Will a hardframe mountain bike be ok for a boards spin?

robvam

Will a hardframe mountain bike be ok for a boards spin?
I bought this bike a while ago http://www.gumtree.ie/dublin/21/35361321.html, would this be suitable for an 80 - 100 Km boards spin? Also I don't have all the proper clothes, i'd prob just wear my combat shorts and a t-shirt. I'm handy enough on my bike though and can be fit enough on a good day. I'd like to give a bit of a spin ago this weekend if there was one going on. Not a mentally hard one though, kind of relaxed. Like to get a good few Km in though.
Rob

Live in Greystones area (If that makes a difference).

Chips Lovell

Honestly, it probably wouldn't be suitable.

blorg

Could be pushing it (slick tyres would help) but generally down to the rider more than the bike- how far have you done on it before, and how did you feel? If you have done 50km before and felt OK 80km might well be doable. Personally I do find the position and flat bars uncondusive to long distances (I did 80km or so into Wicklow on my MTB when it was snowing but my hands/arms were pretty sore toward the end.)

alfalad

I've been on a 2 boards spins and they are a nice bunch, but it is hard work especially since it normally involves a good bit of climbing! (Reason I haven't been on more is cause i've been either working or away!) Firstly the bike would't the best as it's heavy so that will really slow you down and you kinda need to have the right gear, cycling shorts are a must, not they look cool cause without them you won't be sit down for a week if you spend more than three hours in the saddle! !
Also coming from greystones you would have to get to either Dundrum or somewhere on the route to meet them. Which would be a nice spin enough!

Not wanting to discourage you but if you beat yourself into the ground the first time your out it will only dishearten you and you won't want to see the bike again!!

My advice get a couple of 40-60km runs on your own under your belt and see how you feel!!

Unless of course you are super fit and hard and can take the pain straight away!!:D

robvam

Yeh, I think your right. I think ill get a bike computer and see what sort of distances I can manage then come back to you after a while.
Cheers, Rob.

petethedrummer

Next time your on the bike, see if you can keep up with a guy on road bike for a reasonable length of time. I don't think it can be done, unless your a descendent of Mick Murphy...

'On one stage in the 1958 rás, after his bike broke down, Murphy stole a good-looking girl’s bicycle from a farmer herding cows and chased down the leading pack.'

Though me and a mate were beaten up a hill outside Enniskerry by a guy on a flash mountain bike on our way back from a long spin. He did look awesomely fit though. We stopped in Enniskerry for a break and he kept going but we easily caught him after copping ourselves on. Nothing to be overly proud of, he would have annihilated us on a road bike.:(

DirkVoodoo

Yeah I think a flat bar road bike or fixie would be the minimum depending on your fitness. Sure you could always head out and turn back whenever you feel you have had enough.

EDIT: @Pete: I remember in the Tim Moore book "French Revolutions" he mentions some guy from back in the day whose fork broke in a race, so under regulations he had to carry his bike into town and have a blacksmith forge him a new one so he could get back in the race. No spares. Proper hard they were.

TinyExplosions

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

EDIT: @Pete: I remember in the Tim Moore book "French Revolutions" he mentions some guy from back in the day whose fork broke in a race, so under regulations he had to carry his bike into town and have a blacksmith forge him a new one so he could get back in the race. No spares. Proper hard they were.

EDIT:
"Bike changes were not allowed, nor was outside assistance to fix the inevitable repairs and punctures on the poor roads.


The Pyrenees were first crossed in 1910

When a rider, Eugene Christophe, broke his forks in the Pyrenees he stopped off at a forge, begged a length of metal and started to fix the bike himself.

A race official looked - the rider had to do all this work on his own or face penalties.

A small boy operating the bellows in the blacksmith's forge cost the rider an extra time delay in addition to the hours he had lost making the repair."

from here

robvam

Ok, cool. Would anyone be up for a easy spin in wicklow on the weekend maybe about 20 - 40Km at an easy(ish) pace (as im on a hard frame mountain bike and don't have the real proper gear).
Rob

(Going to make this reply its own thread too)

DirkVoodoo

Ah that was it, he wasn't even allowed get someone to help him. Mad!

Thanks Tiny.

strummer_ie

robvam wrote: »

Yeh, I think your right. I think ill get a bike computer and see what sort of distances I can manage then come back to you after a while.
Cheers, Rob.

yeah, you should pick one up.
I got one from Lidl last week for 6 euro's and it does the job.
Really good for solo cycling. Makes it so much easier to pace yourself
and check your progress...

Even in the last week, my commute times to work have started improving

And i'm on a hardframe mountain bike too.... but added slicks, wow, what a difference...