Switching from MTB to Road
Discussion
I have always been an MTB rider since my yoof. I have recently got back into cycling but I don't want to be going off road and falling off / hitting trees etc. Currently I am commuting to work and doing a long ride at the weekends. The long rides are increasingly uncomfortable on the MTB. I want to do cycling events - sportives and the odd TT - as well as triathlons, so I have just ordered a shinny new Spesh Allez. Only the base model at this stage, I figure the frame is good and can always upgrade the gears, wheels and maybe some carbon forks over time.
I have never ridden a road bike before.
What should I be looking out for? I guess the are going to be less forgiving of bumps and potholes but what about traction? Can I carry more speed into corners or less? What are they like in the wet? The look lethal based on what happened to Wiggo the other day. I think I might keep the MTB and switch back to knobly tyres and use that for commuting when it is wet and keep the roadie for dry days.
Obviously the gearing will be different and no granny rings.
I have never ridden a road bike before.
What should I be looking out for? I guess the are going to be less forgiving of bumps and potholes but what about traction? Can I carry more speed into corners or less? What are they like in the wet? The look lethal based on what happened to Wiggo the other day. I think I might keep the MTB and switch back to knobly tyres and use that for commuting when it is wet and keep the roadie for dry days.
Obviously the gearing will be different and no granny rings.
In one word, twitchy.
It isn't, and you'll get used to it. However, compared to a MTB, the geometry is a lot 'faster' around the steering, it's lighter, and the tyres are at a higher pressure. Everything will happen more suddenly.
Reality is that at 100+psi, and such a narrow contact patch, tread on the tyre is irrelevant. They're really not that bad in the wet, and they'll corner far faster than you think, but it's mostly a head issue. You will arrive at the corner faster than you'd ever be going on the MTB and it'll feel less planted, but if you can get your head around it, they're no worse.
It isn't, and you'll get used to it. However, compared to a MTB, the geometry is a lot 'faster' around the steering, it's lighter, and the tyres are at a higher pressure. Everything will happen more suddenly.
Reality is that at 100+psi, and such a narrow contact patch, tread on the tyre is irrelevant. They're really not that bad in the wet, and they'll corner far faster than you think, but it's mostly a head issue. You will arrive at the corner faster than you'd ever be going on the MTB and it'll feel less planted, but if you can get your head around it, they're no worse.
On a side note, With regards to swapping back to your knobblies during winter, I found this gave me less grip.
A knobbly at a reasonable road pressure has very little contact area - I guess if I dropped it to 25psi it would have been ok.
A fairly fat semi-slick seemed to be much better.
A knobbly at a reasonable road pressure has very little contact area - I guess if I dropped it to 25psi it would have been ok.
A fairly fat semi-slick seemed to be much better.
Silver940 said:
The back wheel spins in the wet.
Only ever happened to me once. They are more prone to do it when you are out the saddle.I rode a MTB a lot when I was a kid. Only got into road bikes a few years ago. I still remember my first road bike ride. First thought was 'God, this is fast and twitchy'
I started road cycling 18months ago after MTB for the previous 24years - I now enjoy both.
Road Bikes initially dont feel comfortable so I recommend a BG Fit when you get the bike. Once riding, play with tyre pressures 80-100psi and move out of the saddle at times to improve circulation. Tyres make a big difference, I use Conti 4000 which are great, grippy & forgiving.
Road bikes are fast but traction on wet roads is the major concern - take care. In the dry, you can lean them further than you think but down hill corners soon get exciting. I hit 52mph coming down Mnt Ventoux & really concerned I would pop the front tyre under braking !!
Road Bikes initially dont feel comfortable so I recommend a BG Fit when you get the bike. Once riding, play with tyre pressures 80-100psi and move out of the saddle at times to improve circulation. Tyres make a big difference, I use Conti 4000 which are great, grippy & forgiving.
Road bikes are fast but traction on wet roads is the major concern - take care. In the dry, you can lean them further than you think but down hill corners soon get exciting. I hit 52mph coming down Mnt Ventoux & really concerned I would pop the front tyre under braking !!
944fan said:
I have always been an MTB rider since my yoof. I have recently got back into cycling but I don't want to be going off road and falling off / hitting trees etc. Currently I am commuting to work and doing a long ride at the weekends. The long rides are increasingly uncomfortable on the MTB. I want to do cycling events - sportives and the odd TT - as well as triathlons, so I have just ordered a shinny new Spesh Allez. Only the base model at this stage, I figure the frame is good and can always upgrade the gears, wheels and maybe some carbon forks over time.
I have never ridden a road bike before.
What should I be looking out for? I guess the are going to be less forgiving of bumps and potholes but what about traction? Can I carry more speed into corners or less? What are they like in the wet? The look lethal based on what happened to Wiggo the other day. I think I might keep the MTB and switch back to knobly tyres and use that for commuting when it is wet and keep the roadie for dry days.
Obviously the gearing will be different and no granny rings.
You're thinking too much. It's a road bike, which is just like...riding a bike. Sure it turns/accelerates/travels faster, and stops a little slower, but you soon adapt. The biggest difference is the location of the brakes and operation of the shiftersI have never ridden a road bike before.
What should I be looking out for? I guess the are going to be less forgiving of bumps and potholes but what about traction? Can I carry more speed into corners or less? What are they like in the wet? The look lethal based on what happened to Wiggo the other day. I think I might keep the MTB and switch back to knobly tyres and use that for commuting when it is wet and keep the roadie for dry days.
Obviously the gearing will be different and no granny rings.
Traction's fine: wheels spinning out are down to poor technique rather than the bike. And whilst you won't be able to plough through potholes etc. like you would with a a 6" bike beneath you, use common sense and a bit of bike handling skill, and you'll barely notice.
I was converted when I took a test ride. Ended up buying the Bianchi I tried. That was two years so and thousands of miles later.
I've just bought a mountain bike and I'm now trying to adapt to going slower but not having to keep my eyes peeled for anything other than smooth tarmac.
Oh and watch out for wet drain covers.
I've just bought a mountain bike and I'm now trying to adapt to going slower but not having to keep my eyes peeled for anything other than smooth tarmac.
Oh and watch out for wet drain covers.
I've ridden MTBs for ages. A few years back I wanted to do a second triathlon; I'd done one that was for MTBs but it was the last one held. It seemed I HAD to get a road bike - so I got one.
Rode it a bit but no major epics like most seem to do. Then I did the triathlon and by some complete fluke was 20th/200 in the riding, passing some very trick bikes; showing that doing a lot of fast, xc MTBing really helps with those hills.
My take on a road bike having recorded average speeds on various sections - they aren't actually much faster than a decent tyred XC MTB. They do seem to respond better to pedalling inputs, almost like they leap off the line. The brakes are quite frankly, sh**. I have lowish end Tiagra kit but having sampled much higher end stuff, it doesn't actually improve the brakes - just makes them lighter.
Even a low end road bike is VERY light - mine's a 2010 Allez Elite (£800) but it weighs far less than my tricked up £3k hard tail.
Get used to the slightly odd (at first) thing of not carrying a pack - saddle pack and some pockets in your jersey are the limit. I've maxxed at 40 on my road bike and 35 (on a road) on my MTB so road bikes are definitely quicker but it's not a HUGE difference.
Oh and at first you'll brick yourself about slipping over - any metal work is terrifying if slightly damp, road markings seem like death traps, drains are nightmares. You also avoid any potholes but they bikes actually take more than you'd think and are (slightly) bunny hop-able. They grip better than you'd think even with tyres at more than twice your MTB pressures.
I'd hate to think what you'd do if you REALLY needed to stop quickly on a road bike but other than that they are quite good fun; ride defensively though. Some motorists are beyond help with how dangerously they drive around road bikers.
Rode it a bit but no major epics like most seem to do. Then I did the triathlon and by some complete fluke was 20th/200 in the riding, passing some very trick bikes; showing that doing a lot of fast, xc MTBing really helps with those hills.
My take on a road bike having recorded average speeds on various sections - they aren't actually much faster than a decent tyred XC MTB. They do seem to respond better to pedalling inputs, almost like they leap off the line. The brakes are quite frankly, sh**. I have lowish end Tiagra kit but having sampled much higher end stuff, it doesn't actually improve the brakes - just makes them lighter.
Even a low end road bike is VERY light - mine's a 2010 Allez Elite (£800) but it weighs far less than my tricked up £3k hard tail.
Get used to the slightly odd (at first) thing of not carrying a pack - saddle pack and some pockets in your jersey are the limit. I've maxxed at 40 on my road bike and 35 (on a road) on my MTB so road bikes are definitely quicker but it's not a HUGE difference.
Oh and at first you'll brick yourself about slipping over - any metal work is terrifying if slightly damp, road markings seem like death traps, drains are nightmares. You also avoid any potholes but they bikes actually take more than you'd think and are (slightly) bunny hop-able. They grip better than you'd think even with tyres at more than twice your MTB pressures.
I'd hate to think what you'd do if you REALLY needed to stop quickly on a road bike but other than that they are quite good fun; ride defensively though. Some motorists are beyond help with how dangerously they drive around road bikers.
Edited by Vladimir on Tuesday 14th May 21:27
944fan said:
Christ. 30MPH on the MTB scares the s
t out of me. Think I will be more of an endurance cyclist than a TT demon!
Don't try a recumbent then, downhill you looking at 55-60+mph!t out of me. Think I will be more of an endurance cyclist than a TT demon!I'd enjoy 45mph on a roadbike downhill more than 30 offroad, so many more hard things to hit (trees and rocks).... that said I do both, happily :-)
The only thing to remember is you're doing motorbike speeds but wearing 0.5mm thick lycra pants!
scubadude said:
Don't try a recumbent then, downhill you looking at 55-60+mph!
I'd enjoy 45mph on a roadbike downhill more than 30 offroad, so many more hard things to hit (trees and rocks).... that said I do both, happily :-)
The only thing to remember is you're doing motorbike speeds but wearing 0.5mm thick lycra pants!
At least on a recumbent you have a smaller distance to fall. I am 6'55' and getting a 62cm bike, long way to come off that.I'd enjoy 45mph on a roadbike downhill more than 30 offroad, so many more hard things to hit (trees and rocks).... that said I do both, happily :-)
The only thing to remember is you're doing motorbike speeds but wearing 0.5mm thick lycra pants!
Need to work on that confidence. Anyone seen my bottle anywhere?
Like you 99FAN, I’ve just got a road bike and found the following after many years of MTB riding:
Brakes – v.poor in comparison to MTBs. Takes more pressure on the levers to slow you down, but it is all relative. You don’t need really powerful brakes as you’ll easily lock-up the skinny tyres and skid.
My urban commute actually took longer on my Road bike than my MTB to start with as my riding style on my MTB was to blast along at full pelt, safe in the knowledge that the brakes could bring me to a halt quickly. While not reaching as high a top speed on the MTB, I could maintain a high speed for longer and brake sharply in a shorter distance.
I’ve since adjusted to the road bike and find that I am much more aware of what is happening further ahead than before and match my speed according what is happening further down the road than I used to, therefore not needing to rely on short, sharp braking any more.
Riding position – got used to it pretty quickly. No aching back or anything, so assuming my road bike is set up OK for me. I did get aching wrists. From the angle I was holding on when on the hoods and braking when going downhill, hitting bumps in this position gave me wrist-ache for the first few weeks. No more problems though so my body must have got used to the new angle.
Speed – improved over my MTB but only after a few weeks of acclimatisation, and not a massive improvement. My MTB is around a £2k XC carbon hard-tail so it’s pretty light and quick to accelerate. Top speed is improved and climbing speed is also improved…maybe because you don’t have the option to drop into a 24/34 climbing gear and spin away at 4mph so you are forced to get out of the saddle when the gears run out and you find yourself slowing too much.
Confidence – improves over time. I was very cautious to begin with about corners, pot-holes, white-lines and drain-covers etc, but even in the wet, losing grip hasn’t been a problem…yet… but still sensible to avoid hitting wet metal covers in anything other than a dead straight, upright position while not touching the brakes…just in case!
This is only my opinion and based on the one, and only road bike I own... an £800 Trek 1.2.
Brakes – v.poor in comparison to MTBs. Takes more pressure on the levers to slow you down, but it is all relative. You don’t need really powerful brakes as you’ll easily lock-up the skinny tyres and skid.
My urban commute actually took longer on my Road bike than my MTB to start with as my riding style on my MTB was to blast along at full pelt, safe in the knowledge that the brakes could bring me to a halt quickly. While not reaching as high a top speed on the MTB, I could maintain a high speed for longer and brake sharply in a shorter distance.
I’ve since adjusted to the road bike and find that I am much more aware of what is happening further ahead than before and match my speed according what is happening further down the road than I used to, therefore not needing to rely on short, sharp braking any more.
Riding position – got used to it pretty quickly. No aching back or anything, so assuming my road bike is set up OK for me. I did get aching wrists. From the angle I was holding on when on the hoods and braking when going downhill, hitting bumps in this position gave me wrist-ache for the first few weeks. No more problems though so my body must have got used to the new angle.
Speed – improved over my MTB but only after a few weeks of acclimatisation, and not a massive improvement. My MTB is around a £2k XC carbon hard-tail so it’s pretty light and quick to accelerate. Top speed is improved and climbing speed is also improved…maybe because you don’t have the option to drop into a 24/34 climbing gear and spin away at 4mph so you are forced to get out of the saddle when the gears run out and you find yourself slowing too much.
Confidence – improves over time. I was very cautious to begin with about corners, pot-holes, white-lines and drain-covers etc, but even in the wet, losing grip hasn’t been a problem…yet… but still sensible to avoid hitting wet metal covers in anything other than a dead straight, upright position while not touching the brakes…just in case!
This is only my opinion and based on the one, and only road bike I own... an £800 Trek 1.2.
Just my 2penneth
I enjoy riding my road bike, but once a month is enough. I like the speed, the distances, the different type of workout you get. There's a great feeling when you crank it up and fly along. I hate the quality of the roads, nobhead drivers, and the traffic generally. And it really hurts when you come off! So MTB for me.
I enjoy riding my road bike, but once a month is enough. I like the speed, the distances, the different type of workout you get. There's a great feeling when you crank it up and fly along. I hate the quality of the roads, nobhead drivers, and the traffic generally. And it really hurts when you come off! So MTB for me.
The base model Allez is 2300 equiped iirc, unless you've bought the triple you may wish for the MTB granny ring occasionally.
Since I switched to road end of last year, I've gone from last up the hills to first/first few on club runs (there's a nutters bunch on a seperate ride out I'm going to move to and be humbled), it's really boosted my fitness, much more so than my mucking about on an MTB ever did.
Since I switched to road end of last year, I've gone from last up the hills to first/first few on club runs (there's a nutters bunch on a seperate ride out I'm going to move to and be humbled), it's really boosted my fitness, much more so than my mucking about on an MTB ever did.
I've just gotten into road cycling and also went for the base Allez. I've been really surprised at how easy it was to adapt to. Think the bloke above got it right, it's just a bike at end if the day. It's made a nice change just stepping out the door and riding, rather than finding somewhere to ride, getting the mtb in the car with mud etc. Also haven't had any trouble building confidence in traffic, although I don't commute so can imagine it's a different story in rush hour.
Was my first time on a road bike too and haven't had any problems with cornering or the wet.
Did you go for the red or black? Was torn and went for black in the end. Looks ace!
Was my first time on a road bike too and haven't had any problems with cornering or the wet.
Did you go for the red or black? Was torn and went for black in the end. Looks ace!
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