Road or Mountain... Which are you?

Road or Mountain... Which are you?

Poll: Road or Mountain... Which are you?

Total Members Polled: 148

100% Roadie: 27%
75% Roadie: 12%
I like both equally: 19%
75% MTB: 11%
100% MTB: 29%
I like going round and round in circles: 0%
I'm a weirdo.. Cyclocross first and foremost!: 2%
Author
Discussion

Kermit power

Original Poster:

28,634 posts

212 months

Monday 25th May 2015
quotequote all
I reckon about 95% of my miles are done on tarmac, but that's only because a young family dictates that the overwhelming majority of my riding time is my commute. Given the choice however, I'll always go in search of mud and roots! smile

I was prompted to think about this today, as I went out on the road bike not for a commute for the first time in months, so I thought I'd see where everyone else's proclivities lie?

Daveyraveygravey

2,018 posts

183 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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I don't understand why you wouldn't be both? They aren't THAT different.
Now, BMX and fixies, they're weird... ;-)

eggchaser1987

1,608 posts

148 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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I enjoy both equally now.

Used to only do mtb but now road is easier to do as I don't need to drive to get to any trails. Grown to love road as much as the mountain.

S10GTA

12,645 posts

166 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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I went 75%, but really needed a 90% option. Road most of the time but do chuck a cross ride in every now and then.

Kermit power

Original Poster:

28,634 posts

212 months

Monday 25th May 2015
quotequote all
Daveyraveygravey said:
I don't understand why you wouldn't be both? They aren't THAT different.
Now, BMX and fixies, they're weird... ;-)
Really? To me, that's like saying there's not much difference between football and rugby, as both are played on a field with a ball!

To me, road is basically about exercise. Sure, I like it if I go faster on Strava than I've been before, and I'll feel good about it afterwards because the exertion triggers endorphins, but it's totally different to mountain biking.

Mountain biking, on the other hand, is all about fun! It's about finding new ways down trails, getting covered in mud, scaring the crap out of yourself doing things you don't think you can do, then wondering why you thought you couldn't do them, and doing it all with a huge grin constantly stuck on your face! The fact is that I'll end up knackered from all the exercise it entails, but I don't generally think about that until I suddenly realise in the pub afterwards that I'm totally shattered! hehe

gazza285

9,779 posts

207 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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I race cyclocross and XC, but cyclocross is the main focus. I usually manage a few thousand road miles as well in a year, but this is purely to train for racing.

joema

2,644 posts

178 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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I use road as training, otherwise 100% MTB. Don't enjoy tarmac at all.

yellowjack

17,065 posts

165 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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I went 75% Road. But really, I like both equally. But I've been without a functioning MTB now since February, so getting on for 90% of this year's miles have been on a road bike. Ultimately, though, 'Road or MTB?' is a redundant question, as either one will put a silly grin on my face.

numtumfutunch

4,704 posts

137 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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I swing all ways:

Road
CX
MTB
Commute

I also ride with the kids on all of the above bikes

Kermit power

Original Poster:

28,634 posts

212 months

Monday 25th May 2015
quotequote all
yellowjack said:
I went 75% Road. But really, I like both equally. But I've been without a functioning MTB now since February, so getting on for 90% of this year's miles have been on a road bike. Ultimately, though, 'Road or MTB?' is a redundant question, as either one will put a silly grin on my face.
Now that's exactly why I went 100% MTB. If a road bike ever looks like it's putting a silly grin on my face, it's a cunningly disguised grimace! hehe

Pablo16v

2,071 posts

196 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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I’m 100% MTB. I used to be both MTB and Roadie, but in 1993 I sold the road bike to help fund a new MTB and I never got round to replacing it.

GuinnessMK

1,608 posts

221 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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In blatent disregard for The Rules, I only have 1 bike, an MTB, which I both commute on and ride at weekends.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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Track! wink if you think road riding puts a grin on your face, try the track....

I don't actually have an mtb at the moment so I guess I'm a 100% roadie but I'll buy another when I think I'll have the free time to use it. I do miss it and enjoy it just as much. I prefer road simply because it's more satisfying to rack up the miles.

daddy cool

3,996 posts

228 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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I said "both equally".

Road has its positives - the feeling after you have done a big distance, the almost effortless wafting along when you are on smooth road with a tailwind and in your perfect gear, and it has really improved my fitness. On the other hand, road riding scares me a bit - having come off a couple of times, i know its either going to really hurt, or be fatal. On road i am impacted more by other people - cars, pedestrians, other cyclists - and also by road surface and obstacles.

Mountain biking (XC - im not a nutter that likes downhill) is what i find more fun - either on my own going for maximum speed around the local trails, or with a bunch of mates. Its a different type of exertion than road of course, but they complement each other - mountain biking more of a full body workout, about explosive acceleration and shifting weight around on the bike, and road about getting your head down, focusing on cadence and breathing and maintaining rhythm.

AC43

11,433 posts

207 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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I use MTB's in the city both for commuting and general faffing about.

I like their general indestructableness (indestructability?) and comfort. Appreciate the way they handle broken tarmac, drain covers and the occasional kerb. Like the discs.

If I didn't have MTB's I'd go hybrid with a similar geometry.

pembo

1,203 posts

192 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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Cyclocross comes top for me, I've got a proper road bike now, been doing some long rides and entered my first crit this weekend. But it's all because I want to get fitter and faster for the main season which starts in September.

I haven't touched my MTB in 2 years so I sold it this week to fund more kit for the cycling I enjoy (and free up a bit of space in the shed).

Mr Gearchange

5,892 posts

205 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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Daveyraveygravey said:
I don't understand why you wouldn't be both? They aren't THAT different.
Now, BMX and fixies, they're weird... ;-)
Couldn't be more different.

Road riding requires near constant pedalling. My MTB riding is primarily downhill so there is very little, if any pedalling.

Road riding requires the wheels to be in constant contact with the floor - when I'm riding MTB I try and ensure my wheels stay off the ground as much as humanly possible.

Road riding shouldn't be scary - if you get scared riding road something has gone wrong. If you don't scare yourself whilst riding MTB you aren't doing it right.

etc etc

ewenm

28,506 posts

244 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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In cycling terms I consider myself a MTBer - I got my first "MTB" aged 13 (25 years ago!) and never looked back. Raced a few times in my late teens, but generally just like XC riding. Nowadays I rarely get out on the MTB except for collecting the sprog from pre-school and I have a basic road bike for commuting. If I get out on a bike for recreation on my own, it's the MTB. The road bike is a utility vehicle, the MTB a fun vehicle.

ukbabz

1,538 posts

125 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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I'd say about 90% roadie but have a lot more fun on my MTB. The road bike is a lot easier in terms of going out for a ride as I just put on clothes and start at home. However I take road cycling as a fitness / distance challenge, whereas the MTB is for getting muddy / having fun (or going XC between a few pubs ;-) )

okgo

37,846 posts

197 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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100% road for me.

I'm sure I would enjoy riding a mtb but I don't have enough time for it really.