Comment by 😈 dimkr
Re: "I ride 20km to work, on bike paths and sand, with an…"
It's not a lot of sand but I do have hills, a long (super bumpy) brick path and old bike paths (with huge tree roots that grow through the asphalt), so I wonder if MTB/hybrid with wide tires that provide stability and some cushioning is the only option - maybe something less 'comfortable' with a top tube and slick 2-2.3 tires could be lighter and easier to ride
2025-07-15 · 10 months ago
8 Later Comments ↓
🚀 literite · 2025-07-15 at 19:01:
I guess if you're decelerating and accelerating alot (because of those bricks and tree roots) a lighter frame and nice gear switching would help. I like my 2 inch wide tires on my ebike. They have a rounded profile and when you pump them up hard, they roll great, so I have cimfort plus easy oedalling when I run out of battery.
First of all, congratulations. You learnt only recently in your 30's, this is not an easy feat and it takes some courage.
I will probably answer your question through various replies due to character limits. I will first start by a warning. It always come from a genuine wish of improving a situation but it is also very easy to fall into GAS (Gear Aquisition Syndrome). Yes you can buy a bit of speed through different technical choices but the key will always be training. If you keep riding consistently, you will naturally improve and be faster. Regularity is more important than making big ride or doing hard efforts once in a while. Allowing yourself an off/rest day every week is also important.
There are 3 main (natural) enemies to a cyclist:
- air resistance
- gravity
- rolling resistance
Air resistance is the one that impact a cyclist the most.
Gravity is only really a problem in hills and acceleration phases.
Rolling resistance depends on the tires and the surface they are rolling on.
Sometimes the shorter route is not the fastest one and avoiding obstacles can makes you faster. By obstacle I mean anything that exposes you to these 3 main parameters and slow you down: road exposed to winds, non smooth surface, sand, hills, traffic lights, speed bumps, crossing that foece you to slow down, etc. It can takes some trial and error but choosing a good route is key.
To limit exposition to air resistance you might want to alter a bit your position. Without doing any purchade, an immediate idea is to have a much lower stance by bending your elbows and lower the head that is also the hardest thing to do when you aren't used to as it involves muscles from the back and neck.
A much easier thing to do is narrowing your frontal area by putting your hands closer to the center of the handlebar. Note that it can also mean you are less stable/in control and your hands may not be close to the brake levers so only do that on long stretch of smooth empty road/bike path.
To limit impact of gravity, best option is through weight loss through nice diet and exercise. This can come naturally if your diet is already good. If you are already a lightweight person, having a lighter bike can help but the expense/performance gain ratio is usually bad so it is best to not obsess about it.
To limit impact of rolling resistance, having good, supples tires is key as well as dialing tire pressure ( higher is not always faster). You mentionned sand and unregular surface but not the kind of bike you are using. Cheap wire bead tires + thick tubes are usually slower than foldable tires and latex tubes but you might want to factor flat resistance in the equation. You didn't mention either if your wheels are tubeless compatible. Given the description I would favor fast (what we call filetread or semislick) and large volume mtb/gravel tires but only when your current tires nred replacement.
Bottom line, you don't necessarily need to change anything in your bike, at least not immediately. If you enjoy riding and don't have any rush to be back home, you could consider doing a longer ride back once a week. Being used to do a 30 or 40km ride once in a while will naturally make those 20km daily ones feel easier and faster for you.
Make sure you know how to repare a flat without pinching a spare tube if you go for longer rides though.
🚀 mycrobe · 2025-07-22 at 13:48:
You're just starting out, so if you want to change something, do something small but significant first: Tires. Narrower and lower rolling resistance.
Since your bike is upright/heavy, the next step to going faster would probably be to replace the bike. But don't rush that.
But in my opinion, you're doing the most important thing to get faster already, which is to have a solid routine! I agree with Tomi that one longer ride a week will be helpful.
Original Post
I ride 20km to work, on bike paths and sand, with an inexpensive, heavy, upright hybrid. What should I invest in to achieve higher speed and lower effort - a different kind of bike? Slick and narrow tires? If road/gravel is too expensive, is there anything I can do to commute efficiently on a quality MTB?