Just joined the roadie cult

[Ant]

They sit outside Starbucks all morning watching people look at their really expensive roadrace bikes.

They've picked the wrong kit for posing then. In my experience the only thing that tends to impress 'joe public' is something with big tyres and hefty suspension. They don't usually give road bikes a second glance.

 

[BearPear]

Sorry to return to the topic of the OP, but I am interested to hear how he has got along - I am quite envious of hubby's road bike compared to my hybrid and I am considerding buying one in the new year.
I never thought that the saddle would be an issue - I thought that the hunched-over seating position would be more of a problem.

As you were...

 

[addictfreak]

Im sick of tripping over road bikes at my local starbucks, you cant get moved for the bloody things

What utter garbage!

 

[Norm]

In your little world, probably not. To me, people are free to call themselves as they desire, the sun will still rise tomorrow morning.

 

[belairman]

...don't know what Jimbo had for breakfast today.

Or has Blazed hacked his login details?

 

[Keith Oates]

This is beginners not P&L, zizou has asked a perfectly valid question so there is no need start a slanging match. If you don't want to answer or discuss the question then don't post.

To answer you zizou, it is possible that you will take some time to get used to the new saddle as it's probably a different shape and width to the one you used on the MTB. You may even find that in the end you will need to get another saddle to find the comfort you would like to have. However you could also try to raise or lower the saddle in small increments or move it forward or backward and with some miles in the legs (and bottom) all will turn out fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[GilesM]

Only negative is my bum! i had assumed that the mountain biking would have meant the sit bone area was toughened up. But jeez i was mistaken! First hour was ok but the second hour, ouch. Hope that its just a matter of a few rides to toughen up and get used to the new saddle.

Just consider it Karma for moving to the darkside

I'm sure it's just the different saddle, different position, and I would also say harder tyres and no suspension, no doubt you'll get used to it, I went from the road to mtb, so maybe I moved to the softer seat.

As for all the other stuff on this thread, my bikes travelled further on my car when I was racing on the road and track than my mtb ever does, and trail centres are real fun.

 

[Norm]

This is beginners not P&L, zizou has asked a perfectly valid question so there is no need start a slanging match.

Indeed, I apologise for being side-tracked by the snobbery.

I've been riding off-road for about 5 months, I've done about 100 miles a month so nothing too significant but I've had a lot of fun doing it.

Last Friday, I picked up my first new road bike in over 30 years. I did a quick 16 miles on Friday night, mostly to make sure that nothing fell off, then did nearly 40 miles on Sunday morning. As it was deep into the North Downs, it took about 3 hours to do complete that distance but, despite my prior concerns, I had no bum-issues at all.

As GilesM says, it's a very different type of cycling. The different position is putting more of my weight through my arms. I do miss front suspension, though, the roads through Berkshire, Surrey and Sussex were pants and made it much harder work than I had expected.

 

[MajorMantra]

The different position is putting more of my weight through my arms. I do miss front suspension, though, the roads through Berkshire, Surrey and Sussex were pants and made it much harder work than I had expected.

One thing that helps a lot with long term comfort is trying to support more of your weight with your torso rather than leaning it on your arms. Also, keep your arms bent so they act like suspension. If you ride with your elbows locked out you'll stiffen up something awful.

Another thing worth thinking about is tyre pressure. You obviously want it to be sufficient to avoid pinch punctures but if you're a lightish rider you don't want to be pumping road tyres up to the maximum.

Matthew

 

[Norm]

Good points... although the issue of a "lightish rider" is not relevant to me.

I do ride with my arms slightly bent to take some of the impact, from years of motorbikes and then the MTB riding that I've done. I also take weight through the torso, making sure that I change position and flex my spine, especially as I had a rucksack on.

 

[Globalti]

Like the OP I went over to road riding last February after 20 years of MTBing. I just wish I'd made the change earlier because now I'm fitter than I ever was as a mountain biker. I'd have done a lot better at the MTB races and trailquests I've undertaken in those 20 years if I had been road riding to train.

It's like a whole new world has opened up; I just love the thrill of the speed you get on a road bike. I also like the fact that you get home clean and don't have to spend an hour cleaning the bike, yourself and your kit, as well as spending a fortune on gear trains and brakes that get worn out by our Lancashire grit.

And Zizou, your saddle problem is due to the fact that on a road bike you stay seated for long periods of time, unlike on an MTB where you piss around, fall off, stop to admire the view or read the map and seldom get more than 10 minutes riding at a time. That's also why MTBing doesn't get you very fit, by the way.

 

[I am Spartacus]

That's also why MTBing doesn't get you very fit, by the way.

Said like a true CULT member!

mind you some 'roadies' ought to mind how much cake and tea they consume!

 

[lit]

That's also why MTBing doesn't get you very fit, by the way.

Not really true, having a heavier bike makes your body work harder so you are getting fitter riding a Mountain bike than a Road bike.

 

[GilesM]

Not really true, having a heavier bike makes your body work harder so you are getting fitter riding a Mountain bike than a Road bike.

It all depends on how often you stop, I know what RR is saying, lots of stopping off road, and usually lots of chatting, but I enjoy just going in groups of two or three, and often by myself.

 

[Globalti]

Not really true, having a heavier bike makes your body work harder so you are getting fitter riding a Mountain bike than a Road bike.

Maybe - if you can find a place where you climb a consistent slope at the same speed and heartrate for, say, an hour. Not really possible in the UK but can be done in Europe.

Best training I've ever done was a week slogging up the long hills of the Sierra Nevada on my MTB and more recently, long consistent fast flat 2-3 hour road bike rides out to places like Southport and back.