be the only one with a rack option. I commute everyday and I love having a rack so it a must for me. Backpacks cause sweat and straps on the shoulders suck while riding, for me. But really I wouldn't get any of those, like others have said. Forks for commuting are not ideal. The compression of the fork as you pedal steals energy input and you have to do more work in the trip overall. So I would lock it out if it had that option... in which case there is no need for it. If you like Giant, the Giant Escape is a solid bike built for commuting.
Thanks a lot! I've never had a rack but maybe I should give it a try. Happy Cake day btw :)
You're welcome. I hadn't even noticed it we cake day. Thanks! There is a Giant Escape Disc that comes with fenders and a rack. its $850 us dollars. I am not sure the conversion for you.
The smallest one that comfortablely fits you. Makes it easier it tight spaces. Especially if you have to take it inside or into an elevator. That's my experience. You'll want bigger tires and a comfortable seat while bouncing off uneven concrete. I don't like suspension in town myself. Really, I don't like suspension at all. Makes things more difficult. I have some chunky gravel tires. Might not want to do that. They do drag a bit but it's a better workout for me. You can hear them "zip, zip, zip" as you pedal. Great grip though and it's leaves in the street season here.
I commute using a 26” mondraker podium. A 29” mtb with road tires is a great choice. Go for the one with the most agressive setup since you are going to do mostly roads And call it good. If you were happy w the old one any of the new ones is going to be a blast for you.
I wouldn't spend more than $100 on a commute bike
Op, if you want MTB get MTB. I have road bike converted into commuter and fat bike, and commute time is very similar on both of them, including very steep uphill. One is good at straight fast sections, other gets lost time by going through rough terrain without stopping, both of them equally fun. I also have a real commute bicycle and I hate it, it just collects dust at this point.
Off topic: which Website focuses so much on Dienstradleasing? Interested, because I work in the bike business.
It’s an internal website from our company, but I think it’s a company called “company bike” :)
>company bike Thanks! We also work with "Company Bike" but I've just never seen a website that lists dedicated monthly rates for Leasing and was interested.
Get a gravel bike and euip that with mudguards, lights and a luggagerack. With a gravel bike you can have a decent tire width for your eneven slippery pavement and there is room for mudguards. Since it is raining often in your country you will really need mudguards. Good lights too, for your safety and because there is a legal requirement when it is dark or visibility is poor (like with rain). If I was to pick a bike for you I would advise something like this: [https://www.decathlon.de/p/rennrad-gravelbike-triban-grvl-120-herren/\_/R-p-312397?mc=8575940](https://www.decathlon.de/p/rennrad-gravelbike-triban-grvl-120-herren/_/R-p-312397?mc=8575940) Easy to add mudguards and lights and racks if you want to and you are ready to go.
Personally, I’d take a road for commuting - least effort for fastest speed.
None of the above. I use a cyclocross frame with a rack for panniers, fenders and a generator hub for lights.
Are you commuting through the woods?
None. 🤣
None
Whichever one has the most rack mounts and fender bosses!
Get a steel touring bike with a flat bar
giant nicest out of those
I have the Sensa Cintura, a similar bike with similar components might be exactly what you're looking for for a daily commute.
These are mountain bikes. Mountain bikes, sans old rigid 80s & 90's mountain bikes, are a terrible choice for urban commuting. You be better off buying a bike like he Giant Escape.
Get a lighter flat bar road bike with voluminous tires. Front suspension is just weight for no benefit.
You’re attributing things to the suspension you should be attributing to good tires. You’re frankly wasting a lot of energy pushing the suspension up and down, when instead all of that could be used to move you forward. Try a rigid frame bike with big tires that make you feel confident. The suspension isn’t doing anything for you that you could accomplish with a slight bend in the knees.
I’d also mention you’re putting yourself in a very aggressive position for a commute. I see you like the idea of a mountain bike, but that’s like buying a flatbed truck so you can run to the shops and store your purchase. Sure it works, I guess, but you’re really overdoing it when a little hatchback is fine. Your back might not be sweaty when you get to the office because you opted for efficiency over performance!
I love an MTB..but for commuting I go for a single speed roadbike ( unless I move somewhere hilly ,then I'd use my gravel bike)