Switching from MTB to Road

trv75

I have been a keen mountain biker for the past 12 years or so, but during the last 6 months I have found my time 'off-road' becoming less and less in preference to road miles. So I have decided to finally buy a road bike and really try to start pushing the mileage up.

Currently on a route (road) I average 14-15mph on fairly level routes 200-300ft elevation (it's a bit flat where I am) over my usually time of 2 hours. What kind of increase (if at all) in mph could I expect switching over from a mountain bike to Road?

Reason for the question is I have road cyclist friends and would quite like to train with them but wouldn't want to hold them up while they wait for me wheezing at the back!

Thanks in advance for any replies

saprkzz

Its difficult to say really, but I have been MTB'ing for around 15 years, when I switched to the road last year could hold around the 16-17mph average speed over 20 miles with around 1000ft climbing, (i live in the chilterns),

Now after a year of road, on my own, a nice decent pace on the road is holding 19-20 mph average over that sort of distance, and in our group rides, we average around the 23mph av.sp over a 24 mile route.

Road is very addictive, but tyr and get MTB miles in as well, as it really helps you to build "road strength"

Cheers

Rushmore

With that speed on an mtb.. You'll be looking at about 18 -19 mph do you'll be pretty quick! LolL

Defyand

My guess is with an mtb background you'll have no worries with road stamina

blackpoolkev

I ride a mountain bike on a two and a half mile commute.It's like riding in glue compared to riding my road bike.Your averages will shoot up with some dedicated road kit.

nathb84

The day before a big ride i like to do a quick spin on my full sus mtb, it makes the road bike feel super fast so you wont have any probs swapping over, well hopefully doing both!