Road cycling on a MTB

[Grantd]

Hi all - first time poster here!!

I have a dilemma.

Over the last few year I've become an avid road cyclist and less of a off-road cyclist. This has translated into using my MTB less and less (only for wet commutes) and my road bike has increased in value more and more lol!!

My dilemma is that I now don't really want to use my upgraded Specialized Roubaix for the commute as it's just to valuable and locking it up out of sight worries me. I have a £1000+ mtb, 26" wheels, lightweight, carbon XC flying machine that's built around a GT Zasker frame that I can use but am worried about the translation.

I've got to the point where I can do a century at the weekend on the road but am worried that by using the MTB in the week on a 22 mile commute(all road) is going to exercise the wrong muscles - I want to build my road muscles not build mtb muscles.

Will I be using different non-complimentary muscles? Or....will a road commute through the week actually help my long weekend rides?

Thanks all

 

[Cubist]

Hi, and

 

[fossyant]

Makes no difference. You could fit slicks to the MTB. I did that for a while, with 1.2" slicks. They looked horrible, but they were fast.

 

[rugby bloke]

Hello and welcome ... I started off doing a load of road riding on a mtb before moving over to a road bike. No difference in the muscles used, just a hell of a lot easier on the road bike ! I would say that riding miles are riding miles, the more you do the better.

 

[Hugh Manatee]

Just take key measurements from the road bike; top of saddle to bottom of pedal stroke and tip of saddle to centre of bars, etc and recreate them as closely as possible on the MTB. You are then only left with things you have no control over such as crank length.

 

[Dec66]

32c road tyres, if you haven't already ditched the knobblies (keep them, though, because you'll want to go mud plugging again, no doubt).

And don't try to replicate your road speed on the MTB, because you'll burn yourself out.

 

[raleighnut]

I'd fit slicks to the MTB (or buy a 3rd bike, you can never have too many.)

 

[Ajax Bay]

Get the saddle height right and your MTB cycling activity (commuting) will complement your road riding fitness for the weekends. Crank length differences will have minimal effect.

 

[Apollonius]

N+1

 

[KneesUp]

As others have said, put slicks on the MTB, and perhaps get a different stem to match your road bike if you want. It's just riding a bike.

You might even want to add drops to your MTB frame and go all John Tomac.

Or you could leave the knobbly tyres on and add a pair of bar ends and go out chasing down the local road club training runs, as some mates of mine did when they were young. Annoyed them no end, apparently.

 

[Crackle]

Mtb muscles encourage a thickening of the brain which enables you to keep your hands off the brakes when any sane person would be screaming out loud and braking hard.

 

[Apollonius]

Just in case you are not familiar with the N+1 thing I quoted above, I am suggesting you need another bike. Keep your mountain bike as it is for off-roading (which is what they are for, I believe), keep your Roubaix as it is for road riding and invest in an all-weather commuter. This need not be expensive. I would suggest it needs mudguard mounts (I doubt you have had any success at fitting mudguards to a Roubaix - indeed they look so sad thus encumbered) and maybe even a rack if you have to carry stuff to work. An old steel bike might be the best bet as you have cheap replacement parts and it will be tough enough for most conditions. You have a couple of nice, specialist bikes. Use them as designed and get a cheap commuter for commuting.

 

[raleighnut]

Just in case you are not familiar with the N+1 thing I quoted above, I am suggesting you need another bike. Keep your mountain bike as it is for off-roading (which is what they are for, I believe), keep your Roubaix as it is for road riding and invest in an all-weather commuter. This need not be expensive. I would suggest it needs mudguard mounts (I doubt you have had any success at fitting mudguards to a Roubaix - indeed they look so sad thus encumbered) and maybe even a rack if you have to carry stuff to work. An old steel bike might be the best bet and then you can spend a bunch on it as it becomes your favourite bike You have a couple of nice, specialist bikes. Use them as designed and get a cheap commuter for commuting.

FTFY.

 

[outlash]

Mtb muscles encourage a thickening of the brain which enables you to keep your hands off the brakes when any sane person would be screaming out loud and braking hard.

So 'MTB muscles' are sphincter muscles?

 

[Jody]

I use my MTB for road, rollers and sometimes commuting duties as space (+her indoors) won't allow for an N+1. There are a few ways round it. The best option for me being a second set of wheels fitted with slicks as my knobbly wheels are set up tubeless. Two minutes to swap wheels, one twist on the rear mech adjuster and I'm off. The extra rolling resistance, weight, riding position and it being a full suss means its slower on road than a dedicated road bike but its no biggie, still cruises well and does what I need it to.