Hmm...road bike to help me train for XC Enduro's

Mustang Sally

Hello roadies with knowledge and expertise in a field I have no idea about.

I'm a XC rider, but really need to get a lot more road miles in the legs to keep up the stamina and endurance. I have minimal money to spend, but many evenings to ride. What cheap, but quality bikes should I be checking out? Are the Boardmans worth a look?

All advice is very welcome!

Sal

JamesB

How about a new set of tyres for your MTB, ie get a pair of slicks and use the MTB on the road, if have forks lockout then also lockout forks; for years I used a `slicked up` MTB for road riding --you`ll be surprised at how much smoother the MTB will ride on the tarmac; if / when you get thoroughly hooked on road riding then buy a road bike

edit : AND also living where you do you could use some of the smoother forestry tracks on an MTB with slicks, to make more interesting routes---I do not recall vast amounts of tarmac options in that arae of the world !

Monty Dog

Don't be fooled into thinking a slicked-up MTB will be like riding a road bike - there's no comparison, particularly as its harder to maintain a low tuck with flat bars. MTB geometry often doesn't lend itself to high-speed handling. Most MTB gears run-out at about 23mph, leaving you in a spinning frenzy. Boardman are excellent value, as are Planet-X and Ribble for example. Road bike sizing is slightly different to MTB so make sure you take that into account.

JamesB

Don't be fooled into thinking a slicked-up MTB will be like riding a road bike - there's no comparison, particularly as its harder to maintain a low tuck with flat bars. MTB geometry often doesn't lend itself to high-speed handling. Most MTB gears run-out at about 23mph, leaving you in a spinning frenzy

Yes I agree but OP has `minimal money to spend` so wouldn`t this use of an MTB be a good starter point?? disagree about spinning out though MTB 44 /11 top is similar to a compact 50/12 or 13 top ! I maanged 30-35 on slicked MTB at times and handled OK, yes not as a road bike but as a means of tarmac riding

springtide9

As above... (and agree with both)

A set of wheels with slicks are the best VFM - and could be had for very little cost. Personally I find cycling on the road on an MTB rather dull - which means it's really uninspiring to get out.

Most road bikes would be preferable to an MTB, so if money was tight... I would probably pick a budget and get what I could on the secondhand roadie market. If you really on a shoestring, just get a set of wheels with slicks.

Road work really does pay off on the MTB (for me anyway). But I still find the MTB much more demanding, so do remember to still ride off-road. It's amazing how quickly you loose the stamina in your core, upper body, arms and hands.

ShutUpLegs

Whats an xc enduro? Sounds like a gentle pootle through some woods.

springtide9

ShutUpLegs wrote:

Whats an xc enduro? Sounds like a gentle pootle through some woods.

XC Enduro = Cross Country over rough terrain.
There is no traffic and you are timed, so there is no excuse not to go for it. So it is all about crossing mountains as fast as possible, rather than rolling over gentle hills (and complaining about the road feeling a little rough!)
It's what roadies would call an RR (or Paris–Roubaix) rather than a UK Sportive (which really is a gentle ride on county roads).

rolf_f

I'd either go with the slick tyres on the MTB approach - you can cover plenty of miles on the road like that; not as nice as being on a proper road bike but it will give you the training.

Alternatively, just get an old steel framed racer for £120 or so. That will get you a nice 1980s bike that will be far nearer to a modern road bike than the MTB. And you'll always know that if you look after it, you'll be able to sell it any time for what it cost you.