MTB vs ROAD bike on road
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530 days
kaolelo posted 20 weeks ago.
i ride my mtb (full suspension) to work and back every day. just put some road tires on it i really don't recommend/favor using sidewalks, particularly for training. although motorists are a pain, it is really unsafe, and someplaces illegal, to ride your bike on the sidewalk.
as far as mtb vs road, there is really no translation. i think that it's important to get on the road and/or triathlon bike regularly, even though i ride (very short) round trip most days of the week. i try to solve this problem by riding very early (3 - 4 am), and using lights. some people might not feel comfortable, but that's what i try to do. sleep, what's that?
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TriSooner posted 20 weeks ago.
kaolelo wrote:
although motorists are a pain, it is really unsafe, and someplaces illegal, to ride your bike on the sidewalk.
Every state either recognizes bicycles as vehicles or affords them the same rights and responsibilities as cars. As such, do not ride on the sidewalk. And from a self-serving perspective, when you do ride on the sidwewalk you give motorists the impression that is where we are all supposed to be. You are in much more danger riding your bike where you are not supposed to be.
713
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669 days
jhudalla posted 20 weeks ago.
I live Downtown MPLS and ALWAYS ride in the street. Cars respond well, aside from the occasional jacka$$, to hand signals and clear intentions. If you respect the rules of the road, other motorists respect you. At least from my experience.
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
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1761 days
brittda posted 20 weeks ago.
TriSooner wrote:
kaolelo wrote:although motorists are a pain, it is really unsafe, and someplaces illegal, to ride your bike on the sidewalk.Every state either recognizes bicycles as vehicles or affords them the same rights and responsibilities as cars. As such, do not ride on the sidewalk. And from a self-serving perspective, when you do ride on the sidwewalk you give motorists the impression that is where we are all supposed to be. You are in much more danger riding your bike where you are not supposed to be.
Well here in my suburb--riding on the sidewalks is LEGAL and I have once or twice. You can ride on the shoulder or in the road as long as you do not impede traffic. So if there is no shoulder you can ride SINGLE FILE in the road. Some cyclests don't seem to heed that and as a driver it "drives" me crazy.
Also if its safety you are worried about what is the difference between a road and a mountain bike? You are just as schmucked by the car.
Thankfully where I live there are tons of bike lanes.
2766
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1445 days
tri-ac posted 20 weeks ago.
not sure how a MTB helps your situation in the city...
but, i'll the second the others and say: just ride your roadie out to your preferred routes...it's a good warmup
191
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437 days
sasquatch posted 20 weeks ago.
Riding in twon and traffic will definitely improve your bike handling skills. I live in a city of 350K, and while we have multi-use trailes, they don't go every where, and city code says bikes are to be on the streets, not the sidewalks. Get out during off hours when traffic is low, and you usually will not have any problem with traffic.
128
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364 days
Quincyceltic posted 20 weeks ago.
Biggest issue is the condition of the roads for me. If I ride my road bike I risk a flat alot quicker than normal. I have gotten two flats out of my last 4 rides just based on potholes and drainage grates. It is not that I want to ride on the sidewalk and I am def all for cyclists right to the road. Just that the road bike takes a beating with potholes and the like and it also forces me to swerve out more than I would like. I cringe when I hit them and it takes a toll on the body and the bike.
266
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334 days
IthinkIcan posted 20 weeks ago.
Is a trainer an option for you? If not, are you sure you are riding w/ tires at the right pressure? I'm fairly new to road/tri bikes, but quickly learned that you need to check psi and top off fairly frequently.
I'm in MA as well and can empathize with the road conditions. I'm not sure where you are in Quincy, but it looks like you could get out of the city fairly quickly. Are there decent roads near Presidents Golf Course, Merrymount Park or Blue Hills Reservation? Maybe an out-and-back along what looks to be labeled as Rock Island (little peninsula by Quincy)?
I'd try to use the road bike since its what you'll prob use in your tris and the gearing is different. Worst case scenario, I can recommend a few places in central MA North of Worcester for you to get out on some solid group rides for both Saturdays and Sundays.
283
Member
357 days
paganopj posted 20 weeks ago.
I alternate my bikes between a roadie and an mtb with slicks on it. Training wise I have been told you get a better workout on the mtb because more rubber is hitting the road which means more friction which means you have to work harder. Not sure if this is beneficial or not, it was for me when losing all my weight.
As far as road v. side walk, the sidewalks here are worse than the roads. The only time I'll get on the sidewalk is if I have no other choice. It may p*ss cars off but it is the law here that bikes go on the road. I dunno how many times I get yelled at by passers-by "get on the sidewalk"...I think, you idiot, read the d*mn traffic code.
Just keep spinning....spinning, spinning....uh, do I know you?
The Losing Journey Flickr Cycling Log
So here is my dilema, I live in a fairly large city (pop. 100,000) so areas that are safe and or accessable for biking are nil. It is a huge pain in the rear (no pun) to have to throw the road bike in the truck and drive 20 mins just to do a short one hour training ride. So i was wondering what people thought about using my mtb around town for short training rides and obviously take the road bike out of the city for rides that are 1+. I was just wondering what people thought or if anyone else has this issue. Trying to ride around the city and not using sidewalks is a recipe for a flat time and a collision with a cell phone motorists. Really just wondering what the translation is because I will def. not be going as fast or as far but I think it could potentially be harder on the legs which will be a good thing. How will the time translate, i.e. one hour at a slower but tougher pace or would I be better with a hour on the trainer at a consistent pace.