Getting used to a racer

fguihen

Ive had a big heavy steel framed raleigh mountain bike for the last 10 or so years. I still have it, its still in great condition and still ride it to work.

I was told that for comuting to work Id find a hyprid or racer much more practical, and i had a go on a friends hybrid, enjoyed it, so using the bike to work scheme I ordered a Lapierre Audacio 200:

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=31007

Just waiting for it to arrive, but today I just thought of something. While using the mountain bike, I daily jump up and down on curbs, crossing through green area's etc. I cant do any of this on the new racer ( whenever it comes) , and am now questioning my decision to get a racer.

Has anyone else made the transition? Should i just get used to it or should i get an ok mountain bike like a Giant XTC 3 or something, and save the Lapierre Audacio for long weekend cycles?

I went from cheap mountain bike to hybrid and am getting used to a road bike (racer) now. Basically after I went to the hybrid, I stuck to the roads. No up and down curbs (not good for the wheels anyways). I don't find any need to go up and down curbs at all on my commute.

ED E

I'm on road tyres for three or four weeks now, so far I've only done a few drops, as in under 5. Also hit one lip that I didnt se today, but I think its ok.

You do lose shortcuts, but you gain more on speed.

thebouldwhacker

Think of it as having an old trusty micra that would take any punishment you threw at it with out caring about a few scratches but one day you buy a beautiful new Alfa Romeo (:D) you change your driving habits, suddenly you begin to sneer at those who chuck their car around carelessly, suddenly you realise what driving is all about... Its like that with a new road bike, you lose the want to go over curbs and cross fields:cool:.

Lumen

I hop up and down curbs daily on my racers, they're plenty strong enough. Or I did until I started using a pannier to carry my laptop.

The question is more like why would you want to?

There's only one point in my commute where is makes sense, leaving an off-road cycle lane to re-join the road.

peterako

Lumen's spot on!

As are previous posts above.

Horses (Iron ones in this case ) for courses.

If you want to Freeride/Mountain bike on your racer....get a Mountain bike!

Yes, the racer will take some abuse, but it's not really meant for drops or jumps. You can DO them, but it's not meant for it.

I have two main bikes....my racer for riding long and fast on the road and my Mountain bike for the rougher stuff.

DurtyMurty

and you can probably fit a slightly wider 25mm tyre which will be a bit more forgiving when you hit that unavoidable pothole

Alanstrainor

Your cycling habits will change fairly quick. The racer isn't made of glass or anything, provided you've got your tyres up to pressure you shouldn't have problems going up kerbs slowly. But as said, i doubt you'll spend much time hopping kerbs anyway.