MTB vs hybrid vs road bike for a beginner?
I recently became a university student in Melbourne and pretty new to cycling.
I recently bought a Pedal Ranger 4 mountain bike from 99 Bikes. My first proper ride was around 9 km and I found it much harder than I expected. My legs were very tired, my backside hurt, and I struggled quite a lot with hills, sometimes having to get off and walk.
I mainly want a bike for going to the shops, carrying groceries and casual weekend riding. Most of my riding will be on roads, bike paths and shared paths around suburban Melbourne with occasional smooth dirt paths. I won’t be doing any proper mountain biking.
I’m looking for something comfortable, reliable, easy to ride and able to take a rear rack. I don’t really care about going fast. My budget is around $400.
I’m considering exchanging the Ranger 4 for a hybrid or road bike. Would a hybrid feel noticeably easier to ride than my current MTB, or only slightly easier? Would a road bike be even easier, and which type would be more practical for my needs?