Riding Differences - MTB to Road Bike

[anonymous-user]

[redacted]

[Jimbo.]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

You (can, if you wish!) stand up for sprints, climbs, or just to stretch out a little and work different muscles. Road bikes will feel different: a lot more weight further forward makes you feel a little "perched".

You brake from the hoods, yes: what braking power you get is sufficient for normal riding scenarios, although as you say for maximum braking power you brake from the drops.

It takes time, more than anything. Just give it a few miles, put some effort in...and then try an MTB again for the same given ride. Suddenly it'll feel fat, heavy, sluggish and inefficient.

[okgo]

Agree with Jimbo.

I can't ride flat bar bikes now, find my wrists hurting and my position bolt up right taking the wind is totally pointless.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Jimbo. said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

You (can, if you wish!) stand up for sprints, climbs, or just to stretch out a little and work different muscles. Road bikes will feel different: a lot more weight further forward makes you feel a little "perched".

You brake from the hoods, yes: what braking power you get is sufficient for normal riding scenarios, although as you say for maximum braking power you brake from the drops.

It takes time, more than anything. Just give it a few miles, put some effort in...and then try an MTB again for the same given ride. Suddenly it'll feel fat, heavy, sluggish and inefficient.

Hmm, strange.

I'm no pro cyclist - I just go out and bash for fun now and again. Got an MTB and a roadie too.

I stand and sit on my MTB depending on the incline and terrain. Then on my roadie, I do exactly the same - stand when going uphill if needed. Doesn't feel any different to me than on my MTB? Can you explain a bit more 'how' it feels different?

The only thing I can think of that no-one's mentioned is setup. I spent a long time arranging the headsets, stems, levers, SPD cleats on my shoes and seat height on both bikes - in fact on my MTB I had to get a longer headstem with a greater rise angle on it to suit me. Hence both bikes feel very similar to me, position wise.

With regard to braking - on my roadie (Specialized Secteur Elite) it has a good groupset - Shimano 105, so the brakes seem very sharp, even with the stock pads. I have no problem locking the rear wheel or doing a 'stoppie' even though I'm working the levers from the top. In fact pulling them further down gives too much braking.

Might be worth looking at the brakes - maybe decent pads will help if the ones fitted are a little bit budget?

What road bike is it anyway?

[hurstg01]

I sit on my MTB whilst on the road, even up hills....

Off out on it this afternoon, hopefully a nice 30+ miler on and off road

[Magic919]

I'd expect the road bike to feel a bit wobbly, due to the different geometry. I hardly use my road bike these days and it feels like that compared to my hybrids. After about 3 weeks of use it'll feel normal if you get out often.

[scottri]

anonymous said:

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I got my first road bike a few weeks ago (MTB for years before that) and know exactly what you mean. I got used to it after a few rides, it feels 'normal' now - i'm sure you'll be fine after a few rides.

[Manicminer]

Ditto, I got my first road bike a few months back and the front end was so responsive it felt twitchy and wobbly. Magnified 10x if I stood on the pedals.

Now it feels great and I've got used to it no problem.

[AyBee]

anonymous said:

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Probably just the width of the tyres. You shouldn't be swinging the road bike side to side that much, pull up on the handlebars as you push down with the pedal, it should stay fairly upright.