Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Wow what a difference.

I brought the Lemond Vesailles home today and all I can say is WOW!!! I took the short street route home (approx 4 3/4 miles.) From the shop. I opted for a trial by fire for the clipless pedals if I'm going to use em I might as well use em in full rush hour traffic. I flew home. I made it in 24 mins and thats with stopping to fill up the water bottle. The contrasts are amazing you feel every bump in the road, but it's not as jarring as it is on my beater. I climbed a hill that would of had me upshifting like mad b4 and the clipless pedals are amazing I feel like a machine. It still a bit tough on the back but thats the bellys fault and will improve as I improve. I can see why people saw the miles just fly by with the road bike. I'm a convert

Welcome to the go fast crowd! :D

I just bought my Fuji Newest a couple months ago after riding mountain bikes all my life and I agree with you Bigboxeraf. The efficiency that a road bike gives you is second to none. I am also a convert.

I've tried to convert but every road bike I've ever tried feels... well, not right. The bars feel way to narrow (I have fairly wide shoulders--almost freakishly so) and the geometry feels all wrong. I've tried Bianchi, Trek, and Kona. I ride my mtb for trails, commuting, and road riding. I know I'm missing out on the road. Any suggestions?

After an enthusiastic review like that I'm going to have to go to my LBS and try one now.

I've tried to convert but every road bike I've ever tried feels... well, not right. The bars feel way to narrow (I have fairly wide shoulders--almost freakishly so) and the geometry feels all wrong. I've tried Bianchi, Trek, and Kona. I ride my mtb for trails, commuting, and road riding. I know I'm missing out on the road. Any suggestions?

I have the same issue. After Frankenbiking my Giant Rainier, I bought a Fuji Sagres, removed the flat bar and replaced with a mountain-style integrated bar-end bar, double wrapped it with gel tape, and mounted fatter road tires with some traction. The efficiency, larger chainrings and smaller cassettes make for one sweet ride.

FWIW, I still prefer my Giant MTB [Nashbar trekking bars, double-wrapped, larger than MTB chainrings (48-38-28), road cassette, 2" Forte Versa-Trac road/off-road tires, rigid fork, Selle Italia seat, Crank Bros. Candy C clipless pedals]. I like the option of going off road in a split second without worrying about breaking my bike. The rigid fork makes a huge difference when on the road.

I've tried to convert but every road bike I've ever tried feels... well, not right. The bars feel way to narrow (I have fairly wide shoulders--almost freakishly so) and the geometry feels all wrong. I've tried Bianchi, Trek, and Kona. I ride my mtb for trails, commuting, and road riding. I know I'm missing out on the road. Any suggestions?

Ride a road bike more. the more I ride mine, the more comfortable it gets.

Thanks for the feedback

I'm considering turning a Karate Monkey into a sort of fat tired roadie, but also looking a cyclocross--the lbs guys said that with time the road frame would grow on me but it just feels off and $1000 bucks is alot to spend on betting it will grow on me--I'll have to think about it, but thanks for the advice

I bought an '06 LeMond Buenos Aires (carbon cockpit with the remainder being some special steel) a month ago, and it is now my fair weather ride. I bring extra cloths driks, etc with me on the days I ride my hybrid so that I can travel very light on the road bike. I could not believe how much more efficient you are on a road bike. I can easily ride 5 MPH faster without any additional effort. I tried some Treks, the Buenos Aires and an '07 Alp d'Heuz. Both the LeMonds just fit me better. I am on the taller side (6' 2.5") and his Geometry just fits my body well. The bars were a bit wider on the LeMond vs. the Trek as well. I added SPD pedals and got some shoes, and eventually had to switch out the stock saddle for a Selle Royal Darco (I think that's the model). I can still feel the sits bones a bit after a 35 mile ride, but there is no numbness in the critical areas anymore.

Last week I had to go visit one of our satelite offices that was 15 miles away and my co-worker and I both rode our bikes as the weather was amazingly nice. I had to coast for long sections just to prevent from racing ahead of my coworker. Every so often I'd hear him jockingly yell... "stop coasting" as he was bussy pedalling along nonstop. Last week's weather was outragiously nice (set multipe records each day) so I added a few extra 10 to 15 miles to my ride home. That is SO much more fun on a road bike. My trusty hybrid is still an excellent "war-horse" that gets me through any kind of weather, but riding a fine road machine sure is a blast.

Happy riding,
André