Mountain Biking - How many of you are hard core roadies who use the MTB to mix it up?

That's what I've been doing since I got the Fly Ti. 1-2 days per week I do a 20-25 mile road/woods ride, about half in the woods. Really breaks it up. I ride a ton of road bike miles (12,000+ annually) and even if this cuts down my overall mileage, it's making cycling much more enjoyable.

I am not a hard core roadie, but I am sure more of a roadie than a MTB'r. I am a runner more than anything and started cycling to mix it up. I added MTB this year and it is a great deal of fun and I think it helps me on the road. Where I live I could not be a MTB as my primary recreation/fitness outlet. Just too few trails.

I live about 50 miles from NY City, we have ample MTB trails within riding distance of my house. That wasn't the case when I lived 15 miles from NY in the closer 'burbs. More cycling options up here. Got a new MTB in 1999, right about the time I started this 5 year off-the-bike back pain odyssey. Got back into road cycling 3 years ago, riding a ton of miles. I must admit that I only upgraded the MTB to the Fly Ti because of Bike Direct's rather amazing deal on this bike. Very happy I did it. I'm not a hard core MTBer, but I do really enjoy mixing it up, being in the woods a bit, etc. Big fun, lotta Zen.

I started on the road, and then added mtb. I enjoy mountain more than road, but ride a lot more road because it's more convenient; i can roll out of my driveway and be on road that many people drive hours to ride on (Dahlonega Ga- 6 gap)

I have never been on a road bike for any great length of time. Beyond test riding.

The road for me is an unfortunate consequence of trying to find the trails I want to ride. Without the roads, there would be more trails :)

I would be a hardcore mtb-er if I didn't have to drive to the trails.

I probably get 75% of my saddle time on the road bike. That being said, mountain biking is still my preference. As others have said, it's a convenience thing with the road bike. Road bikes also make my commute to work a lot of fun.

. . . or, conversely, "How many of you hard-core mtn bikers use the occasional road ride to get in a nap while still pedalling?"





:D

. . . or, conversely, "How many of you hard-core mtn bikers use the occasional road ride to nap while pedalling?"





:D

Plan to someday. When I pull together enough funds to bother getting a road bike. :D

I probably get 75% of my saddle time on the road bike. That being said, mountain biking is still my preference. As others have said, it's a convenience thing with the road bike. Road bikes also make my commute to work a lot of fun.

I'm about the same. I do perhaps 60%-70% (in terms of time in saddle) on the road. However, the dirt is my first love, and continues to be the most fun. :thumb:

... Brad

I usually just lurk on here and don't post much at all. I just started mountain biking again after a 9 year hiatus. Spend most of the time on the roadie, but bought an MTB last year and went out this Memorial Day Weekend for my first off-road ride.
Here is a pic of my results.

http://home.wowway.com/~mspillman/MTBouch.jpg

I loved every second of it and I am proud of my battle scars.
The only problem is, that at 47 I don't heal as quickly as I used to.

blood and dirt...congrats on a successful ride :)...

My most gruesome crash happened on the road... go figure.

I get a lot more road time in, but like both for now equally probably. Chose getting a new road bike over a mtb though, if that says anything. There's still absolutely nothing like being out in the woods riding by yourself though. If I was forced, at gunpoint, to choose one or the other it would be mtb probably.

MTB was all I did until 2 years ago when I bought a road bike for commuting. I don't hit the trails much anymore.

After two straight weeks of two days weekly in the woods I've come to two conclusions:

• If I keep doing this I'll get much better MTB skills

• I'll inevitably t-bone a tree and wind up in the hospital

Oh well. That's the life of a bike weenie.

I really enjoy road riding, primarily for the social aspects, but also for the training benefits. Our mtn biking season locally is short [May-December], but we make the most of it. Actually, our road season is short as well [March-October]. Hmmm. I guess in terms of time, I spend most of it commuting. Next would be mountain biking, then road riding. That covers 52 weeks of the year, which is pretty good.

I'm a hard core roadie, I really hate the mtnbike but my kid makes me ride.

. . . • I'll inevitably t-bone a tree and wind up in the hospital . . . .That is a move I want to see. If you accomplish it you will be deemed to have MAD Skillz; because, the way I envision it, to T-bone a tree you will need to be airborne and at 90 degrees to the trunk. If you can bust a move like that and squarley punch a tree you'd better have video to show us. :D

I'm a hard core roadie, I really hate the mtnbike but my kid makes me ride.

Quit complaining and HTFU.

I've been a roadie for forever and just bought my first MTB this year. I'm basically a chicken when it comes to terrain harder than fire roads and the occasional scattered rocks (OK, pebbles) but I'm having great fun! :)

because, the way I envision it, to T-bone a tree you will need to be airborne and at 90 degrees to the trunk.

It's not that complicated. Trust me.

i'm not sure i'm "hard-core", but most of my miles are on the road. I just got a mtn bike recently and am really loving riding the trails and falling down trying to get up hills.

I've taken up commuting after a few years away from the road. I pulled an old (86-87) Repco of a swap-your-rubbish pile because it reminded me of my last courier bike. It had very little use on it except as dust gatherer and its been a lot of fun. Bonus, its improving my trail fitness, I'm cleaning climbs I never could before and losing weight. I'm even toying with the idea of a XC race debut early next year. Of course this would require a new bike ;)

There really are no words for what a Massive MTB Wussy I am compared to anyone who races or bombs around technical woods on this board. This is why I ride the MTB alone. It's simply too embarrassing to be seen by other MTBers. But I do really enjoy it. When I'm not swearing at the terrain, which never seems to care.

I started as a hardcore mtn biker, now I spend about 80% of my saddle time on the roadie due to the convenience factor like several posters above. I still love bombing throught the single track though and the road bike has increased my fitness level quite a bit.

You really need to post more often harov3. You also need to come DHing with me some day, as I sold my XC bike.

I have about an 85/15 split, with most of my cycle time on the mountain bike.

I consider myself a 'hard core' roadie. I've been mountain biking on and off since about 1999. The last few years, without a car and living in NYC, it was too hard to get to trails, but once in a while I got out.

Now I have a new/upgrade bike and a car, and am doing much more and intend to get a lot of mountain bike time in this summer. In fact, probably doing a XC type race on Sunday in Morristown, NJ.

Problem is, my MTB riding buddies are just on a whole other lever from me. They want extreme, highly technical stuff. I want fast and/or good long climbs, but only mildly technical. We don't see eye to eye. So I tag along and usually have the "why am I here doing this?" moment a few times during each ride.

They want extreme, highly technical stuff. I want fast and/or good long climbs, but only mildly technical. We don't see eye to eye. So I tag along and usually have the "why am I here doing this?" moment a few times during each ride.

Right. Terrain gets over my head technically, it starts to suck for me. If it's moderate to easy, I love it. That's why I enjoy riding on my own. I'm getting better, but I doubt I'll ever do enough MTB riding to get as good as guys that race. I'll never put enough time into it, I'm too into road cycling, and I'm much too afraid of getting racked up. The last thing I need is to crash my MTB and wind up with a serious injury. And you can yada yada until the cows come home about how 'safe' it is compared to road cycling. WhatEVER. The bike still goes 15-25mph going downhill and all those trees - they're NOT moving. The potential for disaster is constant in the woods, I have a few friends who have gotten seriously hurt, etc. So that's an envelope I have zero interest in pushing. There's enough risk on the road. I accept those risks. I'm unwiling to add the kind of risks half of the MTB crowd regularly engages in. I can have plenty of fun doing it in a non-competitive, more moderate manner. And it really does break up the road miles, and the bike handling part is really fun. It's the crashing I have no interest in (half the MTB crowd seems to think crashing is a laugh riot, they'll think that right up until they snap a neck vertebrae).

I
Problem is, my MTB riding buddies are just on a whole other lever from me. They want extreme, highly technical stuff. I want fast and/or good long climbs, but only mildly technical. We don't see eye to eye. So I tag along and usually have the "why am I here doing this?" moment a few times during each ride.

See I want highly technical downhill. I don't give to craps about the climb. For me climbing is always the same. Its the up, the down is where I get my jollies :)

I feel the same sense of accomplishment nailing a steep techy climb as I do a technical (for XC...) downhill.

Well maybe not the exact same, but you get the point.

I'm a cautious descender, so when I go out with friends I often get left behind on the steep downhills. Actually I'm a cautious descender on the road too, a lot of the time. I do really like the slow, technical sections that take planning and coordination to ride. Not that I'm great at them, but they're a lot of fun.

In terms of being a roadie versus mountain biker, I'm just a cyclist I guess. I like both. However I finally sold my mountain bike while living in Portland because most of the riding is road, and I hate having to drive to a trailhead except for the occasional epic or race.

Now going to school in Missoula it's kind of the opposite. The road riding is very limited, but the trails are pretty extensive and start right from town.

(half the MTB crowd seems to think crashing is a laugh riot, they'll think that right up until they snap a neck vertebrae).

:roflmao::roflmao: And that's where we part company. I need all my parts in working order, thank you very much.

Mountain biking is too muddy sometimes. Just sayin'. Do you know what a pain it is to clean my new MTB after a day out on the muddy trails? Jeesh.

I need more Armor All.

http://www.ontariocamaroclub.com/images/jpg/occ0030.jpg

Mountain biking is too muddy sometimes. Just sayin'. Do you know what a pain it is to clean my new MTB after a day out on the muddy trails? Jeesh.

I need more Armor All.

http://www.ontariocamaroclub.com/images/jpg/occ0030.jpg

Whoa! You're not supposed to clean the bike. The mud will dry all by itself, and the next time you ride, it will detach from your bike and return to the trail. This will allow fresh mud to accumulate, and the circle of life continues.

I'm a hardcore porn star who uses mountain biking to mix things up. Does that count?

I'm a hardcore porn star who uses mountain biking to mix things up. Does that count?

Hardtail or Softail?

Hardtail or Softail?

Full suspension.

I'm a hardcore porn star who uses mountain biking to mix things up. Does that count?

Thats just wrong on soooooo many levels.:twitchy:

You really need to post more often harov3. You also need to come DHing with me some day, as I sold my XC bike.

I have about an 85/15 split, with most of my cycle time on the mountain bike.

As work and family allows BFG. I'm hoping the goat farm will be all rainy this sunday, that way the fast boys will rollover and go back to sleep and I and a few others can play on a track usually dominated by fast boys. We 'll be there about 7 rain or not.
:thumb:

There really are no words for what a Massive MTB Wussy I am compared to anyone who races or bombs around technical woods on this board. This is why I ride the MTB alone. It's simply too embarrassing to be seen by other MTBers. But I do really enjoy it. When I'm not swearing at the terrain, which never seems to care.

Are you kidding? You probably look like the USA MTB national champion compared to me. :lol: I have been known to nearly fall off at just the sight of a 1" thick branch across an otherwise smooth woods trail. :innocent: Anyway, welcome to the "MTB chicken group"!!

Thats just wrong on soooooo many levels.:twitchy:

Yet, so awesome.

I'm a hardcore porn star who uses mountain biking to mix things up. Does that count?

Oh, great!


I'd love to work with you sometime.

Are you kidding? You probably look like the USA MTB national champion compared to me. :lol: I have been known to nearly fall off at just the sight of a 1" thick branch across an otherwise smooth woods trail. :innocent: Anyway, welcome to the "MTB chicken group"!!

I've gotten to the point where I can bunny hop any log up to about 8". I'm working on the bigger ones.

I've gotten to the point where I can bunny hop any log up to about 8". I'm working on the bigger ones.

Weenie.



Even the weeniest of the weenies do backflip decade airs over logs.

Weenie.



Even the weeniest of the weenies do backflip decade airs over logs.

Then in MTB terms I am a sub-weenie.

good first effort for the year and it is only the first of many more. The advanced stage is when metal plates are involved:

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/PAC1_2006/show%20me%20your%20surgeries/cankle.jpg




I usually just lurk on here and don't post much at all. I just started mountain biking again after a 9 year hiatus. Spend most of the time on the roadie, but bought an MTB last year and went out this Memorial Day Weekend for my first off-road ride.
Here is a pic of my results.

http://home.wowway.com/~mspillman/MTBouch.jpg

I loved every second of it and I am proud of my battle scars.
The only problem is, that at 47 I don't heal as quickly as I used to.

Rutnick,
I hope that doesn't happen to me. It would really screw up my running.
Is that a loose screw in there or do they have one screwed directly in to the bone?

I have as much Ti in my skeletal system as I do on my MTB. 2 knee surgeries, 2 spine surgeries. I'm sure I'm not done yet. Particularly now that I'm flying through the woods @ 20+mph with large immovable objects inches from my body at all times. That's safe, eh?

Rutnick,
I hope that doesn't happen to me. It would really screw up my running.
Is that a loose screw in there or do they have one screwed directly in to the bone?

right in the bone I guess. Nothing is "floating around". Doesn't screw up me running. I just choose not to run anymore because of other injuries.

I podiumed a MTB race 8 weeks post op.

I prefer mountain biking over road riding. First started cycling for transport, got into mountain biking, and started road riding to boost my strength (easier to focus on it than mountain biking IMO).

Having said that, I do more KM on the road, but now that I have my new mountain bike, I will probably spend 50/50 roads/trails. I love road riding for the sheer speed and improvement in speed. I prefer mountain biking for the nature and the "fun" aspect.