Do I need a road bike?
Discussion
Hello all. Not a frequent visitor to this forum and after some advice. I’ve started to cycle to work recently as part of a health and fitness kick it’s just over 11 miles on a hilly route and is taking me a smidge under 40 mins. I have a mountain bike, Cube Ltd Pro which I’ve fitted some road tyres to.
My question is would it be worth looking into a road bike to make my journey quicker/easier or will it not make a huge difference? I’m not too clued up on road bikes, they’re obviously generally speaking lighter, larger wheels so greater roating radius, and less resistance. I live in the Lake District and go on the MTB trails near Keswick which is why I went for a MTB over a road bike in the first place.
My question is would it be worth looking into a road bike to make my journey quicker/easier or will it not make a huge difference? I’m not too clued up on road bikes, they’re obviously generally speaking lighter, larger wheels so greater roating radius, and less resistance. I live in the Lake District and go on the MTB trails near Keswick which is why I went for a MTB over a road bike in the first place.
Short answer: YES
I have a hardtail MTB and a road-oriented city-bike. The difference on the road is like night and day. The city-bike leaps forward and I can keep it at a consistently higher speed where the MTB seems to quickly drag itself back to lower speeds.
However, put my city-bike alongside my brother's full-on racing bike and there's another night/day difference. It's like his has an engine attached.
I have a hardtail MTB and a road-oriented city-bike. The difference on the road is like night and day. The city-bike leaps forward and I can keep it at a consistently higher speed where the MTB seems to quickly drag itself back to lower speeds.
However, put my city-bike alongside my brother's full-on racing bike and there's another night/day difference. It's like his has an engine attached.
No, you don't need a road bike. In fact, if you're on a fitness drive, a heavy bike which is hard work will do a better job than a carbon roadie. However, it certainly won't be as quick, nor as much fun to ride.
Bear in mind whether you're an all-weathers rider; whether you want to fit a rack, guards, etc; whether you have somewhere safe to leave a decent bike; and whether the cost is worthwhile to you or not.
Bear in mind whether you're an all-weathers rider; whether you want to fit a rack, guards, etc; whether you have somewhere safe to leave a decent bike; and whether the cost is worthwhile to you or not.
of course you need one! i cant imagine living in the lakes and not having one to throw up roads like Hardknott and Wrynose pass!....
it will make riding on the road much more comfortable, the larger wheels thing isnt what makes the most difference, the tiny contact patch in comparison to an mtb and the higher tyre pressure really pushes you along. you can get a good bike for around £500.
it will make riding on the road much more comfortable, the larger wheels thing isnt what makes the most difference, the tiny contact patch in comparison to an mtb and the higher tyre pressure really pushes you along. you can get a good bike for around £500.
How hilly is "hilly"? What is the road
surface like? Think road tyres can be quite uncomfortable on rough roads, and really quite unsuitable to heavily pot-holled roads. Do you have any very steep descents? In the right conditions a road bike will be faster and more comfortable, but a mountain bike with some semi slick but wide tyres may be more suitable depending on the nature route ( and. Not much slower)
surface like? Think road tyres can be quite uncomfortable on rough roads, and really quite unsuitable to heavily pot-holled roads. Do you have any very steep descents? In the right conditions a road bike will be faster and more comfortable, but a mountain bike with some semi slick but wide tyres may be more suitable depending on the nature route ( and. Not much slower)
I have an 8 mile commute...my carbon hardtail and alu road bike weigh similar.... over the 8 miles I'm 5 minutes quicker....not really as big a gap as I was expecting...but then I have a large margin for improvement as I improve my pedalling technique, get used to SPDs and the gearing etc...(although on the speedo my max is VERY similar, the gearing and lack of drag must allow me to maintain higher speeds overall I guess)
I certainly feel quicker, but in reality SO FAR it isn't what I thought/hoped.
eta: but yes of course you need one! how else can you expand your collection of boy's toys??
I certainly feel quicker, but in reality SO FAR it isn't what I thought/hoped.
eta: but yes of course you need one! how else can you expand your collection of boy's toys??
You can never have too many bikes, in fact you always "need" at least one more than you currently have, see rule no 12 : http://www.velominati.com/blog/the-rules/
I'd suggest that you have a look at the Dolan Preffisio which is very good value as a starter bike with Sram Apex ( esp. if you go with the larger rear cogs that are available with this groupset ), it would work very well on a commute as it comes as standard with guards and includes rack mounting points.
http://www.dolan-bikes.com/
Just ordered one myself fitted up with Sram Rival to use as a winter trainer through the bike to work scheme - i dont want to trash the good road bike on the mucky winter roads. Its a bit heavier than the good bike, but train heavy, race light and all that. Buying it this way also means i get it for less as well - bonus!
I'd suggest that you have a look at the Dolan Preffisio which is very good value as a starter bike with Sram Apex ( esp. if you go with the larger rear cogs that are available with this groupset ), it would work very well on a commute as it comes as standard with guards and includes rack mounting points.
http://www.dolan-bikes.com/
Just ordered one myself fitted up with Sram Rival to use as a winter trainer through the bike to work scheme - i dont want to trash the good road bike on the mucky winter roads. Its a bit heavier than the good bike, but train heavy, race light and all that. Buying it this way also means i get it for less as well - bonus!
Yes.Raoul Duke said:
You can never have too many bikes, in fact you always "need" at least one more than you currently have, see rule no 12 : http://www.velominati.com/blog/the-rules/
I'd suggest that you have a look at the Dolan Preffisio which is very good value as a starter bike with Sram Apex ( esp. if you go with the larger rear cogs that are available with this groupset ), it would work very well on a commute as it comes as standard with guards and includes rack mounting points.
http://www.dolan-bikes.com/
Just ordered one myself fitted up with Sram Rival to use as a winter trainer through the bike to work scheme - i dont want to trash the good road bike on the mucky winter roads. Its a bit heavier than the good bike, but train heavy, race light and all that. Buying it this way also means i get it for less as well - bonus!
sorry for the hijack bit what were dolan like, so badly want an Ares but need to wait for a fitting before committing.I'd suggest that you have a look at the Dolan Preffisio which is very good value as a starter bike with Sram Apex ( esp. if you go with the larger rear cogs that are available with this groupset ), it would work very well on a commute as it comes as standard with guards and includes rack mounting points.
http://www.dolan-bikes.com/
Just ordered one myself fitted up with Sram Rival to use as a winter trainer through the bike to work scheme - i dont want to trash the good road bike on the mucky winter roads. Its a bit heavier than the good bike, but train heavy, race light and all that. Buying it this way also means i get it for less as well - bonus!
Cant comment on the bike first hand yet as haven't received it - only sorted the order on Friday, but will let you know when it does! I dont expect to be blown away by it, but then am only going to be using it for winter training.
As for Dolan as a company, have spoken to them a couple of times on the phone and so far so good. At the end of the day look at some of the pro's who have ridden their bikes over the years - Brad Wiggins etc, essentially if its good enough for them then its good enough for me. Also the reviews are all pretty positive.
Pretty sure that all their frames are generic and available with any number of different manufacturers label on them, but the overall spec's - groupsets / finishing kits etc - look really good for the money, hence the recomendation. Would probably junk the supplied wheels for something better though - mine will be replaced before they even complete a full rotation!
As for the Ares, its used by the An Post pro-team so its not likely to be a lemon.
As for Dolan as a company, have spoken to them a couple of times on the phone and so far so good. At the end of the day look at some of the pro's who have ridden their bikes over the years - Brad Wiggins etc, essentially if its good enough for them then its good enough for me. Also the reviews are all pretty positive.
Pretty sure that all their frames are generic and available with any number of different manufacturers label on them, but the overall spec's - groupsets / finishing kits etc - look really good for the money, hence the recomendation. Would probably junk the supplied wheels for something better though - mine will be replaced before they even complete a full rotation!
As for the Ares, its used by the An Post pro-team so its not likely to be a lemon.
cheers, i have researched it for a while and the review of the pros bike (forgot his name) from this years ToB in bikeradar is glowing, Sram Red throughout and Kyriums for under £2K is awesome value for money and their track history speaks volumes, glad the order process etc sounds painless.
spoke to their rep at the bike show who said that the frame was their design but obviously made in taiwan, assume its dedacciai, he didnt say and I forgot to ask, which is fine with me.
right back to the OP, bought a road bike yet?
spoke to their rep at the bike show who said that the frame was their design but obviously made in taiwan, assume its dedacciai, he didnt say and I forgot to ask, which is fine with me.
right back to the OP, bought a road bike yet?
okgo said:
11 miles of hills on a MTB and you are doing it in 40 mins?
That seems fast to me
I agree. Although (here come the caveats) I'm on spuddies, flat pedals, desperately unfit, and I'm using the MTB in the evenings deliberately to make it hard on myself, I am doing a 5 mile loop in no better than 30 mins. I even got out of the saddle and pumped like a pumpy-thing this evening for the first time since I started cycling again 2 years ago rather than changing to the lower gear. I felt proud. It still took 30 mins and my legs ache (feels good if I'm honest).That seems fast to me
Anyway, I'm going to try the roadie tomorrow to see if it's any quicker.
snowdude2910 said:
:O how long did it take you to get this fast??
Not long, ride with people faster than you, you'll soon get fitter 
http://app.strava.com/rides/2341058#39317522 - so actually it was a fair bit quicker than what I said above...
I'm 15th or so for that section, there was a small group of us. But being really fast is being top of that (a clubmate of mine) and he rode it solo...
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