I think I'm done with road...
Discussion
GenX said:
But, I hate mud. I don't do MTB in the UK at all, I've grown up on dry, sandy, rocky terrain in South Africa and more recently Portugal. Despise UK's muddy trails. So I stick to road and gravel there but even that in Winter, especially, is a grind for someone who has lived mostly in warm, Sunny climes with dry roads and trails.
You've not had fun on a MTB until you've ridden a proper loam trail, we have good loam in the UK! trails said:
Tim Cognito said:
trails said:
In a sphincter puckering way 
Also a game of leafy/rocky is always fun.
Up at Glentress for the new trails. Getting blown a couple of feet sideways is not remotely fun.
Interesting read.
I'm 52. Until recently I rode on the roads about 2-3 times a week, probably approx 40-45 miles a week. I had a half decent (but old) carbon road bike. A job change meant I could no longer ride on the quiet Hampshire lanes around my old place of work and instead had to try to ride on busier roads around where I live.
f
k that. It took two rides for me to realise it was just too risky. I sold my road bike and bought a hardtail MTB that I now throw in the back of my car and ride around Salisbury plain.
It's great. I feel as though I get as much out of it and I just feel safer doing it.
I'm 52. Until recently I rode on the roads about 2-3 times a week, probably approx 40-45 miles a week. I had a half decent (but old) carbon road bike. A job change meant I could no longer ride on the quiet Hampshire lanes around my old place of work and instead had to try to ride on busier roads around where I live.
f
k that. It took two rides for me to realise it was just too risky. I sold my road bike and bought a hardtail MTB that I now throw in the back of my car and ride around Salisbury plain. It's great. I feel as though I get as much out of it and I just feel safer doing it.
trails said:
Anything that gets the bike moving in unexpected ways
You need to try downhill at night in the winter, after a light dusting of snow that has obscured the frozen puddles on the entry to a fast berm.It took me a while to figure out what happened when I came to my senses. Fell off several times immediately afterwards as I was completely addled.
We had 2-way radios and when the others tried to raise me I couldn't remember how to use it, staring at it in bafflement.
One of the best night time runs ever!
5s Alive said:
trails said:
Anything that gets the bike moving in unexpected ways
You need to try downhill at night in the winter, after a light dusting of snow that has obscured the frozen puddles on the entry to a fast berm.It took me a while to figure out what happened when I came to my senses. Fell off several times immediately afterwards as I was completely addled.
We had 2-way radios and when the others tried to raise me I couldn't remember how to use it, staring at it in bafflement.
One of the best night time runs ever!
5s Alive said:
It took me a while to figure out what happened when I came to my senses. Fell off several times immediately afterwards as I was completely addled.
5s Alive said:
One of the best night time runs ever!
If I were uncharitable, I'd say these two statements are incompatible 
But i'm not & night riding is the bomb.
lrdisco said:
So much abuse towards drivers here. Have you never thought that we live on a small over crowded island and that people have high pressured time sensitive lives and your recreation/ hobby can cause delays to people.
People don’t see why you have to ride in groups 4 abreast on roads designed for a horse drawn carriage or at best a Morris Minor.
Yes you have the right to ride 4 abreast but your rights won’t get you far on a busy A road when 2.5 tons of SUV spreads you across the tarmac.
Try blaming the politicians who haven’t built cycle lanes.
Now as far as gravel path rides keep off routes where pedestrians are as cyclists seem to be the hooligans there. Are we seeing a bit of a pattern here that cyclists can’t seem to get on with anyone? Maybe cyclists are the problem and are the self absorbed ones?
Do
Love it when someone who doesn't have a clue what they're talking about staggers into a conversation and tries to contribute.People don’t see why you have to ride in groups 4 abreast on roads designed for a horse drawn carriage or at best a Morris Minor.
Yes you have the right to ride 4 abreast but your rights won’t get you far on a busy A road when 2.5 tons of SUV spreads you across the tarmac.
Try blaming the politicians who haven’t built cycle lanes.
Now as far as gravel path rides keep off routes where pedestrians are as cyclists seem to be the hooligans there. Are we seeing a bit of a pattern here that cyclists can’t seem to get on with anyone? Maybe cyclists are the problem and are the self absorbed ones?
Do
It is interesting how many people on the thread have done the same. I bought a hardtail xc bike to access the south downs from my doorstep. At that point the road bike got used once more and was recently sold... riding lanes and bridleways on the hardtail is pleasant, surrounded by nature and I dont have to share the routes with impatient people
joema said:
It is interesting how many people on the thread have done the same. I bought a hardtail xc bike to access the south downs from my doorstep. At that point the road bike got used once more and was recently sold... riding lanes and bridleways on the hardtail is pleasant, surrounded by nature and I dont have to share the routes with impatient people
I got a road bike after years of mountainbiking - it made me a bit stronger on climbs as it has much harder gearing but it's just so so stressful riding on the road compared to off-road.Did 100km road route from Lisbon and there were amazing cycle lanes, cars weren't trying to kill me and the hills were pretty relaxing with almost no traffic (only crap thing is they fit their brakes the wrong way round so I had to take downhills super slow - really don't understand the logic considering they don't swap motorbike brakes around in other countries)
joema said:
It is interesting how many people on the thread have done the same. I bought a hardtail xc bike to access the south downs from my doorstep. At that point the road bike got used once more and was recently sold... riding lanes and bridleways on the hardtail is pleasant, surrounded by nature and I dont have to share the routes with impatient people
It's brilliant isn't it? We're taking the train to Eastbourne next month to ride back to Findon and effectively do a half SDW. I am sure it could be done on the road but I can't see the fun in that.Bryanwww said:
I got a road bike after years of mountainbiking - it made me a bit stronger on climbs as it has much harder gearing but it's just so so stressful riding on the road compared to off-road.
Did 100km road route from Lisbon and there were amazing cycle lanes, cars weren't trying to kill me and the hills were pretty relaxing with almost no traffic (only crap thing is they fit their brakes the wrong way round so I had to take downhills super slow - really don't understand the logic considering they don't swap motorbike brakes around in other countries)
Austria is great, low traffic levels in the sticks and grave tracks everywhere Did 100km road route from Lisbon and there were amazing cycle lanes, cars weren't trying to kill me and the hills were pretty relaxing with almost no traffic (only crap thing is they fit their brakes the wrong way round so I had to take downhills super slow - really don't understand the logic considering they don't swap motorbike brakes around in other countries)
nickfrog said:
It's brilliant isn't it? We're taking the train to Eastbourne next month to ride back to Findon and effectively do a half SDW. I am sure it could be done on the road but I can't see the fun in that.
Have you considered doing it the other way round, Nick? We do have a prevailing south westerly in the UK & hacking up Saddlescombe in the teeth of a gale might not be quite as much fun as it looks on Google maps President Merkin said:
Have you considered doing it the other way round, Nick? We do have a prevailing south westerly in the UK & hacking up Saddlescombe in the teeth of a gale might not be quite as much fun as it looks on Google maps
Yes sure. I have done it both directions and both ends. You're right about the wind though but I like the variety of landscapes, although I suppose I could ride looking back lol. We did get caught by weather once too and bailed out at Falmer, praise the lord for the Station there!Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff