Road vs mountain biking
Discussion
Hello all
I'm very much a mountain bike man, but recently have been wondering whether to move over to the dark side and try my hand at road riding.
My main thoughts were due to a better work out, but other than that I'm struggling to see any other benefits to going road only.
I've never ridden a road bike but was wondering if you guys had done a similar thing, how did you find things??
Many thanks :-)
I'm very much a mountain bike man, but recently have been wondering whether to move over to the dark side and try my hand at road riding.
My main thoughts were due to a better work out, but other than that I'm struggling to see any other benefits to going road only.
I've never ridden a road bike but was wondering if you guys had done a similar thing, how did you find things??
Many thanks :-)
I ride 85% mtb and 15% road. I found that my stamina for climbing is better, ability to keep riding faster where it counts is more adrenalin filled with speed. Road is fine, if you can make some nice , away from traffic rides. Also I find road gives a better base fitness over the winter for nice spring rides.
motorbreath said:
Hello all
I'm very much a mountain bike man, but recently have been wondering whether to move over to the dark side and try my hand at road riding.
My main thoughts were due to a better work out, but other than that I'm struggling to see any other benefits to going road only.
I've never ridden a road bike but was wondering if you guys had done a similar thing, how did you find things??
Many thanks :-)
I went from MTB to road.I'm very much a mountain bike man, but recently have been wondering whether to move over to the dark side and try my hand at road riding.
My main thoughts were due to a better work out, but other than that I'm struggling to see any other benefits to going road only.
I've never ridden a road bike but was wondering if you guys had done a similar thing, how did you find things??
Many thanks :-)
I found that it was easier to dictate pace and effort on the road because road surfaces tend to be more consistent than trails. No gnarly roots or drop-offs to negotiate.
It was also marginally handy for being able to exercise whilst going somewhere, however it's not great if you need to meet someone new at the other end. People don't immediately warm to a sweaty man in lycra shaking their hand.
The real problem with road riding however is traffic. It's no fund riding in winter with lorries and buses trying to mow you down or at best shower you with ice cold road water.
After years of saying, road riding was boring etc and resisting, I got a road bike last january! Really picked it up, since, and got into it, spending more and more hours in the saddle, still get out on the MTB but not to the same extent. The main reason I got the biek was to do a bit more commuting and not having to clean myself for hours after a ride in the winter, but I have picked it up mainly for the competition side of things, really getting into Time Trials.
I think this is why I've dropped MTB from the majority of my riding, as there are more people I can challenge myself against on the road, rather than the MTB as it is harder to find a number of riders that are similar in ability and go out and kill yourself, bit easier on the road.
I think this is why I've dropped MTB from the majority of my riding, as there are more people I can challenge myself against on the road, rather than the MTB as it is harder to find a number of riders that are similar in ability and go out and kill yourself, bit easier on the road.
Thanks for the words of wisdom.
I'm based in Exeter and there is an abundance of cycle paths, and hills for that matter... So I'm not particularly worried about the traffic side of things, I could even make it to work all on cycle path, but it's only 3 miles away so not too vigorous.
I'm looking forward to the exercise side of Things and upping the fitness levels. I'm thinking get a second hand bike, see how it goes and come next summer I may purchase a new treat through C2W scheme.
I'm based in Exeter and there is an abundance of cycle paths, and hills for that matter... So I'm not particularly worried about the traffic side of things, I could even make it to work all on cycle path, but it's only 3 miles away so not too vigorous.
I'm looking forward to the exercise side of Things and upping the fitness levels. I'm thinking get a second hand bike, see how it goes and come next summer I may purchase a new treat through C2W scheme.
I just have a road bike for training. Have my all mountain enduro bike thing too. Road bike just let's me keep that bit fitter midweek when I can't get out off road as it's convenient.
Absolutely zero interest in it otherwise. Rides are boring and I hate them.
I need to enjoy my riding and my MTB allows me to do so. If I lived somewhere with decent mtb'ing right on my doorstep I would sell the road bike
If it's just swapping for fitness Just go for longer, hillier rides. Shouldn't have much issue living where you do.
Absolutely zero interest in it otherwise. Rides are boring and I hate them.
I need to enjoy my riding and my MTB allows me to do so. If I lived somewhere with decent mtb'ing right on my doorstep I would sell the road bike
If it's just swapping for fitness Just go for longer, hillier rides. Shouldn't have much issue living where you do.
Edited by joema on Sunday 3rd August 21:29
I'm another MTBer who bought a road bike for boring fitness purposes.
Other than the ability to get up to highish speeds, I can't find any fun in road riding. In fact I haven't used the road bike half as much as I initially intended, mostly because I just can't get on with the traffic.
It's bloody terrifying being the 20mph mobile roadblock on a single carriageway. b
d 40 ton wagons thundering by, cars nipping by when there's bugger all room. And don't get me started on trying to turn right.
Perhaps I'm just not militant enough - soft as ste, perhaps - but I can't shake the feeling that I am the hazard. I'm putting myself at risk, I'm contributing to putting others at risk. OK they don't HAVE to overtake, but if I wasn't there then they wouldn't have or want to.
No, I can only conclude that you roadies are all mental. Or suicidal. Or just looking for a fight with a Scania!
Give me mud, rocks and death by dry stone wall any day of the week. At least if I bin it off road, it's gonna be entirely my own dumb fault!
Other than the ability to get up to highish speeds, I can't find any fun in road riding. In fact I haven't used the road bike half as much as I initially intended, mostly because I just can't get on with the traffic.
It's bloody terrifying being the 20mph mobile roadblock on a single carriageway. b
d 40 ton wagons thundering by, cars nipping by when there's bugger all room. And don't get me started on trying to turn right.Perhaps I'm just not militant enough - soft as s
te, perhaps - but I can't shake the feeling that I am the hazard. I'm putting myself at risk, I'm contributing to putting others at risk. OK they don't HAVE to overtake, but if I wasn't there then they wouldn't have or want to.No, I can only conclude that you roadies are all mental. Or suicidal. Or just looking for a fight with a Scania!
Give me mud, rocks and death by dry stone wall any day of the week. At least if I bin it off road, it's gonna be entirely my own dumb fault!
Can't say I'd want to pick one over the other, but then why do that?
Both have advantages and their limitations.
For me, road bike is great for fitness, but it's also nice to get out there, cover some miles and take in some scenery. Add in it's a true means of transport and definitely my choice for commuting.
MTB meanwhile, it's all about having a laugh with mates for me, having fun scaring myself and generally not acting my age.
Both provide nice toys to constantly fiddle with too
Both have advantages and their limitations.
For me, road bike is great for fitness, but it's also nice to get out there, cover some miles and take in some scenery. Add in it's a true means of transport and definitely my choice for commuting.
MTB meanwhile, it's all about having a laugh with mates for me, having fun scaring myself and generally not acting my age.
Both provide nice toys to constantly fiddle with too
Jonny_ said:
I'm another MTBer who bought a road bike for boring fitness purposes.
Other than the ability to get up to highish speeds, I can't find any fun in road riding. In fact I haven't used the road bike half as much as I initially intended, mostly because I just can't get on with the traffic.
It's bloody terrifying being the 20mph mobile roadblock on a single carriageway. bd 40 ton wagons thundering by, cars nipping by when there's bugger all room. And don't get me started on trying to turn right.
Perhaps I'm just not militant enough - soft as ste, perhaps - but I can't shake the feeling that I am the hazard. I'm putting myself at risk, I'm contributing to putting others at risk. OK they don't HAVE to overtake, but if I wasn't there then they wouldn't have or want to.
No, I can only conclude that you roadies are all mental. Or suicidal. Or just looking for a fight with a Scania!
Give me mud, rocks and death by dry stone wall any day of the week. At least if I bin it off road, it's gonna be entirely my own dumb fault!
I couldn't have put it better than this, sold my new road bike after 1 use, mtb only for me!Other than the ability to get up to highish speeds, I can't find any fun in road riding. In fact I haven't used the road bike half as much as I initially intended, mostly because I just can't get on with the traffic.
It's bloody terrifying being the 20mph mobile roadblock on a single carriageway. b
d 40 ton wagons thundering by, cars nipping by when there's bugger all room. And don't get me started on trying to turn right.Perhaps I'm just not militant enough - soft as s
te, perhaps - but I can't shake the feeling that I am the hazard. I'm putting myself at risk, I'm contributing to putting others at risk. OK they don't HAVE to overtake, but if I wasn't there then they wouldn't have or want to.No, I can only conclude that you roadies are all mental. Or suicidal. Or just looking for a fight with a Scania!
Give me mud, rocks and death by dry stone wall any day of the week. At least if I bin it off road, it's gonna be entirely my own dumb fault!
Matt_N said:
Also none of my mates mtb anymore.
It seems less popular doesn't it.In the 90s we were all in Lycra on chunky bikes with knobbly tyres. Not so much anymore. The game has also changed, back then it was more cross-country orientated and if you could bunny-hop you were a god. Today kids are riding skate parks on MTBs and huge air with a back-flip barely turns heads anymore.
Eleven said:
Matt_N said:
Also none of my mates mtb anymore.
It seems less popular doesn't it.In the 90s we were all in Lycra on chunky bikes with knobbly tyres. Not so much anymore. The game has also changed, back then it was more cross-country orientated and if you could bunny-hop you were a god. Today kids are riding skate parks on MTBs and huge air with a back-flip barely turns heads anymore.
mike13 said:
Jonny_ said:
I'm another MTBer who bought a road bike for boring fitness purposes.
Other than the ability to get up to highish speeds, I can't find any fun in road riding. In fact I haven't used the road bike half as much as I initially intended, mostly because I just can't get on with the traffic.
It's bloody terrifying being the 20mph mobile roadblock on a single carriageway. bd 40 ton wagons thundering by, cars nipping by when there's bugger all room. And don't get me started on trying to turn right.
Perhaps I'm just not militant enough - soft as ste, perhaps - but I can't shake the feeling that I am the hazard. I'm putting myself at risk, I'm contributing to putting others at risk. OK they don't HAVE to overtake, but if I wasn't there then they wouldn't have or want to.
No, I can only conclude that you roadies are all mental. Or suicidal. Or just looking for a fight with a Scania!
Give me mud, rocks and death by dry stone wall any day of the week. At least if I bin it off road, it's gonna be entirely my own dumb fault!
I couldn't have put it better than this, sold my new road bike after 1 use, mtb only for me!Other than the ability to get up to highish speeds, I can't find any fun in road riding. In fact I haven't used the road bike half as much as I initially intended, mostly because I just can't get on with the traffic.
It's bloody terrifying being the 20mph mobile roadblock on a single carriageway. b
d 40 ton wagons thundering by, cars nipping by when there's bugger all room. And don't get me started on trying to turn right.Perhaps I'm just not militant enough - soft as s
te, perhaps - but I can't shake the feeling that I am the hazard. I'm putting myself at risk, I'm contributing to putting others at risk. OK they don't HAVE to overtake, but if I wasn't there then they wouldn't have or want to.No, I can only conclude that you roadies are all mental. Or suicidal. Or just looking for a fight with a Scania!
Give me mud, rocks and death by dry stone wall any day of the week. At least if I bin it off road, it's gonna be entirely my own dumb fault!
I went from MTB to road after MTB'ing for the best part of 20 years on and off. After experiencing the thrill of downhill routes of the Alps (and being a snowboarder) I just didn't get the same buzz in the UK. I have a some decent climbs and very quiet roads around me which are perfect for road riding but the MTB trails are tame at best and the decent local-ish trail centre is 45 mins away, so I thought road riding made more efficient use of my time. Ironically I'm now spending the weekends doing 80 - 120 miles on the road!
My intention is to get a new MTB as I like the variety and mates of mine still do quite a bit. Plus I am much fitter so its not just the downhill parts I enjoy. So for me, there is a clear winner but I wouldn't say that I would totally give up one for the other ...
My intention is to get a new MTB as I like the variety and mates of mine still do quite a bit. Plus I am much fitter so its not just the downhill parts I enjoy. So for me, there is a clear winner but I wouldn't say that I would totally give up one for the other ...
I spent a lot of time on MTBs when I was kid, but thinking back I didn't actually ride them off road very much. Mine spent a lot of time on the road. I used mine to get about when I was a kid and do my paper round.
I didn't really get into road bikes intil I was 29 and that was through open water swimming which got me introduced to Triathlons and for that I really needed a road bike, so I went out and bought one
I have just bought Cyclocross bike, but that's about as far off road as I will go. I have a baby on the way, so I might dust off the old MTB for baby carrying duties, but until the, it can just stay in the garage gathering dust.
I didn't really get into road bikes intil I was 29 and that was through open water swimming which got me introduced to Triathlons and for that I really needed a road bike, so I went out and bought one
I have just bought Cyclocross bike, but that's about as far off road as I will go. I have a baby on the way, so I might dust off the old MTB for baby carrying duties, but until the, it can just stay in the garage gathering dust.
Mr Will said:
mike13 said:
Jonny_ said:
I'm another MTBer who bought a road bike for boring fitness purposes.
Other than the ability to get up to highish speeds, I can't find any fun in road riding. In fact I haven't used the road bike half as much as I initially intended, mostly because I just can't get on with the traffic.
It's bloody terrifying being the 20mph mobile roadblock on a single carriageway. bd 40 ton wagons thundering by, cars nipping by when there's bugger all room. And don't get me started on trying to turn right.
Perhaps I'm just not militant enough - soft as ste, perhaps - but I can't shake the feeling that I am the hazard. I'm putting myself at risk, I'm contributing to putting others at risk. OK they don't HAVE to overtake, but if I wasn't there then they wouldn't have or want to.
No, I can only conclude that you roadies are all mental. Or suicidal. Or just looking for a fight with a Scania!
Give me mud, rocks and death by dry stone wall any day of the week. At least if I bin it off road, it's gonna be entirely my own dumb fault!
I couldn't have put it better than this, sold my new road bike after 1 use, mtb only for me!Other than the ability to get up to highish speeds, I can't find any fun in road riding. In fact I haven't used the road bike half as much as I initially intended, mostly because I just can't get on with the traffic.
It's bloody terrifying being the 20mph mobile roadblock on a single carriageway. b
d 40 ton wagons thundering by, cars nipping by when there's bugger all room. And don't get me started on trying to turn right.Perhaps I'm just not militant enough - soft as s
te, perhaps - but I can't shake the feeling that I am the hazard. I'm putting myself at risk, I'm contributing to putting others at risk. OK they don't HAVE to overtake, but if I wasn't there then they wouldn't have or want to.No, I can only conclude that you roadies are all mental. Or suicidal. Or just looking for a fight with a Scania!
Give me mud, rocks and death by dry stone wall any day of the week. At least if I bin it off road, it's gonna be entirely my own dumb fault!
I rode MTBs for 15 years (which is a depressing thought in itself). I still remember standing on a bridge with a couple of friends, watching a "roadie" come towards us below - we all sniggered when one of us yelled "get a proper bike!". On a bit of a whim, I bought a road bike from a friend (who had bought it..on a whim..).
Frankly I haven't looked back. Joke's on me.
A lot of it is location - I live in Hertfordshire - there are hundreds of miles of empty roads, and very little in the way of trails.
Finding myself missing mountain bikes, I bought myself a Trek EX - the sort of mtb I had always wanted to own growing up.
If I amortise the cost over the number of times I've been out on it, it's still cost me 3 figures per ride-out. The only reason I've still got it is the depreciation seems to be massive so it's almost not worth selling.
The fact it's a massive faff to put in the car, jet wash after use etc etc means I just don't put the effort in. The road bike comes out of the cupboard and I'm out within 10 mins.
I get a huge amount of enjoyment from riding off-road, I just never get to do it. One of the turning points for me was feeling the acceleration of the road bike. I also LOVE going up the climbs. I have NEVER said that on a mountain bike.
Final nail in the coffin? I may..MAY flog the trek to *gasp* help fund my next road bike...
Frankly I haven't looked back. Joke's on me.
A lot of it is location - I live in Hertfordshire - there are hundreds of miles of empty roads, and very little in the way of trails.
Finding myself missing mountain bikes, I bought myself a Trek EX - the sort of mtb I had always wanted to own growing up.
If I amortise the cost over the number of times I've been out on it, it's still cost me 3 figures per ride-out. The only reason I've still got it is the depreciation seems to be massive so it's almost not worth selling.
The fact it's a massive faff to put in the car, jet wash after use etc etc means I just don't put the effort in. The road bike comes out of the cupboard and I'm out within 10 mins.
I get a huge amount of enjoyment from riding off-road, I just never get to do it. One of the turning points for me was feeling the acceleration of the road bike. I also LOVE going up the climbs. I have NEVER said that on a mountain bike.
Final nail in the coffin? I may..MAY flog the trek to *gasp* help fund my next road bike...
Mr Will said:
mike13 said:
Jonny_ said:
I'm another MTBer who bought a road bike for boring fitness purposes.
Other than the ability to get up to highish speeds, I can't find any fun in road riding. In fact I haven't used the road bike half as much as I initially intended, mostly because I just can't get on with the traffic.
It's bloody terrifying being the 20mph mobile roadblock on a single carriageway. bd 40 ton wagons thundering by, cars nipping by when there's bugger all room. And don't get me started on trying to turn right.
Perhaps I'm just not militant enough - soft as ste, perhaps - but I can't shake the feeling that I am the hazard. I'm putting myself at risk, I'm contributing to putting others at risk. OK they don't HAVE to overtake, but if I wasn't there then they wouldn't have or want to.
No, I can only conclude that you roadies are all mental. Or suicidal. Or just looking for a fight with a Scania!
Give me mud, rocks and death by dry stone wall any day of the week. At least if I bin it off road, it's gonna be entirely my own dumb fault!
I couldn't have put it better than this, sold my new road bike after 1 use, mtb only for me!Other than the ability to get up to highish speeds, I can't find any fun in road riding. In fact I haven't used the road bike half as much as I initially intended, mostly because I just can't get on with the traffic.
It's bloody terrifying being the 20mph mobile roadblock on a single carriageway. b
d 40 ton wagons thundering by, cars nipping by when there's bugger all room. And don't get me started on trying to turn right.Perhaps I'm just not militant enough - soft as s
te, perhaps - but I can't shake the feeling that I am the hazard. I'm putting myself at risk, I'm contributing to putting others at risk. OK they don't HAVE to overtake, but if I wasn't there then they wouldn't have or want to.No, I can only conclude that you roadies are all mental. Or suicidal. Or just looking for a fight with a Scania!
Give me mud, rocks and death by dry stone wall any day of the week. At least if I bin it off road, it's gonna be entirely my own dumb fault!
Mr Will said:
It sounds to me like the choice of roads was the problem, not the choice of bike.
That's precisely it. The bike itself (one of the bargain BTwin Triban jobbies) is very impressive, but it's nigh on impossible to avoid traffic on the roads locally. And if I'm going to the trouble of heading miles out to find a good road, then I might as well go the whole hog, fit my roof bars and take the MTB out somewhere good!I've been mountain biking for well over 10yrs and often looked at getting a roadie to complete the fleet....I finally reached the conclusion that the roads of today are no place for 2 wheels.
I spend quite a number of hours on the the UK network (40k annually) and since taking on the role back in 2000, the standard of driving has become appalling.
I must come across half a dozen idiots a day driving who are at a guess texting away or catching up on the relevant SN.
For me, being out on the mounatin, far away from traffic/pollution and idiot cage drivers wins hands down every time.
I spend quite a number of hours on the the UK network (40k annually) and since taking on the role back in 2000, the standard of driving has become appalling.
I must come across half a dozen idiots a day driving who are at a guess texting away or catching up on the relevant SN.
For me, being out on the mounatin, far away from traffic/pollution and idiot cage drivers wins hands down every time.
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