Roadies... Why?
Discussion
I spent a glorious 2.5 hours or so blatting around the Surrey Hills this morning on one of my mountain bikes. At various points, the trails cross or run past roads, and pretty much everywhere, roadies were grinding their way up.
Now, at least 90% of the miles I cover are on a road or CX bike as I commute to work, but I really don't understand why anyone would actually choose to do it in their own time?
Rain on a road bike = scary. Rain on an MTB = different sort of fun.
Nighttime on a road bike = crapper version of daylight. On an MTB = different, often spooky sort of fun.
Potholes on a road bike = scary. Potholes on the trail = extra fun.
Then there's the whole issue of riding along tarmac with cars vs through the trees with deer & badgers.
I'm not trying to pick a fight with any roadies, as the vast numbers of them mean they clearly see something in it that I don't. I'm just wondering what that something is?
Now, at least 90% of the miles I cover are on a road or CX bike as I commute to work, but I really don't understand why anyone would actually choose to do it in their own time?
Rain on a road bike = scary. Rain on an MTB = different sort of fun.
Nighttime on a road bike = crapper version of daylight. On an MTB = different, often spooky sort of fun.
Potholes on a road bike = scary. Potholes on the trail = extra fun.
Then there's the whole issue of riding along tarmac with cars vs through the trees with deer & badgers.
I'm not trying to pick a fight with any roadies, as the vast numbers of them mean they clearly see something in it that I don't. I'm just wondering what that something is?
From an athletic point of view the variables are more consistent so I can have real structure into training and accurate analysis of my performance.
I like being able to cover massive distances.
I like going really fast. You can get the same sensation of speed on the trails at slower speeds, it's just different to threading together the corners of an Alpine pass at 60mph.
I like MTB but I live in Central London with no decent riding locally and nowhere to store and clean a bike in my small apartment.
As I get older and less bouncy I think I'm less likely to injure myself on the road.
I like being able to cover massive distances.
I like going really fast. You can get the same sensation of speed on the trails at slower speeds, it's just different to threading together the corners of an Alpine pass at 60mph.
I like MTB but I live in Central London with no decent riding locally and nowhere to store and clean a bike in my small apartment.
As I get older and less bouncy I think I'm less likely to injure myself on the road.
As others have said, on a road bike I can cover big distances in shorter times, enjoy the buzz of riding at a faster pace and find some nice quiet routes away from traffic within five kilometres from home.
There are two problems with mountain biking.
1. Mountain biking invariably means lots of route planning to connect bridle paths and RUPPs to find some natural terrain whilst trying to minimise the road sections to link it all together....
2. Driving to a trail centre... Now I get the point of trail centres and enjoy them but could only ride the same place twice a year before it becomes dull. The idea of driving for an hour to South Wales to ride 25kms of well groomed, moderately challenging trails at Cwmcarn Dr example, then drive an hour back just doesn't excite me.
There are two problems with mountain biking.
1. Mountain biking invariably means lots of route planning to connect bridle paths and RUPPs to find some natural terrain whilst trying to minimise the road sections to link it all together....
2. Driving to a trail centre... Now I get the point of trail centres and enjoy them but could only ride the same place twice a year before it becomes dull. The idea of driving for an hour to South Wales to ride 25kms of well groomed, moderately challenging trails at Cwmcarn Dr example, then drive an hour back just doesn't excite me.
Kermit power said:
I spent a glorious 2.5 hours or so blatting around the Surrey Hills this morning on one of my mountain bikes. At various points, the trails cross or run past roads, and pretty much everywhere, roadies were grinding their way up.
Now, at least 90% of the miles I cover are on a road or CX bike as I commute to work, but I really don't understand why anyone would actually choose to do it in their own time?
Rain on a road bike = scary. Rain on an MTB = different sort of fun.
Nighttime on a road bike = crapper version of daylight. On an MTB = different, often spooky sort of fun.
Potholes on a road bike = scary. Potholes on the trail = extra fun.
Then there's the whole issue of riding along tarmac with cars vs through the trees with deer & badgers.
I'm not trying to pick a fight with any roadies, as the vast numbers of them mean they clearly see something in it that I don't. I'm just wondering what that something is?
Rain, potholes? Only if you're an utter chopper who can't ride for toffee.Now, at least 90% of the miles I cover are on a road or CX bike as I commute to work, but I really don't understand why anyone would actually choose to do it in their own time?
Rain on a road bike = scary. Rain on an MTB = different sort of fun.
Nighttime on a road bike = crapper version of daylight. On an MTB = different, often spooky sort of fun.
Potholes on a road bike = scary. Potholes on the trail = extra fun.
Then there's the whole issue of riding along tarmac with cars vs through the trees with deer & badgers.
I'm not trying to pick a fight with any roadies, as the vast numbers of them mean they clearly see something in it that I don't. I'm just wondering what that something is?
Traffic? Meh.
Nigh? Meh.
pablo said:
As others have said, on a road bike I can cover big distances in shorter times, enjoy the buzz of riding at a faster pace and find some nice quiet routes away from traffic within five kilometres from home.
There are two problems with mountain biking.
1. Mountain biking invariably means lots of route planning to connect bridle paths and RUPPs to find some natural terrain whilst trying to minimise the road sections to link it all together....
2. Driving to a trail centre... Now I get the point of trail centres and enjoy them but could only ride the same place twice a year before it becomes dull. The idea of driving for an hour to South Wales to ride 25kms of well groomed, moderately challenging trails at Cwmcarn Dr example, then drive an hour back just doesn't excite me.
That's a fair point if you don't live near trails.There are two problems with mountain biking.
1. Mountain biking invariably means lots of route planning to connect bridle paths and RUPPs to find some natural terrain whilst trying to minimise the road sections to link it all together....
2. Driving to a trail centre... Now I get the point of trail centres and enjoy them but could only ride the same place twice a year before it becomes dull. The idea of driving for an hour to South Wales to ride 25kms of well groomed, moderately challenging trails at Cwmcarn Dr example, then drive an hour back just doesn't excite me.
Where I was this morning, however, had loads of roadies riding past vast quantities of wonderful trails which aren't all groomed, and change all the time. If I was on the Norfolk Broads, I wouldn't have been asking the question!
OK, revise the question then. If you had the choice of road biking or outstanding mountain biking without the need to cover lots of tarmac (less than half a mile out of 15.6 for me this morning), why would you choose road biking?
I understand the notion of it being more predictable for training purposes, but do that many people really ride for training purposes rather than for fun?
Also, what's the attraction to covering long distances? Surely all that matters is the ability to ride for as long as you want without getting bored repeating the terrain, not how far you actually travel? By that logic, anyone going out for a hoon in their car on a Sunday morning would spurn the likes of the Welsh valley roads in favour of blatting up the M1?
Kermit power said:
That's a fair point if you don't live near trails.
Where I was this morning, however, had loads of roadies riding past vast quantities of wonderful trails which aren't all groomed, and change all the time. If I was on the Norfolk Broads, I wouldn't have been asking the question!
OK, revise the question then. If you had the choice of road biking or outstanding mountain biking without the need to cover lots of tarmac (less than half a mile out of 15.6 for me this morning), why would you choose road biking?
I understand the notion of it being more predictable for training purposes, but do that many people really ride for training purposes rather than for fun?
Also, what's the attraction to covering long distances? Surely all that matters is the ability to ride for as long as you want without getting bored repeating the terrain, not how far you actually travel? By that logic, anyone going out for a hoon in their car on a Sunday morning would spurn the likes of the Welsh valley roads in favour of blatting up the M1?
Distance, time...just allows more of a good thing. Seriously, how hard is this?Where I was this morning, however, had loads of roadies riding past vast quantities of wonderful trails which aren't all groomed, and change all the time. If I was on the Norfolk Broads, I wouldn't have been asking the question!
OK, revise the question then. If you had the choice of road biking or outstanding mountain biking without the need to cover lots of tarmac (less than half a mile out of 15.6 for me this morning), why would you choose road biking?
I understand the notion of it being more predictable for training purposes, but do that many people really ride for training purposes rather than for fun?
Also, what's the attraction to covering long distances? Surely all that matters is the ability to ride for as long as you want without getting bored repeating the terrain, not how far you actually travel? By that logic, anyone going out for a hoon in their car on a Sunday morning would spurn the likes of the Welsh valley roads in favour of blatting up the M1?
Why say "Them"? Loads of people ride both, this weekend I've been out on my AM bike riding off road ride round the Chilterns with 6 mates Friday night. Then Saturday I went on a leisurely ride round the Chilterns on my road bike with 3 other mates. Aston Hill Black Run Race & Velothon Wales - totally different and doing both :-)
Road bikes you cover much more distance in the same time, you reach much higher speeds, you work your legs much harder and you'll become MUCH faster on the mountain bike. The two go together very well.
You should give it s go, may get strong enough to run a single ring setup in your mountain bike ;-)
Road bikes you cover much more distance in the same time, you reach much higher speeds, you work your legs much harder and you'll become MUCH faster on the mountain bike. The two go together very well.
You should give it s go, may get strong enough to run a single ring setup in your mountain bike ;-)
Edited by Herman Toothrot on Sunday 3rd April 19:30
Kermit power said:
pablo said:
As others have said, on a road bike I can cover big distances in shorter times, enjoy the buzz of riding at a faster pace and find some nice quiet routes away from traffic within five kilometres from home.
There are two problems with mountain biking.
1. Mountain biking invariably means lots of route planning to connect bridle paths and RUPPs to find some natural terrain whilst trying to minimise the road sections to link it all together....
2. Driving to a trail centre... Now I get the point of trail centres and enjoy them but could only ride the same place twice a year before it becomes dull. The idea of driving for an hour to South Wales to ride 25kms of well groomed, moderately challenging trails at Cwmcarn Dr example, then drive an hour back just doesn't excite me.
That's a fair point if you don't live near trails.There are two problems with mountain biking.
1. Mountain biking invariably means lots of route planning to connect bridle paths and RUPPs to find some natural terrain whilst trying to minimise the road sections to link it all together....
2. Driving to a trail centre... Now I get the point of trail centres and enjoy them but could only ride the same place twice a year before it becomes dull. The idea of driving for an hour to South Wales to ride 25kms of well groomed, moderately challenging trails at Cwmcarn Dr example, then drive an hour back just doesn't excite me.
Where I was this morning, however, had loads of roadies riding past vast quantities of wonderful trails which aren't all groomed, and change all the time. If I was on the Norfolk Broads, I wouldn't have been asking the question!
I moved to Cambs from Scotland 12 years ago, and my MTB has sat pretty much unused since then, I now do road and CX work, the road biking is often with the local club for which the social aspect is as interesting as the ride itself, the CX I usually do on my own
I do both as a form of exercise and training for skiing as much as for the enjoyment of cycling
okgo said:
I can see how MTB appeals if you're not that good at cycling.
By cycling do you mean going fast?Different skill sets really, been out today 26 miles average 9miles per hour but had a really good time and not been on any of the tracks before.
On the road you do end up using the same roads if only to get too and from home.
Can't see why both disciplines can't exist together.
Here in France we don't have the bridle way only problem and lots of forests where you can roam at will.
I enjoy both, what's wrong with that?
feef said:
You're assuming they live around the corner from the trails, they could already have ridden 30, 40 miles or more before you saw them, coming from areas there are no trails
I moved to Cambs from Scotland 12 years ago, and my MTB has sat pretty much unused since then, I now do road and CX work, the road biking is often with the local club for which the social aspect is as interesting as the ride itself, the CX I usually do on my own
I do both as a form of exercise and training for skiing as much as for the enjoyment of cycling
I'm the same, having moved from Manchester to North Wales. Living equidistant between Llandegla and Clocaegenog forest I thought I'd be up the trials all the time, but I only use the MTB when cycling with my kids. The road bike is used 12/12, although winter requires Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres as punctures each ride got a little tiresome. I found the hills really added to the road riding, although killed my running off.I moved to Cambs from Scotland 12 years ago, and my MTB has sat pretty much unused since then, I now do road and CX work, the road biking is often with the local club for which the social aspect is as interesting as the ride itself, the CX I usually do on my own
I do both as a form of exercise and training for skiing as much as for the enjoyment of cycling
Interestingly, when I moved I was working towards a full motor bike licence, but let the cbt and theory lapse and bought a subaru instead.
Herman Toothrot said:
Why say "Them"? Loads of people ride both, this weekend I've been out on my AM bike riding off road ride round the Chilterns with 6 mates Friday night. Then Saturday I went on a leisurely ride round the Chilterns on my road bike with 3 other mates. Aston Hill Black Run Race & Velothon Wales - totally different and doing both :-)
Road bikes you cover much more distance in the same time, you reach much higher speeds, you work your legs much harder and you'll become MUCH faster on the mountain bike. The two go together very well.
You should give it s go, may get strong enough to run a single ring setup in your mountain bike ;-)
Couldn't agree more with the above. Until January last year I was solely a MTB rider. It helped that I have lots of off-road routes on my doorstep and if I wanted a change then I'd head off to FoD or the Purbecks for example.Road bikes you cover much more distance in the same time, you reach much higher speeds, you work your legs much harder and you'll become MUCH faster on the mountain bike. The two go together very well.
You should give it s go, may get strong enough to run a single ring setup in your mountain bike ;-)
Edited by Herman Toothrot on Sunday 3rd April 19:30
But last year I got talked in to a 100 mile charity ride (road!) and so bought myself a road bike and started training. The upside was that my off-road riding improved with better stamina and power. I'm still crap at single track though
joema said:
okgo said:
I can see how MTB appeals if you're not that good at cycling.
Is this some sort of joke?I ride both. One is because I need to for fitness and its convenience. If I couldnt ride MTB i wouldnt ride bikes as I never get the same buzz.
Roadbiking is boring as a concept, but curiously engaging. It has a culture and a history far in advance of mountainbiking and every moment on the road you can tap into that. It's about slipping into a cadence and rhythm that you can maintain for hours, immersing yourself in your surrounds at the same time. In a group, it's about taking a wheel and holding on, keeping 6 inches from the guy in front and working as a bunch to smash out the miles, before taking the wind and smashing yourself into the ground for the benefit of those behind. As for time trialling, a different kind of insanity altogether
Road bikes allow you to set of from Hackney at 9pm on a warm summer's eve, and roll up to a Suffolk beach as dawn is breaking.
Road bikes allow you to set of from Hackney at 9pm on a warm summer's eve, and roll up to a Suffolk beach as dawn is breaking.
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