MTB or Road/Racing Bike???

[Dan_h]

I am going to go against the grain a little here. If you are not too worried about how long it will take you to complete the 100 miles and your mountain bike is a reasonable hard tail one (better if you can lock out the suspension) then on road tires there is no reason you cant ride 100 miles+ on it.

Yes a road bike will be a bit quicker and your energy will be used more efficiently but either type of bike will get you there. If you are going to make the long rides a regular thing then a road bike is the way forward, but for a one off it may be worth giving the MTB a chance.

Just as a thought jump on it on the road one weekend and go and ride 30 or 40 miles on it either solo or with some mates and see how it feels, it may be better than you think.

 

[ColinJ]

I am going to go against the grain a little here. If you are not too worried about how long it will take you to complete the 100 miles and your mountain bike is a reasonable hard tail one (better if you can lock out the suspension) then on road tires there is no reason you cant ride 100 miles+ on it.

And if you can't lock out the suspension and you don't put slick tyres on your MTB, I suggest that you do not do 100+ mile road rides on it! Yes, it would be possible, but it would be unnecessarily exhausting!

 

[Dan_h]

And if you can't lock out the suspension and you don't put slick tyres on your MTB, I suggest that you do not do 100+ mile road rides on it! Yes, it would be possible, but it would be unnecessarily exhausting!

Agreed, If youhave suspension (particularly at the back) that cant be locked out and big knobbly tyres then you are going to find it much harder to cover big distances. My only thought was that if you can put slicks on it and lock out the suspension then you are in business without buying a new bike for one ride. If big distances are going to be a regular thing then a road bike would be a good investment.

 

[HLaB]

If you have the finances definitely invest in a road bike, if not roadify your mtb, put slicker tyres on and lock out any suspension if possible ad maybe new lighter wheels. Even on a roadified mtb it won't be as feasible and will be harder but it will be doable and finances may dictate.

 

[WorcesteRob]

I have schwalbe marathon extreme tyres on my Specialized hard tail and have lock outs on the forks (never used them) so already quite road biased. Will try the lock outs tomorrow on the road sections of my ride and see If it makes much difference. I will have to save for a proper road bike but for starting out I have been looking at Boardman's and Specialized around the £600 - £700 mark, would this be a good option?

 

[donnyjnk]

road all the way

 

[EYE-TYE-MAD]

road all the way

Yes sir!!!...