Mountain Bike v Road Bike

SomethingElse

Hi, I've only taken up cycling in the past couple of weeks so I'm kind of clueless when it comes to all things cycling related. I'd really appreciate some advice. I'm doing a 47 mile sponsored cycle on Saturday. Originally I was going to do this on an old mountain bike I found at home, but I've lately been told I should be using a road/racer bike. The course is from Tuam to Croagh Patrick - I assume there isn't much flat in it. Would I really gain that much time by switching from the mountain bike? It should take me ~4 hours on the mountain bike

snubbleste

You may get more sponsorship money if you declare you'll do the journey on an old mountain bike

blorg

It is generally easier and a lot faster to cycle on the road on a road bike yes. Have you done those sort of distances on the MTB before? If it's a once-off, you will get away with what you have. If you think you want to get into cycling, a road bike would be better (for the road.) If you have to actually go up Croagh Patrick, stick with the mountain bike

petethedrummer

Well it would definitely be easier on the Road bike, but if your comfortable on the MTB why not do it on that. You could put thin slick tyres on the MTB to make life easier.

I presume your not going to buy a road bike between now and saturday. So see if you can borrow one and check it out for comfort. If you suddenly switch to another bike, you may not find the saddle or the position comfortable and the spin could become a real pain in the neck or nether regions. But it might be fine.

Do you have to stay with a group or can you go at your own pace?

SomethingElse

Ha, it's only to the foot of Croagh Patrick, I hope!! I did a 40 mile cycle on the mountain bike on Monday, although the route was probably a good deal flatter than the one I'll be taking on Saturday. It took 3hr 11min( avg. speed ~12.5mph). I'll rent/borrow a racer if it gives me a good time advantage. I've enjoyed the couple of weeks of cycling so far so I probably will take up cycling but I'm not in the financial position to buy a road bike right now

SomethingElse

petethedrummer wrote: »

Well it would definitely be easier on the Road bike, but if your comfortable on the MTB why not do it on that. You could put thin slick tyres on the MTB to make life easier.

I presume your not going to buy a road bike between now and saturday. So see if you can borrow one and check it out for comfort. If you suddenly switch to another bike, you may not find the saddle or the position comfortable and the spin could become a real pain in the neck or nether regions. But it might be fine.

Do you have to stay with a group or can you go at your own pace?

I don't find my current bike's saddle comfortable I should ideally be doing it in a group but I've a back-up driver ready to guide me if I can't match their pace (the rest of the group are using racers). Would I need to change the wheels for slicks? Or do they fit standard mountain bike wheels?

blorg

SomethingElse wrote: »

Would I need to change the wheels for slicks? Or do they fit standard mountain bike wheels?

You can get slicks that fit standard MTB wheels, you would be looking for 26x1.0, 26x1.5 etc (the second number being the width in inches.) If you are doing it Sat you will be buying in a local shop anyway so if you get them to fit the new tyres you can be sure they are the right ones. If you have done 40 miles already on the bike OK you will be fine doing the cycle I reckon, even if it is a bit hillier. Good luck!

Gavin

Cylcleways in dublin sell specialized fat boy Tyres in 1.25 which are good slick tyres.

SomethingElse

Thanks for the help. I'll take a look in bike shops tomorrow for those slick tyres. Unfortunately I live in Galway so I'll have to find a shop down here that sells something similar. Does anyone know what prices these start at? I will be looking for something cheap, for a once off use. If I keep up the cycling, which I hope to do, I will be buying a proper road bike when I can afford it

copacetic

if you order tomorrow morning and pay the extra €5 for 24hr delivery there is an excellent chance chainreactioncycles.com will get tyres to you on Friday.

McTigs

SomethingElse wrote: »

Ha, it's only to the foot of Croagh Patrick, I hope!! I did a 40 mile cycle on the mountain bike on Monday, although the route was probably a good deal flatter than the one I'll be taking on Saturday. It took 3hr 11min( avg. speed ~12.5mph). I'll rent/borrow a racer if it gives me a good time advantage. I've enjoyed the couple of weeks of cycling so far so I probably will take up cycling but I'm not in the financial position to buy a road bike right now

If you did 40 miles on monday on the bike you have then you'll be grand. The slicks will help a lot, give it a good clean and oiling and you're away. I did oughterard to croagh patrick and back a few times on my mtb and that was a 100 mile round trip and we had to climb the reek too.... that's the great thing about cycling, if you find your comfortable pace you can pretty much cycle all day.

Mind you i bought a road bike recently and i am absolutely loving it!

SomethingElse

Thanks for the help, I ended up renting a hybrid for the day. It was definitely a good deal quicker than the old mountain bike (despite the brakes catching the wheel for the first few miles!). Completely the cycle at about 16mph avg. Delighted