MTB/road bike cross over problem

Rich158
Rich158 Posts: 2,348
edited November 2008 in Commuting chat
I have started commuting by bike in the last 6 months or so, and herein lies my problem. I come from a mtb background, and used to race Dh locally, with some good results in my category. Working under the understanding that any time on two wheels is good, I purchased a road bike in order to commute.

Now when i ride my mountain bike I find I have lost my nerve, and jumps and drops I wouldn't have thought twice about last year phsyche me out. I can only put this down to spending more time on my road bike, and not feeling as comfortable on the mtb when I do get it out once a week.

Has anyone else experienced this, and how did you get over it?
pain is temporary, the glory of beating your mates to the top of the hill lasts forever.....................

Revised FCN - 2

Comments

  • snooks
    snooks Posts: 1,521
    I used to think my MTB was fast. Then I discovered the way of the roadie....

    Biggest problem I have is the different braking positions....but I've never raced on or off road, and my MTB's have never really been state of the art

    BTW which do you prefer?
    FCN:5, 8 & 9
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  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    I completely agree - I have done exactly the same, lost my nerve on an MTB. Fine uphill, on trails, but jumps, drops, kickers or anything like that I get fecking worried.

    From the road point of view; I have done TT and Triathlon for a while, so I am used to road speed and road control. I guess you get used to the ease of road riding and the fact that if you fall it may not be too bad, but on an MTB, you have jagged rocks, less control, it is harder on your upper body in terms of strength - you knacker quicker and trees are magnets for bikes!

    I have fallen off my MTB load - last time was in front of my wife going through what I thought was a puddle - turned out to be a pond.

    I am still a big pussy on the MTB though and won't do stuff my mates do.
  • Rich158
    Rich158 Posts: 2,348
    I've always considered myself a downhiller who's just using the road bike to get fit. Now I'm not so sure, I do kinda like the whole road bike thing having done a couple of sportives in the summer.

    I think I'm just going to have to get over my fear on the mtb. It's a case of stop being such a pussy and go for it. Got a trip to Chicksands this weekend with tha lads, hopefully having a bunch a hairy arsed mountainbikers taking the piss and shouting at me will be all the motivation I need.
    pain is temporary, the glory of beating your mates to the top of the hill lasts forever.....................

    Revised FCN - 2
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    Rich158 wrote:
    I've always considered myself a downhiller who's just using the road bike to get fit. Now I'm not so sure, I do kinda like the whole road bike thing having done a couple of sportives in the summer.

    I think I'm just going to have to get over my fear on the mtb. It's a case of stop being such a pussy and go for it. Got a trip to Chicksands this weekend with tha lads, hopefully having a bunch a hairy arsed mountainbikers taking the wee-wee and shouting at me will be all the motivation I need.

    Why not get yourself a cross bike then show those MTB'er a thing or two speed.
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • Rich158
    Rich158 Posts: 2,348
    There's no way you'll get me on a cross bike, I'd never live it down :?

    Anyway I like get dressed up in the body armour, full face helmet etc It makes me feel extreme, even if I never get more than 3 feet off the ground :wink:
    pain is temporary, the glory of beating your mates to the top of the hill lasts forever.....................

    Revised FCN - 2
  • simon_ramsey
    simon_ramsey Posts: 116
    I found the opposite :? I probably consider myself more of an XC rider (I just ride any terriain and don't wear lyrca though !!) I use an Airnimal Joey as a commute bike and consider my commute as "free fitness" and found that the extra fitness from riding to work and back changed my riding style offroad as I use the extra speed as I am fitter to carry me over obstacles. Although changing from one bike to another was a bit strange for a while as they are both so different (my other bike is a 2008 Specialized Stumpy XC Expert).
  • symo
    symo Posts: 1,743
    MTFU and go skateboarding, soon lose all sense of fear dropping in on a ramp.
    +++++++++++++++++++++
    we are the proud, the few, Descendents.

    Panama - finally putting a nail in the economic theory of the trickle down effect.
  • JGS
    JGS Posts: 180
    I ride a road bike to work everyday and ride a singlespeed MTB at the weekends as much as possible. I find that going out for a 3-5 mile warm up ride on the MTB prior to going anywhere helps a bit. Bunnyhopping up and off kerbs (especially the large ones near the tram stops in Notts) help get my eye back in. A funny side effect of the road bike is that I now ride my MTB a bit more tucked up than I used to, even if I am out of the saddle.
  • simon_ramsey
    simon_ramsey Posts: 116
    JGS - your post has just reminded me of the time I was behind a dustcart near Russell Square and some glass fell off the back into my path - I forgot which bike I was on an instinctively did a bunny hop (ridden MTB for 15yrs) on my commute bike & luckily didn't end up with buckled wheels.
  • JGS
    JGS Posts: 180
    simon_ramsey wrote:
    JGS - your post has just reminded me of the time I was behind a dustcart near Russell Square and some glass fell off the back into my path - I forgot which bike I was on an instinctively did a bunny hop (ridden MTB for 15yrs) on my commute bike & luckily didn't end up with buckled wheels.

    I keep forgetting my road bike doesn't have 1000th of the traction my MTB has when stopping. It's leading to a hell of a lot of sliding / drifting on the road bike during my commute though. Fortunately I used to ride BMX brakeless and feel comfortable with the back end of my bike sliding about while I am off balance.
  • Rich158
    Rich158 Posts: 2,348
    JGS I've had the sliding action as well, great fun, and the loook on other roadies faces when they see you controll it is great. I've had several hairy moment when I forgot I don't have dirty great disc brakes on the rooad bike though :?

    Going to Chicksands this weekend so I aim to go for everything no matter what. I think it's going to be a case of turn off brain, close eyes and go for it :D
    pain is temporary, the glory of beating your mates to the top of the hill lasts forever.....................

    Revised FCN - 2
  • glebrus
    glebrus Posts: 44
    JGS wrote:
    I ride a road bike to work everyday and ride a singlespeed MTB at the weekends as much as possible.

    What gear ratio do you use on your singlespeed MTB?
    I'm interested to build a singlespeed MTB, no idea what gear to start with.
  • Rich158
    Rich158 Posts: 2,348
    I used to run 32 up front with anything from 12 to 16 on the rear, depending upon the hills I was going to encounter
    pain is temporary, the glory of beating your mates to the top of the hill lasts forever.....................

    Revised FCN - 2
  • JGS
    JGS Posts: 180
    I currently ride 34-18 for general use and if I am doing more flat stuff I tend to swap to a 12 or 14. The 34-18 however gives me good acceleration, is easy enough for north shore antics and if you spin fast enough you can still hit a steady 18ish mph on the flat. If you are going the singlespeed route I definitely reccomend a steel frame like an Orange P7.

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