Road Cycling - From the mountain to the road ... need advice please

Hi folks! I’ve been an avid cross-country mountain biker for the past 6 years. I had a knee operation in April due to a skiing accident. This will keep me off my mountain bike until @ least October. This was all the justification I needed to take the plunge into the world of road riding! In fact, I just broke the bank and ordered a Trek 5200 that should be in my dirty little hands in about 1 month’s time. Hey, I don’t really need to eat EVERY day, right??? =D

Now, I’ve ridden on the road many times. In fact, I ride the road (using an older steel mountain bike with slick tires) more often than the dirt in an effort to stay in shape for my off-road excursions. However, I’ve not ridden in a group, nor do I know any of the “dos and don’ts” associated with riding the road. I’m going to join a local road-riding club, and would like to know some of the customs and general protocol that is followed.

Also, for anyone else who has taken the path from off-road to road riding, help me out. What is different? What is the same? What is the most difficult transition? Do you still mountain bike? Which do you like more? Which group of people do you like more?

ThanX a bunch, guys. Any comments are most appreciated!

:)

Originally posted by bac
Hi folks! I’ve been an avid cross-country mountain biker for the past 6 years. I had a knee operation in April due to a skiing accident. This will keep me off my mountain bike until @ least October. This was all the justification I needed to take the plunge into the world of road riding! In fact, I just broke the bank and ordered a Trek 5200 that should be in my dirty little hands in about 1 month’s time. Hey, I don’t really need to eat EVERY day, right??? =D

Now, I’ve ridden on the road many times. In fact, I ride the road (using an older steel mountain bike with slick tires) more often than the dirt in an effort to stay in shape for my off-road excursions. However, I’ve not ridden in a group, nor do I know any of the “dos and don’ts” associated with riding the road. I’m going to join a local road-riding club, and would like to know some of the customs and general protocol that is followed.

Also, for anyone else who has taken the path from off-road to road riding, help me out. What is different? What is the same? What is the most difficult transition? Do you still mountain bike? Which do you like more? Which group of people do you like more?

ThanX a bunch, guys. Any comments are most appreciated!

:)

Living in DC I ride with a bunch of people depending on the occasion. I used to be into mountain biking but sold my old M900; I I feel more comfortable on the road. The transition was not too difficult. I used to take long rides for conditioning when I did mountain, and now I do the same only I just dont go offroad much anymore; hence the bike change. Dont know much about customs, most of the people I ride with are easy going and do it because they love it, very little attitude. We get together and take our own 'loops' around the city and the trails on the potomac....On friends advice (mostly) and a lot of research I picked up a Giant OCR2 and made a few upgrades on the drivetrain, and replaced the stem. I really like the bike. And I am enjoying road riding much more than Mt. biking. I usually ride about 100 mi. a week right now.

Enjoy your new ride and don't be intimidated by the guys with shaved legs and skinny tires. I've found them to be a tolerable bunch, certainly no worse than the downhillers.

bac - Check out www.roadbikereview.com. They have a section entitled "Learn" that has some tips on group riding.

Some other suggestions:

- Remember to get to the ride early, so you don't hold up the group on your first time out.
- Helmets are REQUIRED in any club ride I have been associated with.
- Check with the ride leader beforehand to find out distance and pace.
- Ride with a group one category below what you think would be a fast ride for you so you don't get dropped. Next time move up a category if it was too slow.

ThanX for the information. My bike should be in my hands in just a few short weeks now!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D

:beer:

I finally took the leap from Off-road to Road today.

I Jumped on my new bike and set off, Now I can cycle 40-50 miles on my MTB with no problem, but Road bikes are a completely different beast, Those big gears sap your strength big-time.

I know it takes time to get used to different bike, but I can already see how putting in the Road miles and building up my stamina, will improve my off road experiences.

Now I expected my Butt to be a bit sore from the different saddle and I can accept my aching legs, but what kind of gloves should I get to stop my hands hurting ( The base of my thumbs are really sore)

Any suggestions ?

I my self am an avid mtn biker (mostly free ride/dh) who started riding road recently. The only part of riding my road bike that took a little getting used to were the craks and bumps in the road. Since my road frame is very stiff and has no suspension, hitting even the smallest of cracks would send alot of vibration through the frame, where as my mtn bike has full suspension so I never felt the little hits. It was very unnerving going through long sweeping turns at 78kmh, hitting a small crack that would cause the bike to shimmy. Other then that there was no problem with the transition. Enjoy your new ride. And no matter what the most snobish mtn bikers say, road riding is a blast and the speed of a road bike is amazing.
Cheers:beer:

Hey Ouch! With respect to those big gears you're pushing --- gear down and save your legs. Just because you've got a road bike doesn't mean you can't use your low gears! I've found most gel cycling gloves to do a decent job of keeping your hands from getting numb. Also, try moving your hands around to different positions on the bars. Another technique is to wrap you bars with two layers of cork tape.

SteveE I hear what your saying and I think I will leave the Big Gear Alone for a while, but when a straight flat SMOOTH stretch of road is before me the urge to crank up the speed is almost irrestible:D

On the subject of gloves, I'll certainly have to look into it.