OK to use MTB in a road bike tour?

Question

I'll be participating in this year's Acura L.A. Bike Tour next month, and will be using a MTB. Some people think I'm crazy to use one in this event, but it's the only bike I've got. Is this all right? What's the difference, if any, with using a MTB vs. a road bike in a casual road event such as this?

Answer 1

This is a casual charity ride, The Idea is to have fun.

Sure there will be a few that take it way too seriously, but hay once they have disappeared into the distance you won't have to worry about them. They usually only want to tell people how great they are anyway.

I love charity rides I usually dress down ( t-shirt and a set of boardies over the knicks) and find for the crappiest looking bike I can my hands on. The reaction you get from the unfit, middle aged, bling encrusted, riders as you cruise past is priceless.

Yes a mtb is fine it may be a bit heavier but you will have the gears to pull it up any hill you might encounter. The bike weight makes very little difference on the flat or down hill.

Pump your tyres up to the maximum recommended pressure (change them only if there in poor condition).

Have fun and don't forget to chat to as many people as posible. I bet your not the only one on a mountain bike

Answer 2

If I understand it correctly - this is just a 20mile ride? If that's true, then NO - You're not crazy - a mountain bike is perfectly acceptable for such a short ride.

While a mountain bike is generally much heavier, and there is a lot more rolling resistance from a mt.bike's large tires, on a short and casual ride the difference is not great enough to worry about. You can pick up a pair of inexpensive 26" slick road tires to help with that.

Every year in Seattle they hold the STP - the Seattle To Portland ride, which covers 206 miles. There are a few hearty souls who do all 200+ miles on mt.bikes. In fact, when mt.bikes first become popular in the 80s, most people did the STP on mountain bikes.

So, a casual charity ride should be no problem.

Have fun!!!

Answer 3

Had this issue myself, especially when trail questing in winter. Solution was to put road tyres on (Panaracer do a nice set of 26"). This will add about 5 mph to your speed because of the lack of rolling resistance.

Road bikes, especially the carbon fibre jobbies, are very light and designed to do this sort of work. They will be faster and a competition rider will leave you for dead (Can reach upto 60mph). 20 miles though is nothing and it is not necessary to change for such a short hop. You just won't beat the roadies in their natural habbitat (Mountain bike will only do 60 if you took a wrong turn and are falling off of a cliff.).

But seriously, stick some road slicks on and you will be fine.

Answer 4

First, you don't slouch on a properly fitted road bike. You lean forward more than you would on a mountain bike but you don't slouch. You quickly become accustomed to the position and for really long rides it is by far the most comfortable way to ride. Almost all riders who plan to ride for more than 2 hours at a time will be riding a road bike. There has to be something to it

Answer 5

if the tour was for roadies only, then you might feel awkward. i do the 5 boro tour in NY every year, and its mainly roads bikes, but i was surprised to see a lot of MTBs and kids everywhere. if this is your first tour, then you might be comforted once you see all the other riding mtbs also. it doesnt bother me where ever i go cuz y mountain bike costs more than most of those guys' road bikes.

Answer 6

It'll be fine, you'll have to work a little harder then someone on a road bike. You can always install a set of high pressure slick tires for better rolling resistance and a set of bar ends to give you that extra riding position.

Answer 7

You're not the first or only one to do it, but you should get slick tires/tubes, like 26 x 1.25", for your bike.