Are road bikes easier to fall off than moutain bikes?

[dty]

This is my main concern when buying a road bike

[jasonyates]

have you ever ridden one?

[John Wilke]

I dunno, I've never had any problem falling off either.

:lol:

jw

[Gurgus]

I'm forever falling off of my mnt bike. Not the road bike. Mind you, on the mtn bike I'm jumping stuff and riding single track and stuff like that. Road bike is just go go go as fast as you can.

[unkchunk]

I guess it all depends on how bad you want to fall off.

[wfin2004]

This is my main concern when buying a road bike


If you are concerned with falling then maybe you ought to stay on the front porch and crawl from point A to point B.

If you are concerned with getting in an auto accident, do not drive.

If you are concerned with choking to death, do not eat.

If you are concerned with getting liver disease, do not drink.

dty is riding along on his road bike minding his own business and "oh crap, I am falling!"

[dpr]

The tires in a mountain bike invariably offer wider support, thus making a stationary or near stationary fall less likely when say, coming to a stop at a red. Its quite marginal though and at speed the difference is totally negilable.

Short answer is, no; it depends on your own balance.

[DevLaVaca]

I can think of one thing: far more road bikers than mtbers use clipless pedals. If you do this, it's much harder to put a foot down to catch yourself on a too-tight turn (but you shouldn't be making those turns on a road bike anyway). Also, unclipping at a stop takes a bit of getting used to, and can lead to some embarassing standing-still tumbles at first.

Of course, if you're already used to clipless pedals, or don't plan on running them, there's no issue. The only thing inherently less stable about the road bike is what dpr already pointed out.

[sggoodri]

I have never fallen down due to the clipless pedals on my road bikes.

I have fallen down a couple of times due to clipless pedals on my mountain bikes, but only because I was climbing a steep hill and got stuck on a log or rock, and I couldn't detach fast enough.

I have fallen many more times mountain biking than road biking, even though I ride more than 10 times as many road miles.

My only falls on the road bike have involved gravel or potholes on the roadway, encountered during braking or turning. Roads are generally a lot less likely to throw you down than MTB trails.

I think the biggest difference in handling is due to hand position. Try a lot of different road bikes and try all the hand positions to see what feels comfortable. I generally prefer to keep my hands on the brake hoods.

[ghettocruiser]

Sometimes.

We could better answer the question if we knew what is most likely to knock you over. Potholes? Dogs? Trucks? Staircase gaps?

[AlmostTrick]

Yours is a legitimate question for someone new (or returning) to cycling. Many people feel that the flat or riser handlebars that come on mountain bikes give them better control over the bike than the drop bars that are common on road bikes. People who do bicycle stunts would never consider using drop bars so there has to be something to this. There are nice road bikes available without drop bars. Ride both and see how you feel.

And yes the skinnier tires on road bikes will make it more likely you'll fall, usually while turning on poor surfaces.

[sbhikes]

You won't fall on a recumbent trike. If you have balance issues, you should come over to the dark side.

[slowandsteady]

I have only fallen once on a road bike and that was over 18 years ago when I accidentally ran over my dog. I have fallen many times on the MTB, but mostly because I am on technical trails. The road bike might look like it will fall over with those skinny tires, but it really isn't as unstable as it looks. It isn't unstable at all.

[AlmostTrick]

I have only fallen once on a road bike and that was over 18 years ago when I accidentally ran over my dog.

:eek: Was he or she ok?

[fat_bike_nut]

I've never fallen off a mountain bike before (unless you include the time that I *almost* hit a car that pulled out suddenly in front of me...that incident taught me not to ride on sidewalks anymore). Of course, that's because I've never actually ridden a mountain bike off-road before. That'll probably change my falling rates in a big way. On the other hand, I hate to admit this, but most of my falls have indeed been off of my road bike. Mainly because I have either leaned too far while cornering, running into potholes or grates, etc.

[thebankman]

No.

[slowandsteady]

:eek: Was he or she ok?


Yeah, he was fine. He lived another 14 years after that. I however, tacoed my wheel and got some nasty road rash.

[JustBrowsing]

Are road bikes easier to fall off than moutain bikes?
Depends on the amount of alcohol involved...

[joejack951]

I fell more times in one mountain bike ride (5 times, d@mn wet leaves and rocks plus my stubborness to keep trying to ride through it) than I have fallen while riding my road bikes in the 4 years I've been riding them (which would be 3 times total, one clipless fall, one black ice slide, and one gravel slide).

In general though, over rough pavement or in heavy winds (especially when riding one handed), I feel more stable with the wide flat bars on my MTB and commuter than with narrow drop bars.

[Niles H.]

On good (road) surfaces, mountain bikes are probably slightly better than road bikes in this regard.

Off-road, mountain bikes are much better than road bikes in this regard.

On rough (road) surfaces, mountain bikes are better.

Front suspension gives an added level of safety on rough (on-road or off-road) surfaces.

Dual suspension is even better (though front suspension covers most of the ground here).

Autosuggestions play a major role in falling. So do experience, natural and learned balancing skills, risk-taking behaviors, speed, width of safety margins, and good judgment.

It is much more a matter of the person than the bike (though the bike does also play a role).

Some (few) people rarely or never fall; others fall much more often, and injure themselves much more often, sometimes seriously. A few people know how to fall, and are less likely to injure themselves (seriously or at all) if they do fall.

***
Trikes are much more stable. If you do fall off (easy to do on two-wheeled bikes, not so easy on three), they are quite low to the ground.

They are very fun to ride -- for many people they are more fun by far than a road bike.

When the enjoyment factor is high, one is more likely to be naturally motivated to ride -- people find that they ride more often and get more exercise, and enjoy it more.

Highly r e c o m m e n d at least giving them some test rides and seeing how you like them. (One way to do this is to attend a group ride; trike owners tend to be a friendly and helpful bunch, and will probably let you take some test rides. They can also help answer questions and provide information. Most dealers will also let you go out on test rides.)

[Helmet Head]

This is my main concern when buying a road bike
Buy the road bike, then practice and master slow riding skills before you venture into traffic.

Find a hill and ride up it as slowly as you can. Do it until you're really good at it.
Find an empty parking lot and practice doing circles within parking spots. Do it until you're really good at staying completely within one parking space without hitting any lines.

Doing the above two things should give you all the skills and confidence you need.
If you can learn to trackstand too, so much the better.

[zeytoun]

He lived another 14 years after that.
Oh man, that is a slow painful death.... :p

To the OP, get a road bike with touring geometry. Even klutz's like me can all but trackstand on a touring frame.

[slim_77]

it is way easier to fall off a wagon than either...don't ride wagons

[dty]

This is on roads mainly sometimes I road off the 4 inch curb or ride into a 2 inch curb like thing. prolly about 30km a week commuting. i found changing gears on a road bike to be weird in the middle. would i be faster on a moutain bike having used one all my life (about 10 years riding moutain bikes and sometimes bmx) the dangerous thing is just riding down hills sometimes swerving bumps and swerving to the other lane on a 2 way to avoid cars

[sgtsmile]

To the OP, get a road bike with touring geometry. Even klutz's like me can all but trackstand on a touring frame.

A surly long haul trucker will fit the bill if you are looking for a utility road bike that is going to be comfortable going long distances on and want lots of flexibility for bags/tires/fenders without spending a fortune on it. This machine has touring geometry which tends to be less twitchy. It also is obtainable as a complete bike now (vs frame only). One of my good friends is buying one (might have it monday!) and is very excited about it - it is his first new bike in 30 years....

Regarding the falling issue: my experience is that mtn bikes are less stable on roads vs road bikes, and that road/cyclocross bikes are less stable off road if the trail gets really technical or bumpy than a mtn bike. I fall way more on my mtn bike. This is because I ride it almost exclusively off road where I am more likely to fall. However, falling off road very rarely involves serious injury for me compared to a fall on road (which usually involves a donation of skin and some serious bruising and more speed). As has been said, at very low speeds, the mtn bike with its fatter tires offers more stability than a road bike with narrower ones. However, if distance riding is going to be done, the wider mtn bike tires and frame geometry of the bike will tire you faster, even if you switch to slicks. If you do not intend to go off road and want a mtn bike, DO NOT waste your money on full suspension since it will rob you of a lot of energy and give no real help on road (or MUP - be it paved or gravel). Surly (again) makes a nice inexpensive non suspended mtn bike that might do the trick for you if this is something you want.

[JRA]

It's an interesting question with no simple answer. There are so many variables. Buy a bike that fits both you and your riding style.

I've fallen off all kinds of bikes. In virtually all cases it was either because I was unfamiliar with the bike or (more often) because I was doing something that I knew in advance was risky.

If you want a bike that's hard to fall off, I'd stay away from road bikes with skinny tires and I'd also stay away from mountain bikes with shocks. Skinny tires can get caught in cracks that wider tires roll right over and suspended bikes can be tricky at low speed, especially if you're used to unsuspended bikes. Also, knobby mountain bike tires get significantly less traction on pavement than skinny road tires do.

The most stable bike I have is a rigid mountain bike (no front suspension). It's also built like a tank, weighs a ton and is virtually indestructable. If I really tried, though, I could fall off of it.

The most stable bikes I ever rode were balloon tire bikes of my youth - yet I still managed to fall off them sometimes (crazy kids!). "Look, ma, no hands!" :D

If you don't want to fall off, get used to whatever bike you're riding. Every bike has it's own idiosyncracies.

If you want a road bike, buy it.

[catatonic]

Each are stable in their own ways.

Road bikes in general are more stable on the straights and turns...but this stability means a larger turning radius as well (even my short-wheelbase roadbike is not as agile as my mountain bike).

Mountain bikes in general are less stable in the straights, but incredibly agile.

The tire widths though make people feel the mountain bike is more stable though....stability is a matter of wheelbase length, just like agility is. Tire widths affect rolling resistance and ride comfort (wider= more comfort, narow = less rolling resistance).

Just pick the bicycle type you prefer and stick with it. I've been known to use my mountain bike for on and off road just fine, and have used my road bike just fine....actually my falls are more or less from not dismounting properly when stopped at red lights than anything else (I stay perched on the saddle, when I should get off the saddle so both feet can rest on the ground in a reaosnable manner, instead of using my tip-toe to balance).

[M_S]

A road touring bike with 28 tires should be plenty stable and way faster than a mountain bike.

[dty]

I dont go fast around corners really. It's mainly falling riding fast downhill on a road that id be worried about falling off.

[dty]

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8522/tractionij2.png (http://imageshack.us)

would this be how the traction compares for road and moutain bike?

[DougG]

To compare this with a similar sport, in my motorcycling days I rode dirt bikes and road bikes. On dirt bikes, I "fell off" numerous times. In fact, you expected to crash occasionally and were generally aware of it and (hopefully) equipped for it; if you didn't dump it once in a while, you probably weren't riding fast enough! On the other hand, in 35 years on road bikes, I never fell at all (not counting a couple of parking-lot tipovers).

So far it's the same with bicycles -- I've gone down on my trail bike a few times, but never on the road.

[Blue Jays]

dty, you will decide between whether you're getting a mountainbike or a roadbike once you determine which is an easier bike from which to fall? What are the parameters for your decision?

[wfin2004]

dty, you will decide between whether you're getting a mountainbike or a roadbike once you determine which is an easier bike from which to fall? What are the parameters for your decision?

Distance from ground to head.

[slagjumper]

In general, the more narrow the tire, the easier to wipe out. Also road bikes seem to have a higher center of gravity. Though very rare, I’ve wrecked both on the road. Once I hit a bus-made oil slick with my 1.9” tire mountain bike, the rear slid a bit but I did not go down. I think that I would have gone down if I where on the road bike.

I would buy a bike based on the type of riding that I wanted to do most. I bought a CX bike about a year ago so that I could keep up with the roadies, yet burn up the wider trails. But If you have the money I'd get one of each and a CX.

[slowandsteady]

I don't understand why you think you would just fall off a road bike because you are going down a hill. You are thinking about this WAY too much.

[dpr]

Its a confidence thing and until you experience it, its perfectly normal for some people to be aprehensive.

I am comfortable hitting 45 mph or more down a big hill, as long as the only turns are sweeping and broad. I get a real buzz out of it but at the same time I do find it a little scary. Which is why I do it.

You just have to practice and experience it to realise that a fall is very, very unlikely. Just pay 100% attention to what your doing, using your brakes (very gently!) once your encroaching on the comfort zone border and drive according to the conditions (e.g. wet/icy roads / traffic / in a pace line ect = slower, some times much slower). As you get more confident, you will happily go faster downhill (or just generally) if you want / need to.

[mlh122]

mountain bikes are a little more stable than road bikes due to the flat bars and lower center of gravity, and the fatter tires. most of the extra stability is needed for rough terrain. on flat, paved terrain they are still more stable than a road bike but that's not to say road bikes are unstable.

I have never fallen off my road bike, but one time i hit a large pothole and thought I was going to die :eek: i was out of control for a good 5 seconds, in traffic mind you. Another time I hit a beer bottle on my road bike, again, thought death was coming. Another time, i hit a pine cone on my road bike, I didn't think i was going to die, but it did mess me up a little.

on my mountain bike, i wasn't paying attention and hit the same pothole (right by my house, i ride by it all the time) and my mountain bike jumped a little but the fat tires and suspension took most of the jolt out. control was a little squirrely but i didn't lose it. I've hit beer bottles on my mountain bike and the suspension either lifts up over it or just kicks it out to the side. (also disturbing how many beer bottles i see on the side of the road, more beer than soda pop...), and my mountain bike doesn't even notice pine cones.

So on pavement on my road bike, if i avoid obstacles, i would maybe crash 1 out of 500 rides. on pavement on my mtb i would maybe crash 1 out of 2000 rides.

on my mtb on rough off road rides, i crash about 1 time per each mile of a ride on a tough trail. on my road bike i'd imagine i'd crash 12 times per mile on the same trail. maybe 6 times per mile on a road bike with flat bars on a tough trail, that is, if the wheels hold up.

[mlh122]

ok I thought of another analogy, then I really have to get back to work. It could help to relate mtb/road bikes to cars.

On the road my Civic vs my wife's 4x4 SUV: both handle about the same, my civic is much more efficient, uses much less fuel per mile. but my wife's SUV can take rough road conditions that could jostle my car into the ditch. However, i have 43,000 miles on my car without ever hitting anything.

On rough country dirt roads, my car shakes and shimmys but does ok. my wife's SUV eats it up.

On really rough off roading, my wife's SUV may or may not crash. My civic would need towed or air lifted out of there, probably something seriously broken.

[slowandsteady]

ok I thought of another analogy, then I really have to get back to work. It could help to relate mtb/road bikes to cars.

On the road my Civic vs my wife's 4x4 SUV: both handle about the same, my civic is much more efficient, uses much less fuel per mile. but my wife's SUV can take rough road conditions that could jostle my car into the ditch. However, i have 43,000 miles on my car without ever hitting anything.

On rough country dirt roads, my car shakes and shimmys but does ok. my wife's SUV eats it up.

On really rough off roading, my wife's SUV may or may not crash. My civic would need towed or air lifted out of there, probably something seriously broken.


And if you take a really fast turn with the SUV you will be doing the loop de loop, whereas the civic should be just fine. Don't kid yourself into thinking your SUV is more durable than the Civic. It may not be.