MTB to Road conversion for ME

Boy Lard

I want to buy a road bike to help keep my fitness levels up, or even improve my fitness levels over the winter months when I feel I can't do as much on my mtb.

I have never ridden a road bike.

I don't have a lot of money to spend.

My biggest concern is the gearing ratio. When I am on the road on my mtb, I don't care how big or how steep the hill, I can always ride up it, I just pick a gear I can still manage to turn, and just keep turning it.

I was considering getting a Ribble Audax, completely base model.

Do I get the double (which for some reason I feel like I should), or do I get the triple?

There is a massive difference between my 'granny ring' and your 'slightly older Auntie ring'.

I hope this makes sense, I feel like I have strayed into forbidden territory.

Wrath Rob

And there was me thinking winter was the best season for riding the MTB!

Road bikes roll much more easily than MTBs. For example 17mph on a road is hard to maintain on an MTB but a doddle on a road bike. If you are definitely going to go touring in the Alps then get the triple. Otherwise get the compact double. It will have enough gears to get you up most things.

Last piece of advice, go out there and try a few bikes from the usual suspects. I tried about 6 before I got the last bike and I was amazed by how different they all felt.

Malersh

Where do you live? While most parts of the UK might be amenable to a neo roadie on a compact double, the Yorkshire Dales where I live clearly justifies a triple. Triples may be uncool but pushing your bike up hills is even more uncool.

I started on a road bike two years ago, bought a triple and now have built up sufficient strength that generally I don't need the granny ring. But considering some of the local 1 in 5 hills, if I'd never had the triple at the start I might have just given up!

Boy Lard

I live in Bradford. If I want to go anywhere interesting from here there are lots of hills. I think that I might end up with a triple, they seem more common on the cheaper end bikes I've been looking at.

neilgwhite

I'm just one week into my Mtb to Road transition and speed and efficiency aside, I would mention the comfort factor, I can ride my Spesh Rockhopper all day as its big tyres and 32mm fork soaks up the bumps even on the road with skinny bald tyres and the fork locked out. Nothing, I mean nothing could prepare me for the difference in ride comfort of riding carbon forks, Ali frame and 125lb on pressure in the rubber. Borrow one for a weekend and get 50 miles in before you buy.

I love my new ride and have no regrets, but it's horses for courses and I agree with the first response in this thread, the rolling resistance is very low compared to a mtb, and you'll feel energised by the increase in speed, the bigger wheels will have you up hills faster and recovering faster, I have a compact and was tempted to a triple until I read SRAM's write up on the Apex kit on mine.

So horses for courses, I having a cuppa and then putting my big tyres back on my Rockhopper..... Best of both worlds and spoilt for choice.... What a great hobby

keef66

If you're inflating your tyres to 125 psi you've probably shaken all your fillings out by now.

neilgwhite

keef66 wrote:

If you're inflating your tyres to 125 psi you've probably shaken all your fillings out by now.

Thanks for that, i'll go let some out, I thought it was the law!!!!!! I might survive another ride now :shock:

Gypsum_Fantastic

Malersh wrote:

Where do you live? While most parts of the UK might be amenable to a neo roadie on a compact double, the Yorkshire Dales where I live clearly justifies a triple. Triples may be uncool but pushing your bike up hills is even more uncool.

I started on a road bike two years ago, bought a triple and now have built up sufficient strength that generally I don't need the granny ring. But considering some of the local 1 in 5 hills, if I'd never had the triple at the start I might have just given up!

I started riding in February and ride a bike with a 50/34 compact and a 27 on the back and there hasn't been a hill I've attempted to ride up that I've not got to the top of and I ride in North Yorkshire most weekends.

I'd reckon Mr Lard will be fine with a compact, if me and my chicken legs can do it I reckon anyone can.

Boy Lard

I like "Mr. Lard", I might promote myself. I've been Boylard on the internet for at least 16 years.

Went to my LBS at lunch time today for some winter gloves and ended up being an hour late back to work after playing on bikes. Will probably go back and have another play Saturday morning. I'm now leaning towards the Giant Defy and a triple, but I change my mind that often I think I might be turning into a woman.

I'm getting all giddy now, amazing how childlike things like this can make me.

IShaggy

Forget triple - no-one under the age of 70 has triple. If you live in a flat area go for a standard 53/39. If you've got lots of lovely steep hills to play on then go for a compact 50/34. I've got a compact which I love as unless it get's really steep (over 10%) I can keep it on the 50 ring for the whole ride.

Paul E

I got used to the comfort aspect or lack of it very quickly, to the point where on mtb it feels very sloppy and soft.

I didn't realise I was over 70 having a triple on mine though (no choice on my bikes model), I am looking good for my age though...