Hybrid or MB?

I’m opting for a bike from Halfords through the Cycle to Work scheme. My daily commute is only 2.5 miles each direction, and it will cover tarmac, cobbles and some pavements. I’ll probably use the bike some weekends with my wife and daughters (so more rough and tumble than racing). Does it sound like a mountain bike would suit my needs more than a hybrid? If I went for a MB, would it be worthwhile investing in a 2nd set of wheels with road tyres and using these for my commute? I haven’t cycled for a while, and never changed my rear wheel, so I’ve no idea how easy this is.

The work deal is tied to Halfords, so I’m thinking a Boardman looks like my best bet from their selection.

Thanks alot!

29er? CX?

Posted on here the other day for some-one who was doing a 13 mile commute that he should buy a 700cc bike, you don’t not for 2.5 miles. 10-15 minutes of riding if that? Get some semi-slicks or maybe a cheap 2nd set of wheels with slicks on (you get quick release fitting now, less than a minute to change a wheel).

Nowt wrong with boardman’s, though dependant on your budget, don’t discount the Carrera’s.

Try them both and see which fit you and is most comfy. You will not need to swap the slicks out on the mtb if all you are doing is family riding on the mtb.

Thanks guys! 🙂

Hybrid is what hybrid does is my book, I ride a rigid mountain bike with semi-slicks, on and off road and love it. It’s plenty fast enough on road for what I want (I don’t chase roadies) and perfectly capable off road. To be honest I think that a commuterised mountain bike is the more versitile option in that it’s easily converted to something more off-road capable if you fancy doing a bit more in that line at some point.

Ridgeback do a Switch series of bikes that would fit the bill, although I don’t think that you can get them through Halfords.

Quiet honestly by whatever bike you want based on the other riding you intend to do because

My daily commute is only 2.5 miles each direction, and it will cover tarmac, cobbles and some pavements.

with that sort of commute, I’d say walking would be the best way to do it.

I’ve had a commute like that. Just ride a mountain bike set up for leisure use. I really wouldn’t bother with extra wheels

I saw a ‘town’ mountain bike in the boardman range in Halfords yesterday – that would tick my box in many ways

carbon forks/slicks/2×10

my inbred is in much the same mode for town riding currently

MTB all day long. A fast rolling tyre is no trouble for a short commute and usable off road on weekends. Hybrids are neither one thing or the other and crap at everything 😆