I like Skol
A Minging Manc...
- Location
- Sunny Ashton-under-Lyne
In the hands of some people maybe....
MTBs vs road bikes
- Thread starter mustang1
- Start date
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fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
In the hands of some people maybe....
I've seen you riding... I am more it will shift on load. You are it will jump 30 feet.
Dunno about my bike, but I'm certainly taking massive abuse
The sad thing is that I'm not even going very fast yet!After a years worth of road riding, off-road is a big culture shock since I'd never really done it before. For a start you're on a loose/slippy surface, road riding teaches you that this is bad, so it has taken a bit to get that out of my head. I don't bounce as well at 42 as I did at 16.
Then there's cornering. Road teaches you to stay in the saddle and lean with it. Not on the MTB you don't. I still keep wanting to sit down when I shouldn't be
Then it gets rough. Really rough. I tried the Red route at Ae this week. On the final section I thought my eyeballs were going to get shaken out of my head, it felt really fast and I chickened out of all the drop-offs (still very wary of them). On that 1.4 mile segment I was about 7 mins slower than the fastest (yes, SEVEN MINUTES!!) on an almost purely downhill section
It was my first time round there I know, but... wow, the fast guys must be really moving!Even climbing is different. It's often impossible to get into a rhythm as your rear wheel is skipping off rocks and spinning though gravel, unless you're on a forest road.
I need more practice because if I can get to the 'degla meet, I can see me getting left far behind
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
Yeay, another convert!Dunno about my bike, but I'm certainly taking massive abuse
After a years worth of road riding, off-road is a big culture shock since I'd never really done it before. For a start you're on a loose/slippy surface, road riding teaches you that this is bad, so it has taken a bit to get that out of my head. I don't bounce as well at 42 as I did at 16.
Then there's cornering. Road teaches you to stay in the saddle and lean with it. Not on the MTB you don't. I still keep wanting to sit down when I shouldn't be
Then it gets rough. Really rough. I tried the Red route at Ae this week.* On the final section I thought my eyeballs were going to get shaken out of my head, it felt really fast and I chickened out of all the drop-offs (still very wary of them). On that 1.4 mile segment I was about 7 mins slower than the fastest (yes, SEVEN MINUTES!!) on an almost purely downhill section
Even climbing is different. It's often impossible to get into a rhythm as your rear wheel is skipping off rocks and spinning though gravel, unless you're on a forest road.
**I need more practice because if I can get to the 'degla meet, I can see me getting left far behind
*Ae makes 'Degla look like a canal towpath in terms of difficulty.
** We'll wait. Having a more cautious rider gives some of us the excuse to stop for a breather.
I am really enjoying it TBH. Since the roads are so mucky this time of year, whatever I ride is going to get plastered, so I may as well head off-road. I get just as good a workout. 
Are these Suntour XCM forks really OK for this though? They do have this sticker on that warns "not suitable for extreme terrain, dirt jumping or hard riding" I know they are just basic, but am I just going to trash them in short order or are they better than I fear?
To tackle one of the original questions though:
The top Anthem Advanced MTB is £5.5k, probably best compared with the TCR Advanced SL 2 (mechanical groupset, Giants own wheels) at £4.7k. I can't afford either of them.
Are these Suntour XCM forks really OK for this though? They do have this sticker on that warns "not suitable for extreme terrain, dirt jumping or hard riding" I know they are just basic, but am I just going to trash them in short order or are they better than I fear?
To tackle one of the original questions though:
The full Dura-Ace DI2 electric shift groupset takes care of most the difference, it is stupidly expensive. The ZIPP wheels are the remainder.
The top Anthem Advanced MTB is £5.5k, probably best compared with the TCR Advanced SL 2 (mechanical groupset, Giants own wheels) at £4.7k. I can't afford either of them.
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
You've ridden the Ae line on a bike with Suntour XCMs? Respect!
Seriously though, they're OK. They're what you've got. Yes, they are basic, and lack rebound damping and adjustability if you want to get serious( ie beyond fire roads and gentle stuff) I expect you found them a bit clunky on the rougher stuff. If the frame/rest of the bike warrant it, then save for a fork upgrade, it'll make a world of difference now you're branching into serious territory.
Seriously though, they're OK. They're what you've got. Yes, they are basic, and lack rebound damping and adjustability if you want to get serious( ie beyond fire roads and gentle stuff) I expect you found them a bit clunky on the rougher stuff. If the frame/rest of the bike warrant it, then save for a fork upgrade, it'll make a world of difference now you're branching into serious territory.
LOL. It wasn't fast and wasn't pretty, but I got round without needing a hospital visit and learned a bit. I love hydro brakes even more now (why the hell it's taken until now to get them onto road bikes I will never know)
Yep, the forks weren't feeling great when the speed got up on the roughest stuff and at the end of it they felt a bit stiff. Thought I'd done them in, but they seemed to go back to normal after a bit. Were they being overworked and getting too hot or something? Might be a good idea to pop them apart and re-grease them.
An upgrade would be good, but I would not want to spend a fortune on a fork. No point putting a £1k fork into a £500 bike. It does ride well though and feels solid, maybe something around the £300ish mark would be a good enough upgrade without going over the top. I don't see myself being a speed-demon in MTB
(why the hell it's taken until now to get them onto road bikes I will never know)Yep, the forks weren't feeling great when the speed got up on the roughest stuff and at the end of it they felt a bit stiff. Thought I'd done them in, but they seemed to go back to normal after a bit. Were they being overworked and getting too hot or something? Might be a good idea to pop them apart and re-grease them.
An upgrade would be good, but I would not want to spend a fortune on a fork. No point putting a £1k fork into a £500 bike. It does ride well though and feels solid, maybe something around the £300ish mark would be a good enough upgrade without going over the top. I don't see myself being a speed-demon in MTB
