Mountain bike to road bike

Bikerboy34

Hi, I have search high and low but cannot find an answer.

I am a mountain bike rider and have been for years. I am thinking of trying my hand at road bikes.

Are there any similarities, can I expect to power away on a road bike at high speeds for great distance because of my years on a mountain bike?

What hindrances can I expect?

DOes road riding (on road bike) benfit mountain biking in any way?

What are some dangerous/wrong assumptions to make?

I love mountain biking and will not be giving it up but I don't leave near descent trails so I am thinking of doing some road riding in between.

I know I can go and test ride a road bike but that will not do. I will be way to timid for me to get these answers. They look very different and I expect they will feel that way to so I will not have the confidence to put power into it to see how the leg feels and what speeds I can easily achieve.

I will greatly appreciate your response to this.

jgsi

What are some dangerous/wrong assumptions to make?

to
expect to power away on a road bike at high speeds for great distance because of my years on a mountain bike

Bikerboy34

What I can expect? What differences will I feel?

Bignige

Talking from the point of view of a moutain biker who recently started road cycling....don't assume you won't get a majorly sore arse 1st time out despite riding a mountain bike for years...!!

father_jack

MTB's for mountains
Road bikes for roads

It's a bit like using a Land Rover on the road (rubbish)
And a Bugatti on a muddy field (rubbish)

Jumping on a road bike from MTB is not a problem. Not like you have to learn about a clutch
:-p both have gearing, both have brakes. And two wheels. My first road bike took about 5 minutes to get used to.

danowat

My immediate inmpression of riding my first roadie was "boy, the ride is harsh", and it is, compared to a mtb/hybrid.

But a roadie is SOOOO much more effecient on the road.

father_jack

actually I thought the ride wasen't harsh, and wondered why the MTB crowd whined so much that roadies gave a harsh ride.

Bunch of wimps, lol wearing armour who needs it if you crash at 50mph into a big sharp rock? ;-)

highlander777

I had a Stumpjumper FSR but now I have a Wilier Izoard Full Carbon

1st ride was a bit of a shock, in that I felt every bump in the road. Also, I changed my shoes as I put LOOK cleats on the bike...

I have now been out 7 times and I believe that I have now adjusted to the change in bike and surface.

The bike is really quick compared to the stumpjumper.

From a personal perspective, I was not using my mountain bike as I live about 5 miles away from the nearest trail. WIth the road bike, out of garage and I am off!

Finally, and this is the best bit. I have new toys and the stuff you can get for road bikes is really cool :-)....I am already a Platinium member on wiggle!! :-)

danowat

I don't think its harsh per say, just compared to a bike (hybrid / mtb) with larger, lower pressure tyres, it feels like it.

When I ride my hybrid now, it almost feels like I am riding a magic carpet.

father_jack

bunch of softies...

eeee when I was a lad 'ad to make shoes from broken pieces of glass

MikeWW

Was a pure mountain biker and got a road bike a year last July
Was surprised I wasn't quicker first of all. Not slow but it was the more high and constant intensity that took some time to get used to.
Handling was a bit different as well and definitely slower cornering than the out and out roadies. All comes with a bit of time, practice and training
Massive impact on mountain bike fitness and I don't know anyone who is seriously racing MTB XC that doesn't use a road bike
BTW Cyclocross fits neatly between the 2 disciplines and you might want to try that as well

Tom BB

Bignige wrote:

Talking from the point of view of a moutain biker who recently started road cycling....don't assume you won't get a majorly sore ars* 1st time out despite riding a mountain bike for years...!!

+1!

I've been road riding for about 3 months now, and like MikeWW came from a mtb background....I too expected to be quicker on a road bike than I actually am! My main problem is struggling with what feel like much bigger gears to turn...still aren't riding with a cadence as high on my road bike as on a mtb, it is getting better though.

Airwave

Father Jack wrote:

bunch of softies...

eeee when I was a lad 'ad to make shoes from broken pieces of glass

Eye that's nowt we used to live int middle a lake,and dad used to come home& cut us in half with bread knife-IF WE WERE LUCKY

I am the god of hell fire

Im another MTBer who got road curious

The first time I rode on the road it was merciless
I ran out of gear on a compact and wondered what I had done
Also I had no endurance/stamina although I could mash up short climbs

3y later I much prefer road to MTB
Its a much better workout and I am much much fitter

Generally though the 2 complement each other
MTB for bike skills and explosive power
Road for endurance

Im much better at each for doing the other

Cheers

Bar Shaker

I ride both and they compliment each other but its more one way than the other.

The road biking builds stamina that really benefits the mountain bike rides. Climbs will seem like a PoP and you will look for much longer XC rides to do. The road bike work will get you using a more aero stance, where you can and will have you picking a better line, just from looking at the smoothest path when road biking.

Bikerboy34

Bar Shaker wrote:

I ride both and they compliment each other but its more one way than the other.

The road biking builds stamina that really benefits the mountain bike rides. Climbs will seem like a PoP and you will look for much longer XC rides to do. The road bike work will get you using a more aero stance, where you can and will have you picking a better line, just from looking at the smoothest path when road biking.

I think I had not explain myself and asked the right questions. I expect the different ride and handeling but here you and a few others have touched my point of interest.

Seeing that you ride them both, which is what I want to do, how much time do you spend on each? do you find that your performance suffer on one if you spend "too much time" on the other? what would you say is a good roadie/MTB split to keep on top and develop both? I know it will be different for me but I am trying to get an idea before I leap.

Thanks

Bikerboy34

MikeWW wrote:

All comes with a bit of time, practice and training
Massive impact on mountain bike fitness and I don't know anyone who is seriously racing MTB XC that doesn't use a road bike

How long did it take you to get comfortable and able to put in a decent ride? What sort of impact did it have on your MTB? how does it impact on your MTB hill climb? do you use our road riding as part of MTB xc race training?? what kind of training schedule do you run wit both?

Thanks this is so helpful...

father_jack

How can more biking be detrimental? Getting comfy about 10 minutes, just to get used to different position.

UpTheWall

Here's my 2p worth:

First of all, of course MTB will give you fitness you need to make the switch.

The caveat is that it depends what kind of off-road riding you do? Short bursts up little hills? Long drags up Alpine climbs? Flat distance cross country routes?

And then it will depend what kind of road riding you plan to do? 5 mile commute stopping and starting at lights and roundabouts. Long weekend rides on hilly country roads where you'll do notch up 100 miles and 2k of climbs?

You get my drift.

One thing that's a particular advantage is that MTBers are good at spinning fast to get up uber steep bits. Not always true, but it's likely to mean you've got a good pedalling technique.

I used to love dropping roadies when I passed them on my MTB with fat nobbly tyres.

With regards to switching bikes, i get problems switching between different road bikes, let along from MTB. A few centimetres here and there can make a massive difference to comfort and efficieny. it depends on your default physiology a bit, and also your body adapts to a new bike and a new position, and muslces develop accordingly.

So that being the case, switching to a road bike from MTB is an even bigger jump. I think the most important thing to do is make sure you get properly measured up so that the frame fits you well, then tweak it as you get the hang of it. (Sigma cycles in Hampton Wick if in london, or cyclefit in cov garden.)

But as others have said, it will be less comfortable, you'll have more weight on your hands, and you'll feel the road more. But you'll be faster, mroe efficient, more aero. it'll take you a good few long rides before you adapt to the feel of it, but once you get used to it, and your body adapts, you wont notice it.

I found balance an issue cause of the higher centre of gravity and narrower bars. You have to dodge potholes rather than merrily ride over them to avoid killing your rims. And caliper brakes aren't as strong as discs or v-brakes.

And if you get a sore arse, as others have mentioned, I suspect that's because you have a bad setup or wrong saddle for your batty size. Or need better shorts.

Ta

Bar Shaker

In the summer I tend to split 70/30 road. At this time of year I let the weather decide - wet or windy it's the mtb. Winter is 70/30 mtb.

It took me a while to get my road fit right but a set up website helped a lot. I forget what the URL was.

Bar Shaker

In the summer I tend to split 70/30 road. At this time of year I let the weather decide - wet or windy it's the mtb. Winter is 70/30 mtb.

It took me a while to get my road fit right but a set up website helped a lot. I forget what the URL was.

streako

When I was living up in Edinburgh it was MTB all the way. Now I have moved back down to the North West I have a cyclocross bike, currently fitted with road tyres.
I do the majority of my cycling on the road now. It is more convenient as I can go from my front door straight onto a loop. You dont get dirty the same, and can wear the same kit more than once (apart from sweat!) Drivetrain doesnt wear out as fast because it isnt always getting full of grit.
It takes a while to gain confidence in the skinnier tyres and narrow bars, not to mention the flatter back. I got neck ache for the first few weeks.

Looking forward to having a bash at a couple of CX races soon.

MikeWW

Bikerboy34 wrote:

MikeWW wrote:

All comes with a bit of time, practice and training
Massive impact on mountain bike fitness and I don't know anyone who is seriously racing MTB XC that doesn't use a road bike

How long did it take you to get comfortable and able to put in a decent ride? What sort of impact did it have on your MTB? how does it impact on your MTB hill climb? do you use our road riding as part of MTB xc race training?? what kind of training schedule do you run wit both?

Thanks this is so helpful...

Took about 6 months of endurance work and threshold sessions before I could really race comfortably (Cat 3/4) on the road. But I train/race practise with good quality riders (Cat 1/2, Sponsored riders etc) Bear in mind I am 48 so on the MTB went from just outside top 100 on an Enduro to top 30 and top 10 in Regional Sports. My son who is now 16 started road training at the same time and is now ranked No2 in the UK for his age at MTB XC. Climbing as someone said becomes a major strength. Training varies depending on time of year and goals but is probably about 70% road based. Includes chain gangs, hill repeats, threshold work on the road then some longer off road stuff plus work to sharpen up technical skills. This is my sons blog which might help a bit http://alexwelburnracing.blogspot.com/