Bored of MTB's

caddison

Well after months of thought and consideration i am having a break from mountain biking and cant stay out the saddle so have bought a bargain Trek Madone 4.7.

The thing is I want to get as much out of road riding as possible and was wandering what is the best way to start training? With MTB's it was just a case of jumping in the car, driving for a while and have a laugh, but I feel there is more to road riding than just getting on your bike and blasting around the roads of staffordshire.

Does anyone have any suggestions on length and type of riding I should be doing to develop my fitness in the early stages of road riding.

Bit of a boring first post, I know but they will get better in time...........I hope

Thanks for your help.

Chris James

For me personally the charm of road riding is getting the bike out of the garage, setting off from home and discovering your local area.

Ideally pick quiet roads with limited traffic, nice views, some challenging climbs and long sweeping technical descents.

I found it is useful to know loops of roads so by combing different loops you can avoid doing the exact same route each time you go out.

Edit: I have just re-read your post and see you are asking specifically about training. In which case you might be better putting it in the training section! It is difficult to suggest route lengths etc as no-one knows your current fitness levels. Having said that, I still suggest that you need miles in your legs and the best way to encourage that is to go exploring. Don't worry about speed too much to start with.

Essex Man

caddison wrote:

With MTB's it was just a case of jumping in the car, driving for a while and have a laugh, but I feel there is more to road riding than just getting on your bike and blasting around the roads of staffordshire.

It really is that simple, at least to begin with.

caddison

Hi Chaps thanks for the respose

Perhaps im looking into thing too deeply to start with?

My base level fittness is quite good........he says. Ive been doing some 24hr solo MTB racing over the past 3-4 years, Mayhem and sleepless mainly so I would hope I would be good for a few miles on the road, but the one thing I have noticed is the condition of some of the roads, they are awful and you might aswell be off road. But moan over I am loving being out on the roads, Used my Trek to get to work this morning and intend in doing it a whole lot more.

I am however very competitive and need goals and targets, if you know what I mean. I read somewhere that an average speed of 18mph is a reasonable traget for a beginner, is this correct? averaged 16.8mph across 12.5 miles on the way to work this morning. Feeling like that extra 1.2mph is gonna be tougher that it sounds though...lol.

Thanks again for the response, it can be tough getting people to talk to you on these forums.

The one thing I love about road riding more than anything is the just walk out the fornt door get on your bike and ride...........its great.

balthazar

caddison wrote:

but I feel there is more to road riding than just getting on your bike and blasting around the roads of staffordshire.

Does anyone have any suggestions on length and type of riding I should be doing to develop my fitness in the early stages of road riding.

That sounds perfect to me! Presumably you ride your bike for enjoyment, so put enjoyment first – just "blast around" (and don't forget to look at the view). Unless you intend to race, there's no need to think of it as "training", with all of the worldweary duty that implies; it's just "riding your bike".

Professional racers are burdened by the need to get on their bikes even when they don't want to, because they must make a living from it. We, the lucky majority, have no such burden and can just have a nice time.

I'm loathe to suggest average speeds to aim for, as this is so personal and dependent on terrain. However, if you can maintain that 17mph in hilly country for an hour or more then you're doing damn well, and are probably due a cafe stop.

jgsi

The best bit about road riding is the fact that you start from home... no car driving involved.
I would suggest you scout around your local club(s) for practice in group riding and keening up the fitness levels for road riding as well as getting to know the better cycle routes out and about.

Monty Dog

Simple - find a suitable training group / club - you'll ride a lot further and faster and your riding skills will improve far more than if riding on your own. You'll also get to know decent training routes.

caddison

Thanks everyone

I am going to "just ride" I think at least through the summer as I need a few tweeks to my bike and the riding position is so different to what I am used too and my back is letting me know.

Then maybe in the winter look to join some more local riders and get a good mix of routes.

Feel like a kid in a sweet shop at the moment though..............

thnka again.

dombo6

With your background in mtb racing and 24 hour events you'll be fine fitness-wise. Join a club and maybe try their training group rides or chaingangs

rick_chasey

Bored with mountain bikes.