Mountain Biking - Mtb bike fit for roadie

Took the plunge last week-end, a Stumpy hard tail. Been a roadie for years and thought it was time to visit the dark side. I done some searching for mtb setup / fit info and haven't turned up much. Any general guidelines (knee over pedal, saddle height, etc.), or is it pretty much like road setup, except somewhat lower saddle? Any links or advice appreciated.

Thanks in advance...

It depends a little on the terrain you're riding on. I used to have my mtn. position similar to my road position, in that the seat to pedal distance was almost exactly the same, with knee over the pedal, etc. I found that this was perfect for pedalling efficiency, but that it hurt my ability to position myself on the bike for steeper climbs/descents. I dropped my seat about 2 cm, and it's been somewhere around there ever since. Also, my handlebar is slightly ahead of my front hub on my mtn bike, a little less so on my road bike. Experimentation is key here. A Stump HT is going to have something close to 71/73 "classic" geometry, which whould make it an easy fit unless you bought the bike too big.

My $0.02

I, like pink robe, started out with the trad road fit and then modified.

Some XC race pros claim that the knee behind the spindle is more desirable for XC riding. So, I slid the seat back and lowered the seat post to keep the BB and seat height distance relatively the same. I noticed more power gain and a less efficient high speed cadence. That made sense to me. Now I have a little more power for the steep hill climb.

Excellent... thanks guys!

The main thing you will need to know to live on the dark side is some new verbage. Words like huck,skinny,step down and rock garden will serve you well on you jouney. :D Do not fight the dark side it is much to powerful.

Words like huck,skinny,step down and rock garden will serve you well on you jouney. :D
For real!

I was just gonna get a mtn bike and people talking about XC, trail, downhill, and free ride. Thanx to the FAQ, at least I had a clue. For these, I'll just nod my head and pretend I understand. For now, I think "yard sale" might be the one that I'll be hearing. :eek:

Whats this "Darkside" stuff. Gang talk?

I enjoy riding on dirt, mud, grass, cement, pavement, rocks, sand. So I have a hybrid. But sometimes I enjoy just the trails, or only the streets. So I also have a MTN bike and a road bike.( My wife feels I need to join some 12 step program for my bike addiction.)

Im a loner and never hear anything negeative or positive about about road and Mtn bikers. I just assumed most bike riders had a least two different types of bikes. I think everyone should have at least a road and a mtn bike. Don't you?



Although....I do prefer what MTN bikers wear over what roadies wear.

I think everyone should have at least a road and a mtn bike. Don't you?


I have a mountain bike and a bmx bike, but I'd like another bike, maybe a flat bar road bike with a steel frame.

I think everyone should have at least a road and a mtn bike. Don't you?

That is some good thinking there.

In my neck of the woods 3/4 of the roadies have mountain bikes and 3/4 of the MTBers' have roadies. It is fairly common.

Tell your wife that you arent even close to needing help yet. There are at least 4 more bikes you can have that will be usefull
1. Touring Bike
2. Cyclocross bike
3. Fixed Gear or singlespeed bike
4. Tandem (for those special moments)

...For now, I think "yard sale" might be the one that I'll be hearing.

"Yard Sale" ;) . Sooner or later (especially if you ride aggressively, even XC) you will be a part of one while riding. Just be sure a buddy gets in on film so we all can enjoy a good laugh:D

As for fit/set up, it will depend on how and what terrain you ride. It is not as strict as with a road bike. On a roadie once you get it set up correctly you leave it. With a mountain bike, you may find your self lowering the seat to descend a steep hill or ride a very sketchy section then raising it back up for the flats and hills. You will also be standing a lot more on a mtb then on your roadie unless you only ride fire roads or single tracks that are smooth. Also, you may even find you need to change the psi in your tires during a ride. A good example, I have a course I ride that starts out with a 4mi climb over relatively hard packed dirt then an 11mi of graded fire road and smooth single track. Then there is a 3mi descent over rocky and rutted trail with a few small drops. The higher psi allows less rolling resistance making for an easier climb and higher speeds on the flats. Then the lower psi lets the tires get more grip over the technical area and since it is a descent rolling resistance is not a concern.

Two questions that seems to always get asked when a roadie first hits the trails is "Why do I feel like I am going to go over the bars on a steep descent or small drop?" or "Why do I feel out of control when going down hill?". Most common problem is they do not lower their seat enough to allow them to get back over the rear tire or get their weigh lower because their chest (or gut :p ) hits the seat.

What I find works well for a first time mtb'er is to set their bike up for climbing so they can make it to the top (every trail around here starts with a climb). Then I will take them to a technical section and play around with their set up to show them how and why you need to change certain things even during a singe ride (not always but a good idea to know where your seat and tire psi should be for the different terrains). I will have them ride the same section a few times with different setups and let them choose which feels best to them.

Welcome to the "DARK SIDE" ;)

:beer:

Welcome to the "DARK SIDE" ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/pinit/starwars.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/pinit/starwars.gif
Exactly. "Roadbuzz... I am your father" :eek: :eek:

That is some good thinking there.

In my neck of the woods 3/4 of the roadies have mountain bikes and 3/4 of the MTBers' have roadies. It is fairly common.

Tell your wife that you arent even close to needing help yet. There are at least 4 more bikes you can have that will be usefull
1. Touring Bike
2. Cyclocross bike
3. Fixed Gear or singlespeed bike
4. Tandem (for those special moments)

I want to try a fixed gear at least once before I die.