MTBers who've joined the dark side, unite!

neil_sheehan2000

Okay guys, we know who we are; we're all over this forum like chickenwire on northshore; we are experienced MTB riders who have suddenly gotten into this road game and realised WE KNOW NOTHING.

God damn, don't you feel like a noob? Doesn't it embarrass you when you have to ask a shaven-legged roady whether or not your bike has an Italian bottom bracket or whatever? Getting slightly fed up with prefacing your every comment with "Hi, I've been riding mountain bikes for umpteen years but I was just wondering..." (which, as we all know, really means "Hi, please don't confuse me with one of those TDF-inspired Summer cyclists who buy yellow jerseys, ride their bike twice, and then- if they're lucky- store the bike in the shed for ever before they wind up smeared over the bonnet of a car! I really do know what I'm talking about when it comes to bikes- just not these sorts of bikes...")?

Well, there is a solution! Let's pool our resources, and use this thread to ask each other those embarrassing, niggly questions that'll probably make us look like idiots, before we take them out to the wider roady world and get laughed at like the new kid in school.

Come on, don't be shy. We're all friends here. I'll get the ball rolling: what on earth does 700cc actually mean?

bobpzero

seriously dont worry. i remember one mtb friend askd me whether roadies turn or lean into a turn. i just think mtb riders can spin far easier than a roadie. 700cc is the usual road wheel size (i think)

Anonymous

700c is the usual wheel size of a road bike (28") as opposed to an MTB's 26 or 29".

The widths of the tyres are measured in mm as opposed to inches, the most common being 23 or 25. You'll see tyre sizes expressed as 700x23 or 700x25 etc...

Welcome to the dark side of the road nazi!

andrewjoseph

Do roadies shave all over or just to the edge of shorts and jerseys?

Do you need special razors for the important bits?

Where can I get the tape that holds the mp3 earpiece in place? The stuff I use gets all sweaty and falls off so I've taken to using a conforming bandage around my head but then my helmet doesn't fit.

Who brings back my water bottle when I chuck it away in the last km from home? I don't want to put my address on it in case it goes through someone's window.

tuxpoo

I thought MTBing WAS the darkside?

Ho hum... back to practicing death grips on unsuspecting stormtroopers.

Tux

jellybellywmb

Remove the peak from your helmet before road rides, roadies dont have peaks.
Don't do wheelies or drop offs.
Do wear lycra, you will like it really.
Enjoy

soveda

tuxpoo wrote:

I thought MTBing WAS the darkside?

Ho hum... back to practicing death grips on unsuspecting stormtroopers.

Tux

Recumbents are the dark side aren't they?

Wheels:
most road bikes 25-622 or 23-622
most MTBs between 38-559 and 60-559
unless you ride a 29er when your wheels could well be 55-622

simple!

softlad

neil_sheehan2000 wrote:

what on earth does 700cc actually mean?

700c - not 'cc'.....is a European wheel size which superceded the old (and slightly larger) imperial 27" standard. Just numbers at the end of the day.....doesn't mean much..

pickled

I have a peak on my helmet and still have the spoke protector on. (dunno how to take it off....)
Is that why everyone is laughing at me?

Surf-Matt

Also joined the fray as of Monday - new Allez Elite.

Took off spoke protector and removed peak of Spesh 2D helmet for riding but using MTB shoes and SPDs.

Still not doing lycra though - I have lycra shorts that CAN be worn on their own (Altura Progels) but they are remaining firmly under a pair of Endura Singletracks for now!

Chucking it down here so the morning ride was on the MTB.

redddraggon

NapoleonD wrote:

700c is the usual wheel size of a road bike (28") as opposed to an MTB's 26 or 29".

Actually MTB 29" rims are 700c, they are just wider to accept wider tyres. So in theory they can be used on a road bike too.

Anonymous

Surf-Matt - i was the same at first.

I went from undershorts + Endura Singletrack -> Lycra + leg warmers -> Now (especially in this weather) i'm in full lycra shorts + short sleeve jersey. It's so much more comfortable than anything else.

It'll take you a while to get to that point, but you'll get there i'm sure! Oh, and i'm the first to acknowledge how ridiculous i look.

Surf-Matt

M.Cole wrote:

Surf-Matt - i was the same at first.

I went from undershorts + Endura Singletrack -> Lycra + leg warmers -> Now (especially in this weather) i'm in full lycra shorts + short sleeve jersey. It's so much more comfortable than anything else.

It'll take you a while to get to that point, but you'll get there i'm sure! Oh, and i'm the first to acknowledge how ridiculous i look.

If some of my mates saw me in lycra, I would be crucified! I also don't want to offend the general public. Or get arrested. :oops:

Anonymous

i've been offending them for a few weeks now - they'll get over it! It's like a weight off your shoulders when you don the full lycra outfit. hahaha :shock:

softlad

the MTB/baggy thing is a relatively recent phenomenon though. Back in the late 80s & early 90s, the only cycling gear available was road/lycra stuff, so that's what we all wore on MTBs. A few people would turn up on the club MTB rides in baggy cotton shorts or shell suits, but it only took them a couple of wet rides to see sense....

Surf-Matt

My MTB shorts are very nearly waterproof.

But I still got a bit damp on this ride:



Also did my off road tri in them (apart from the swimming bit) - all seemed fine.

Not sure if I'll be a lycra warrior quite yet...

MikeWW

Well for the road I've ditched the baggies which is definitely better
Got rid of all the spoke protector/reflector stuff
Bought a road type helmet but left the peak on for now-just not ready to go all the way
Bought road shoes and cleats but in hindsight wasn't really worth while. The MTB shoes were actually just as stiff so only marginal gains

roger_merriman

Surf-Matt wrote:

My MTB shorts are very nearly waterproof.

But I still got a bit damp on this ride:



Also did my off road tri in them (apart from the swimming bit) - all seemed fine.

Not sure if I'll be a lycra warrior quite yet...

i do both ie lycra under baggies means i do have somewhere sensible for phone/wallet etc.

Surf-Matt

Roger - so do I now. Padded lycras under shorts.

pickled

Same here for baggies over lycra on my commute. And that's the way it's staying.

I have however just taken the peak off my helmet. I can't see a way of getting the spoke protector off without taking the cassette off, so balls to that...

Surf-Matt

Pickled - I just snapped mine off by hand. It was loose and rattly. And pointless.

redddraggon

Scissors

salsarider79

As for shaving, well, um,....I don't do things by half so either I have hairy legs or it all goes.
I used lycra under baggyish shorts for MTB just for comfort (20-30miles off road needs all the comfort possible.)
Now I have no MTB having just sold my beautiful Salsa 29er, and no MTB friends, so am lycra'd up.

p.s. I love a little bit of ATB...

pickled

Surf-Matt wrote:

Pickled - I just snapped mine off by hand. It was loose and rattly. And pointless.

Ok! Looks like a butchering is in order tonight.

Infamous

What speed do you guys ride at?

Stewie Griffin

Infamous wrote:

What speed do you guys ride at?

They wont all have bought their Peugeots 605s yet and therefore wont know.

MikeWW

Infamous wrote:

What speed do you guys ride at?

pickled

Stewie Griffin wrote:

Infamous wrote:

What speed do you guys ride at?

They wont all have bought their Peugeots 605s yet and therefore wont know.

Bit too cryptic for me that one. :?

Frank the tank

One of the main differences between road and MTB is roadies tend to ride their bikes from their home rather than take them for a ride stapped to a bike-rack on a car.

spursn17

I have now joined the 'dark side'.

Does this mean I now have to ignore other riders whilst out cycling?

drewk1

Off to possibly buy a road bike tomorrow..to join the darkside too!!