"Roadifying" A Mountain Bike for long distance?
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Really though? I'd consider myself to be a rider of average fitness, but have noticed a huge difference in pace from an MTB to a road bike. From an approximate average speed range of 12-15mph on the mtb, to 15-20 on the road bike.supersonic wrote:njee20 wrote:For the average rider, a road bike just isn't much faster or efficient, if at all.
I disagree. Bar ends by the stem is nothing like the positions you can replicate with drops, that's properly uncomfy, sitting on the hoods is fine, even the drops will be more comfy. Top tube's too short too, you'll be hunched up. To replicate the position you need to lower the front end so much before you even start faffing with bar ends. A road bike will always be faster.
For an average rider. Aero doesn't really come into it until you are consistently above 15mph - more than that to get real benefits. I have seen a lot of power/speed studies to show that many just don't get the benefit. The most aero position you can get are tri bars. As for 'comfort', that is entirely subjective, and down to the bike geo.0 -
I mean after some changes, especially tyres. I was easily averaging 20mph plus over short rides (15 mile) on the Zaskar and hardly any quicker on a road bike.0
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My eyebrow is raised somewhat.supersonic wrote:I was easily averaging 20mph plus over short rides (15 mile) on the Zaskar and hardly any quicker on a road bike.0 -
There just wasn't enough aero advantage on the road bike when looking at the set up.0
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you can keep a 20mph pace on the zaskar though?
I'm pretty sure that means you're faster than a lot of road bikers.0 -
12 years ago I could ;-). It was pretty flat from York to Selby though, and very straight, so it was pretty much head down and pedal all the way. But I could only keep that up for so long - the bike weighed very little, and was long and low back then, proper old school XC! Was a route I did for fitness.0
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butcher of bakersfield wrote:
Some of the Sustrans sections can be a bit 'interesting'. If you opt for those sections of course.YeehaaMcgee wrote:Why semi slick rear? What road conditions could warrant that?
What he says - there are a couple of points where we take a littel detour. Up a few hillsides and across fields. A lot more fun than tarmac. Good to get away from the grind for a couple of hours.2007 Felt Q720 (the ratbike)
2012 Cube Ltd SL (the hardtail XC 26er)
2014 Lapierre Zesty TR 329 (the full-sus 29er)0 -
Some interesting facts here as to what makes a quick bike
http://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-m ... dd006bbeea0 -
To be honest I would look at a road bike, otherwise you're looking at to make something that already exists and just won't work as well. Drop bars will give you more hand positions on a long ride and it will be much easier going.0
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For an average rider. Aero doesn't really come into it until you are consistently above 15mph
I'd say 15mph on a road bike is, at best, average...
The Zaskar example's not great either, by your own admission it was old school long and low. Take a modern bike and you're at an instant disadvantage. By the time you've fitted a longer stem, skinny tyres, rigid forks, bar ends etc, why not just buy a road bike?
My MTB weighs less than my winter road bike, but I'd never in my life choose the MTB for a road ride, it's horrible!0 -
I did say with some changes! Sure, if buying from new I would consider that, but I wasn't buying from new, and the OP here wants an MTB for use after too. There is little to lose when done right. And I'd say modern XC bikes are even longer, only the bigger forks put them higher.0
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It's kind of like buying an old land rover defender, lowering it and putting different wheels on it to keep up with your mate's Porsche. Not going to happen, not designed for it. After all the mucking about you'll have to do you might as well ebay a road bike, ride it then sell it to put towards a mountain bike. Otherwise it osounds like a lot of hassle just to make things harder for yourself. No way you'll keep up with a road bike over long distances.0
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You aint seen some of my mates Defenders.Paul 8v wrote:It's kind of like buying an old land rover defender, lowering it and putting different wheels on it to keep up with your mate's Porsche. Not going to happen, not designed for it. After all the mucking about you'll have to do you might as well ebay a road bike, ride it then sell it to put towards a mountain bike. Otherwise it osounds like a lot of hassle just to make things harder for yourself. No way you'll keep up with a road bike over long distances.
"Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
Parktools :?:SheldonBrown0 -
supersonic wrote:A lightweight rigid XC bike won't be much heavier than an average road bike, 700 road tyres will have the same rolling resistance and your av speed will mainly depend on how aerodynamic your position is.
This. Wish the commuters would take note lol.
There is indeed an obsession with road bikes on the commuter thread, or it may just be an anti hybrid obsession.
+1 for the above, and for what its worth, around the streets of London I reckon I'm nearly as quick on the Brompton as I would be on a road bike, and certainly far happier with flat pedals rather that clipping in and out all the time.Bianchi Infinito CV
Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Ultegra
Brompton S Type
Carrera Vengeance Ultimate Ltd
Gary Fisher Aquila '98
Front half of a Viking Saratoga Tandem0 -
In a town the upright position of a hybrid or a brompton is definitely a better idea. I rode about 15 miles on a moulton last week but I'm not sure I'd want to go too far on one!0
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Meh, I'm happy on my road bike around London! Wouldn't be any better on a MTB.0
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To be fair, London is a bloody horrible place. I'm meant to be working there in a few weeks, but I'm trying to secure a different job, back at "HQ" instead.0
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It's not that bad, the biggest danger is pedestrians and other cyclists! Ride assertively and you'll be alright, I did nearly get squashed behind some daft bint the other day who panicked when the lights changed and she was alongside the traffic (in a cycle lane), so she just stopped!
There may be an 'obsession' with road bikes in the commuter forum, but I want to get my commute over with as fast as possible, and a road bike is the best tool for that! Combined with the fact that I'd have absolutely no more confidence (if not less) on a mountain bike it's not really difficult to understand is it :?0 -
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On Putney high street in the past 4 years I have put one oldish lady in hospital for the night (ambulance and lots of blood), spilt 2 cups of other people's coffee, head-butted one guy, knocked a guy to the ground (twice), young women walked into me and tripped and finally fractured my 3rd and 4th metatarsal by being cut-up by a school bus and smaked my hand into a bollard.0
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fukkin chavs. You belong in prison.Chunkers1980 wrote:On Putney high street in the past 4 years I have put one oldish lady in hospital for the night (ambulance and lots of blood), spilt 2 cups of other people's coffee, head-butted one guy, knocked a guy to the ground (twice)0 -
Through other people's ill awareness of what's going on with the road?
I was cautioned with the old lady incident, but no further action was taken (rightly so) as in all of these incidents I did nothing wrong, merely responding to Njee's comment "It's not that bad, the biggest danger is pedestrians and other cyclists!' and how true that is.
The fractures were my own stupidity in trying for a gap that was not there, even though it was a cycle lane.0 -
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ha ha. just felt the whooooosh.0
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Didn't you say on another thread that you were nearly (or did get) hit by a car after undertaking at 35mph?
Yeah, I hit a car whilst doing that! That was a) when I was young and a bit more stupid and b) on the sleepy roads of rural Surrey. I'm slightly more savvy in London!0 -
njee20 wrote:Didn't you say on another thread that you were nearly (or did get) hit by a car after undertaking at 35mph?
Yeah, I hit a car whilst doing that! That was a) when I was young and a bit more stupid and b) on the sleepy roads of rural Surrey. I'm slightly more savvy in London!
Ah, good, it sounded like the kind of thing that might have "interesting" results!0 -
Aye, the results were sufficiently interesting the first time that I never felt the need to repeat the circumstances! It did teach me things though, notably:
- Dura Ace STIs are significantly stronger than Lexus IS200 doors
- Shimano shoe ratchets may fail before the cleat in sudden impacts, you won't stay attached to the bike, but your shoe might
- Just because a driver says they won't sue you at the time doesn't mean they won't get some very dubious 'witness' statements 10 months later and come after you for the £3500 damage to their car :roll:0
