Should I refit my Mountain Bike or get a road bike?

[mikester]

So I used to like to go off road but frankly it turns out I'm not that smart or shy about taking jumps or risks that I can actually make. So, I got hurt a lot. Nothing serious - luckily - but hurt enough to realize that if I kept it up I would end up hurt seriously so I got off the trails and now I ride along the coast on the bike paths here between the south bay and Malibu. I don't really hit the streets much, I just like to get my cardio on the bike along the beach. I have a couple of itineraries I like to do. I have a 30 minute high intensity ride that is almost all up hill (5 Miles) and my MTB's gearing makes it possible. If I have an hour I ride from my house to the Manhattan Beach Pier and back (10 miles). If I have a few hours and want to 'get out and ride' I ride from my house to about a mile short of the Getty Villa in Malibu. It's a pretty flat ride but it's a little more than 20 miles round trip. It takes me through Venice and Santa Monica which are both cool places to ride through but not fast...

Anyway - the mountain bike is a GT i-Drive 6.0 I got around 2001 or so and it's a great bike. I love it but it's a little hefty for what I do. I love the gear ratio as it gets my legs pumping and that feels good. I don't go as fast as the road bikes really but on these paths the only thing good about speed is that it would save me time. I'm not really looking for that though. I have looked at some Trek road bikes and they are nice and I would consider one. I have noticed that their smallest main gear is about the size as my tallest main gear though. HA! That's kind of funny....

Anyway, I like just about everything about the bike I'm riding and I'm just considering butting some road tires on it and sticking with it but I would also consider trading it for a road bike of equal value...

Whatcha think? I've never had a road bike really so don't know what the benefits would be other than lighter, less work (it's a workout - don't want less work), different gearing, etc...



One thing also - I am an engineer at heart - I love how things 'work' which is one of the reasons I like bikes and also one of the reasons I like cars (and Porsches of course). I love making stuff go, work, do whatever I want, etc. So I always had my mind set that I would build this GT out with some nice disc brakes, good shifters, etc. I've done none of it though as of yet so the bike is bone stock.

[jyl]

A road bike is efficient. More speed for the same effort. My rule of thumb: at the same effort level, you cruise 2 mph faster on a mountain bike with slicks vs a mountain bike with knobbies, and 2 mph faster on a road bike vs a mountain bike with slicks. So 16 mph vs 18 mph vs 20 mph.

If your goal is to do maximum work in a given ride, then you don't want efficiency and you should ride your bike as is, just add some bricks and under inflate the tires . . .

But road bikes are funner on the road . . . I'd rather ride the road bike faster than the MTB slower.

[mrybczyn]

get a cyclocross. roadbike with light trail capability.

[mikester]

Originally Posted by mrybczyn

get a cyclocross. roadbike with light trail capability.

Yeah, I was just looking at those...

[Bill Douglas]

Mikester, I've got road tyres on my mountain bike (not that I actually ride it ) and they work well. For riding paved paths and sharing with skaters/bladers/naked women the mountain bike will work well. For real road riding a great road bike is lovely - so fast. But if you are riding and looking around, enjoying the day you bike will be fine with road tyres.

[VincentVega]

Get a decent used bike on CL for peanuts. Even with slicks you'll be hating life on an older full suspension bike on the road.

[911dean]

Originally Posted by mrybczyn

get a cyclocross. roadbike with light trail capability.

+1

Just ordered one! I regretted selling the one I had, ever since I did. I found it to be extremely versatile and comfortable.

[aigel]

I solved this problem as follows - put a tire with a flat center section and grip sides. If I ride mainly on the road, I pump them up real good and get low rolling resistance. A great compromise IMHO. They are made by armadillo.

G

[mikester]

Originally Posted by VincentVega

Get a decent used bike on CL for peanuts. Even with slicks you'll be hating life on an older full suspension bike on the road.

Why? I'm not trying to be contrary or argue the point but you provided me your opinion with no reasoning and that's what I'm looking for - the reasoning. With that said I do it all the time and find the suspension bike to be fine. With the low gearing I can accelerate pretty good but my top speed is probably 18-20mph working it on a flat bit of road with the wind at my back. I usually don't even try to get that fast though, more like around 10-15 tops on the paths. I do end up gravitating to the roads with a hefty incline just to use them for a hard workout.

[VincentVega]

Why? Full suspension is extra weight and horrible pedaling efficiency. Would you suggest OSPF or EIGRP today?

[mikester]

Originally Posted by VincentVega

Why? Full suspension is extra weight and horrible pedaling efficiency. Would you suggest OSPF or EIGRP today?

Generally EIGRP has a better metric but I can use OSPF too...

[Z-man]

Can you lock out the suspension? (ie go full stiff) It would make road riding more efficient.
Z-man

[Jim Bremner]

Locking out pivots designed to move will cause wear and stress on parts that might fail.


Buy a road bike, don't drive screws with a hammer.

[Flieger]

I like full suspension for riding streets since they are usually not quite smooth enough for a rigid frame, but then I get back on my rigid frame bike and it is like going from a truck to a 911. The steering makes it feel more nimble and stable so it feels safer on downhill turns. The biggest thing is that it is more fun to exert myself on the uphills because there isn't the lost motion into the suspension. Granted, my bike is old and the suspension tired and creaky, but with the rigid frame it makes me want to stand up and push myself to climb as fast as I can. On the mountainbike I just give up and granny gear it up, sitting down and spinning up the hill... slowly.

My rigid frame is an old Diamondback that I put some semi-slicks tires on it (26x1.5). Feels great. I can pass lots of people on carbon bikes.

[slodave]

Mike, I can't offer much advice, but I just picked up my entry level mountain bike this evening and put 6 miles on it. None were in the dirt.

I used to ride BMX (over 20 years ago) and was used to riding in dirt. I've not been on a bike in 20 years, all for a short time in college, when I borrowed a dorm mates Klein mtn. bikes. Even then, it was hard core riding.

Fast forward to today... In the past month, I was watching my fuel gauge in the Toyota go from full to empty every few days. The long drives for work I didn't mind, but the short trips to my parents or a local store was driving me nuts. I initially wanted a hybrid, as I planned on riding 60% on the surface streets, the rest on dirt. I decided to just go with a full mtn bike, though the tires are not nearly as knobby as yours.

3 of the 6 miles tonight was at night (using lights) and I was in the street with cars the entire ride home. I don't have any road bike experience, but I feel like a kid again! My bike is obviously heavier than most modern road bikes, is a 29er with 2" tires, but who cares! I can't wait to go explore the bike paths out here in the Valley this weekend! I may hit the trails with a friend as well...

I have a lockout on the front suspension, but decided against using it tonight, as I wanted to see what is was like with a front suspension working. Again, I had a blast!

Dave



EDIT: Bike is a Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 29er.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by mikester

I usually don't even try to get that fast though, more like around 10-15 tops on the paths. I do end up gravitating to the roads with a hefty incline just to use them for a hard workout.

For 10-15 mph on flat beach paths, it doesn't really matter what you ride, indeed that is what beach cruisers were invented for. The MTB will be a bit more secure when there is sand on the curve or if staring at a full bikini sends you off the path.

For the hills, they are a workout no matter what you ride. The MTB has lower gearing, the road bike is lighter, take your pick.

I think it only makes a difference which you ride, if you are riding, say, 18+ mph. (Assuming we're sticking to pavement.)

I think you should ride whatever you find more fun - I don't see a strong functional argument that you have to ride a road bike or an MTB (or a cross bike or whatever).

[jyl]

Dave, bright blinking lights please - be safe out there.

[madmmac]

With a bad back and bad knees I get good exercise without killing my back or knees by riding my Specialized Crossroads. Front shock only, 21 speed and upright position.

Ride 20+ miles 4-5 times a week on paved and unpaved bike paths. Usually average 10 to 15 mph depending on the grades. It at least keeps me moving. Very comfortable for a guy my ummm.....age.

Specialized Bicycle Components

[slodave]

Originally Posted by jyl

Dave, bright blinking lights please - be safe out there.

I put the lights on after the pic. I even bought a helmet!

[mikester]

Yah, the back thing is an issue too. My lower back and I are not good friends...