MTBers who've joined the dark side, unite!

neil_sheehan2000

Cedargreen, that helps enormously- thank you!

(Thank you also, mhuk)

BorisSpencer

Well after 3 weeks of owning a road bike I went to Cannock on the MTB on Monday and forgot to clip the peak back onto my helmet :oops: :oops:

TwistedSpirit

I hope to join the darkside soon

I believe i have a lot to learn tho!

Surf-Matt

Do it twisted - steep learning curve but great fun!

neil_sheehan2000

Okay fellow MTBers, a couple of potentially stupid questions to ask you guys before I take them out to the general roady populace:

1) What advantage do bib shorts give you over normal padded shorts? My padded shorts don't fall down due to a lack of shoulder straps; and surely clothing with extra material would make you hotter, no? (Not that taht's really an issue this summer, but still...)

2) What's with these brakes? I mean, they're not terrible, but wouldn't V-brakes be better (and about the same weight)?

Surf-Matt

neil_sheehan2000 wrote:

Okay fellow MTBers, a couple of potentially stupid questions to ask you guys before I take them out to the general roady populace:

1) What advantage do bib shorts give you over normal padded shorts? My padded shorts don't fall down due to a lack of shoulder straps; and surely clothing with extra material would make you hotter, no? (Not that taht's really an issue this summer, but still...)

My shorts are fine (Altura Progels) - I think the bib short wearers are fetishists...

2) What's with these brakes? I mean, they're not terrible, but wouldn't V-brakes be better (and about the same weight)?
Not sure but they work better than I expected. Maybe aerodynamics?

skyd0g

neil_sheehan2000 wrote:

Okay fellow MTBers, a couple of potentially stupid questions to ask you guys before I take them out to the general roady populace:

1) What advantage do bib shorts give you over normal padded shorts? My padded shorts don't fall down due to a lack of shoulder straps; and surely clothing with extra material would make you hotter, no? (Not that taht's really an issue this summer, but still...)

2) What's with these brakes? I mean, they're not terrible, but wouldn't V-brakes be better (and about the same weight)?

A1) Bibs are more comfortable, as there's no waist-band digging-in to you to keep the pad in place. This makes breathing easier too. They also go higher up your back (and stay there), so less draughts up your back. Not noticeably hotter, as the uppers are often mesh.

A2) Braking on a road bike is needed less often and with decent pads can be pretty good. V-brakes aren't very aero and would be heavier if you take into account the extra weight for the mounting bosses you need, plus the extra stiffness (thickness) the frame/forks would have to be to mount them.

Woodchip

I'm a convert from the muddy climbs to this weird tarmac stuff. The reason I converted is I broke my elbow 15 months ago in Brechfa (about 1km from the end of the route), had surgery to pin and wire me back together, and since then I've a) lost my bottle a bit and b) get a lot of pain in the elbow from the pounding your joints get off road (even with a full susser).

A couple of years ago I was always saying you'll never get me on a road bike. They look silly and roadies are a bunch of arrogant cyclists that never say hello. After getting mine I LOVE it. Speed, freedom, everyone saying hello (only because I say hello to MTBer's as well). Oh, and one thing I have noticed. Car drivers give a lot more respect to a lycra clad roadie than they do a muddy, baggy MTBer. All in all, so far it's been a very pleasant experience.

Got a Scott Speedster S30 with Ultegra upgrades through the C2W. I love it. Still not going very far (only 10 mile loops at the mo) but it's so fast. There are a few things I'm struggling with.

1) Traction - Really don't have any confidence in the corners at the moment. I'm guessing that comes with time

2) Cadence - I've got a high cadence from MTB (75-80) but can't seem to bring that up anywhere to 90 that is recommended for road cycling without feeling like a twit

3) Braking - I'm certain the brakes on my bike are made of steel. I've seen super-tankers stop quicker than my bike

I'm hoping to take part in a relay triathlon next year in my home town, so need to get my average speed up to about 25mph on a flat course with hairpins at each end. Currently averge 15mph, which, after a 15 month lay off (well 3 MTB rides in that time) I don't think is too bad.

bear baun

yer ive converted as well!! but i cant understand how these roadies can spend the whole day in the saddle on a boring road!! Doing rides like 10/25 mie tt's is far more intresting or is it just me :oops:

CiB

Just scan-read this lot. Welcome all to proper cycling.

First up, get the lycra on. We wear it because it works. Don't fool yourself into thinking that anyone actually looks for more than half a second at you in your cycling togs, far less worry that what they might think if they do form an opinion should have any bearing on your life. Lycra s there for your own personal benefit. As we say, you don't play golf in a suit of armour; you don't play chess in boxing gloves.... Wear the right kit for the job.

Tyres. There's more grip on slicks that anything else, knobblies included. You'll never aquaplane in the wet but you will have less grip. But you would on knobblies too. Trust your slicks. Your nerve will let go long before the tyres do.

Brakes. If they don't work, clean the rims with degreaser, take the pads off and give them a good clean, then clean the rims again. Then go out and brake hard a few times from high speed. If they still don't work as well as you think they should, get down to your LBS and buy some better pads. You're going to be upgrading & spending money for the rest of your life anyway from now on in so you may as well start now and get used to it. From experience, I know that accidentally getting Teflon lube [green aerosol can yeah?] on the rims means that the brakes are off having a quick fag on first use but subsequently are superb. Now I'm not recommending that you all go out and squirt lube over your rims to make your brakes work, but it works for me...

Being on the road is where it's at. Speed, effortless distances, shiny carbon bling. Come and see what you've been missing out on.

8)

Surf-Matt

I'm still riding my MTB a lot - enjoy the variety. Plus it's cost me an arm and a leg!

t0ph0id

I've joined the road club this year.
Really love my MTBing and still ride my Giant Reign over in Wales when I can but have recently got into triathlon and lots of road riding.

Loving it tbh and much more accessable. My girlfriend would also agree as it just means a few hours away rather than a whole day trip!

adydow

I still love my SC heckler and get out to my local trails in North Wales as much as possible, just having bought my bog standard Specialized Allez I am loving the convience of just been able to jump on it and going for a spin, had a lovely ride around the Great Orme 22 mile loop in total from my house I think..not got a computer yet but a mate informs me thats the distance, thought I had hidden my lycra bibs under by baggies until and eagle eyed m8 spotted them and enquired why I was wearing a mankini.

cjw

My road bike arrived last night. Absolutely beautiful but only riden it down the road and back to test out a little. Feels very very different to the MTB. Going to go out today linch time for a 13 mile spin round the reservoir.

Got one of these....



Looks better in the flesh than the picy.

jay THT

Starting to get hook on this road riding..

Its all cycling so its all good really..

cjw nice.. 8)

Leesykoi

Hi Guys,

Another seasoned MTB'er going the road way.

Just put a listing on the classified section for a decent used Allez or a Felt Z35 etc so i'll see what all the helpful roadies come back with. Thought was get a decent used road bike rather than a cheaper new one ??

By the way i'm keeping my MTB just fancy trying the road stuff for a change (turbo trainer in the conservatory in the winter sounds a good idea too)....

I'll let you know what i invest in !!!!

Lee.

cjw

Well that was fun still have a big smile on my face. Got absolutely soaked however as torrential rain hit half way round and very windy.

Got used to the feel after about 10 mins and boy do these things shift. Usually on the MTB flat sections (without pushing hard) travel at about 15 - 17mph, this baby does 22mph with ease. On a gentle downhill part hit 37 and had to brake due to a car in front.

Love the varied handle bar positions (although on the drops is a little scarry) compared with the MTB where there is really only one.

Brilliant

wastelander

My name is Rik and I'm a mountain biker gone roadie too!

Actually, I moved across 3 years ago (and some 10,000 miles ago!)) but seriously guys - once you turn you never look back...no more pouring over maps to find new trails, or 3 hour drives to find somewhere fun to ride the MTB...just hit the roads and head whever the fancy takes you.

Get the lycra on, lose the hairy legs (tanned and toned hair free legs look so much better in lycra) and go for it. Losing the granny ring (and the 29-32 lowest sprockets) means that your fitness and strength comes on in leaps and bounds, but don't fret 'cos your road bike will weigh 10lbs less and fly up the hills!

I still ride trails but now it's more for bike handling skills and upper body workouts.

Before long you'll all be heading for Alps seeking classic climbs not crazy descents and drinking a frosty one as a reward for the effort 8)

lost-time

Another MTBer here who has just got himself a roadbike. I've been toying with the idea for a couple of years but never had the finances to get one. I still love the MTBing but I also love the speed/endurance side of road riding. I also love coming home and not having to clean all the crud off.....living in a flat does have its disadvantages when it comes to bike cleaning. I'm hoping my fitness will increase with the extra time spend mile munching on the road and the two (off and on-road) will compliment each other.

lastwords

well im still riding mine regulary did 40miles last week before going on holiday for a week i can definatly say i can climb a lot quicker on my mtb than before. I have a lot more power in my legs now because on the road bike going up steep hills i have no choice but to power it up rather than spin which has really improved the strength in my legs.

This all means when i go up the peak district on my mtb i enjoy it even more

roger_merriman

Surf-Matt wrote:

I'm still riding my MTB a lot - enjoy the variety. Plus it's cost me an arm and a leg!

I'm not i just can't be assed to get the MTB to somewhere worth useing it, I used to live on the edge of the beacons so before to get to stuff i went out the back gate....

where as now i have to put rack on car, bike on rack and drive...

so the bike sadly sits in the shed for most part, might at some point swap for a cross as then i could at least use it off road on the minor stuff around here.

Radixmatrix

Picked road bike up today, Wilier La Triestina Veloce in black and just been out for a very short ride - love it, can't quite believe how fast it feels and how it accelerates.....

Been riding mountain bikes for a least 18 years, so this is a total change, you'll get an idea of my age when I tell you first vaguely off-road bike was a Dawes Countryman! Although probably wanted mates Raleigh Bomber....

Still going to ride off-road but wanted another bike for training, diversity and to see what the fuss was about

This forum has been invaluable and can see myself getting hooked already....

medicbiker

I have also recently started riding road. I started with a single speed for commuting without relaising that they are very popular in London and people want to steal them. This was so I would not be leaving my precious expensive mtb on the street. Do not believe the hype they are not easier to maintain the damn thing is the bane of my life it is forever having problems! I then got a proper road bike as now I live in London mtbing has become pretty much impossible as I can no longer afford a car. Went for my first club ride today, it was the second ride I have done on the road bike that is over 10 miles. They were extremely friendly and it was awesome! I have no idea what speeds we were doing but it felt very fast. I already own loads of lycra and never bothered with baggy shorts when riding mtb I made sure that I had removed the reflectors and spoke protector (my gerber made short work of it), attatched bottle cages, mini pump and saddle bag to the bike before going on the club ride. The bell stays though, how else can I politely ask pedestrians to get the hell out of my way when they step into the road without looking?

gbrnole

Ive joined the dark side! Got a great deal on a Pinarello from my lbs, the frames beautiful and the pink splashes on the carbon fibre look awesome - i think my ibis mojo's trying to get in her knickers!

Ive got the pinarello sporting some v12 flats and im on my 5-10's, full baggies, peaked helmet and my camelbak!

The steerings sketchy as hell, dont like my face being so close to the tarmac when on the drops either - my ar$e is sore from the solid ride, my hands hurt from the bars and buggered if i can ever get use to the shifter brake combo. I also keep riding on the pavement and then realising thats its not so easy trying to get back down, now i know how wheel chair users feel. Aside from all this im enjoying how accessible the riding is, not having to clean the bike every outing and the challenge, ill always be a dominant mtb'er, i love being out in the wilderness and my wheels off the ground too much but road riding adds to the mix.

Keep pedalling... 8)

frenchfighter

Welcome guys. Hope you bite the bug permanently!

There are a fair few pros which have made the switch like Cadel Evans. Most often they are superb descenders and great bike handlers. This is especially true for those from the downhill discipline.

Your off-road skills will stand you in good stead on-road.

cjw - very nice first bike!

adydow

Did 51k yesterday so slowly building up the milage, could of gone further but need to get back home as I was on a time limit, average spped 24kmph max speed 74kmph and had a couple of quick stops to take in some views and cake, not got the best bike handling skills to go no handed to eat etc yet, but its making a differnce with fitness especially on the mountain bike starting to keep pace with my m8's more and need less time for recovery. Need some good bib lycra, will invest £100 on a good pair, and a nice jersey, will avoid shaving legs though.

neil_sheehan2000

adydow wrote:

max speed 74kmph

:shock: 54 is the fastest I've managed so far. Was 74 not a wee bit scary?

punctureboy

i'm finding myself resetting the trip meter on my car all the time to measure the length of climbs which might be worth using for hill reps! got my first triathlon since getting a roadie this weekend, cant wait.

dombo6

Impress your new roady friends on the club run with your mtb skills as you bunny hop over pot holes at 25 mph instead of pointing them out.

adydow

neil_sheehan2000 wrote:

adydow wrote:

max speed 74kmph

:shock: 54 is the fastest I've managed so far. Was 74 not a wee bit scary?

Got up to 60mph yesterday..not sure on what stretch of road I did that on, wondering if the sportstracker pinpoints it on the log. I don't really get scared, a couple of hairy moments when you come up behind a car and they suddenly decide to turn and had to vere around him with a very suprized look on the drivers face.