the mountains or the road in the winter?
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the mountains or the road in the winter?
Hey all,
The last few months I've been ridin the hummer (2004 jamis exile, XT crank) every weekend. The cold and wind don't bother me much; the trees and hills seem to shield the harsh winter wind pretty well, and the cold weather is not really an issue with the relatively slow speeds on the trails. The few rides on my 911 carrera turbo (2004 trek 2100, stock) I've done this winter were pretty miserable; 30 mph gusts, 30 degree weather not much fun even with multiple layers.
I guess I've decided that for me, mountainbiking is much more enjoyable than the road in this cold weather. When it's 80 and humid out, I have much more fun on the road. I've seen many posts in the road cycling forum bragging about doing centuries in 30 degree weather with heavy winds. But is it fun? Opinions please.
The last few months I've been ridin the hummer (2004 jamis exile, XT crank) every weekend. The cold and wind don't bother me much; the trees and hills seem to shield the harsh winter wind pretty well, and the cold weather is not really an issue with the relatively slow speeds on the trails. The few rides on my 911 carrera turbo (2004 trek 2100, stock) I've done this winter were pretty miserable; 30 mph gusts, 30 degree weather not much fun even with multiple layers.
I guess I've decided that for me, mountainbiking is much more enjoyable than the road in this cold weather. When it's 80 and humid out, I have much more fun on the road. I've seen many posts in the road cycling forum bragging about doing centuries in 30 degree weather with heavy winds. But is it fun? Opinions please.
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Originally Posted by MattP.
Road riding is boring in any weather.
but road riding is so much better for improving mtb skills
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Originally Posted by gmoneyhobbit
+1
but road riding is so much better for improving mtb skills
but road riding is so much better for improving mtb skills
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And pedaling skill.
When weather is bad or you can't get to the trails, try practicing trial moves, the stuff like bunnyhopping and lurching can help loads in tight situations not to mention they look pretty slick and more importantly you'll develop a great balance which WILL help your XC (swithbacks, tight trails, etc) riding, proper bunnyhoping will also let you clear logs, rocks, stumps etc without needing to slow down.
When weather is bad or you can't get to the trails, try practicing trial moves, the stuff like bunnyhopping and lurching can help loads in tight situations not to mention they look pretty slick and more importantly you'll develop a great balance which WILL help your XC (swithbacks, tight trails, etc) riding, proper bunnyhoping will also let you clear logs, rocks, stumps etc without needing to slow down.
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Originally Posted by MattP.
Road riding is boring in any weather.
What kind of road bike have you ridden, and where have you ridden it?
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Originally Posted by gwhunt23
Skills? I think you mean endurance...
skills
go talk to any pro mtbiker pedaling,cornering,braking,aero,endurance,sprinting,list goes on and on
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there is no such thing as winter in southern california... i ride road 3/4 of the time anyways because i have school and cant get up to the mountains as much as i'd like to
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I guess I'm a roadie now, although I used to race NORBA. When I made the change to roadie of course I kept my mountain bikes and kept riding offroad, but I found myself in winter getting out early in the mornings when everything was still frozen and trailriding as hard as I could. Made for a nice change of pace.
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Originally Posted by Hank Rearden
Then you haven't gone fast enough.
What kind of road bike have you ridden, and where have you ridden it?
What kind of road bike have you ridden, and where have you ridden it?
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Originally Posted by MattP.
----confusion---
p.s. Do people only "just pedal" when they ride a mountain bike or do they also decend? Do you think that riding and cornering at 35+mph while surrounded on all sides (by inches) by people doing the same thing sounds boring? How about railing a curvy 3,000' descent, is that boring too?
p.p.s. "Riding on a road for miles, just pedaling, TO ME, is boring." There is more to road riding. You would know that if you had done any quality road riding.
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Originally Posted by gmoneyhobbit
let me reitterate
skills
go talk to any pro mtbiker pedaling,cornering,braking,aero,endurance,sprinting,list goes on and on
skills
go talk to any pro mtbiker pedaling,cornering,braking,aero,endurance,sprinting,list goes on and on
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It can rain so much here in winter that the trails get to messy to enjoy...
I am definitely thinking about getting a road bike to give it a try next winter - never done it before - it does look a bit boring to me, but at least I'll be outside and riding....
I am definitely thinking about getting a road bike to give it a try next winter - never done it before - it does look a bit boring to me, but at least I'll be outside and riding....
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Originally Posted by Hank Rearden
So you have no expereince riding a road bike. That's what I thought.
p.s. Do people only "just pedal" when they ride a mountain bike or do they also decend? Do you think that riding and cornering at 35+mph while surrounded on all sides (by inches) by people doing the same thing sounds boring? How about railing a curvy 3,000' descent, is that boring too?
p.p.s. "Riding on a road for miles, just pedaling, TO ME, is boring." There is more to road riding. You would know that if you had done any quality road riding.
p.s. Do people only "just pedal" when they ride a mountain bike or do they also decend? Do you think that riding and cornering at 35+mph while surrounded on all sides (by inches) by people doing the same thing sounds boring? How about railing a curvy 3,000' descent, is that boring too?
p.p.s. "Riding on a road for miles, just pedaling, TO ME, is boring." There is more to road riding. You would know that if you had done any quality road riding.
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Originally Posted by MattP.
I have. And I still feel that it is boring. It's my opinion.
if pedaling for miles and miles on the road is boring.. then what is pedaling for miles and miles on a trail?
its the same boat... but i still choose mtbiking as my drug of choice
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Originally Posted by gmoneyhobbit
if pedaling for miles and miles on the road is boring.. then what is pedaling for miles and miles on a trail?
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Originally Posted by gmoneyhobbit
let me reitterate
skills
go talk to any pro mtbiker pedaling,cornering,braking,aero,endurance,sprinting,list goes on and on
skills
go talk to any pro mtbiker pedaling,cornering,braking,aero,endurance,sprinting,list goes on and on
and one needs to talk to a pro mountain bikers to know this. argue as much as you want but I dont see how road biking can "improve" your mountain biking skills (bar endurance). that said, I have nothing against road biking/bikers, and road biking during winter when you can not use the mountain biking trails. but trying to make a justification that does not make sense is not necessary.
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Originally Posted by sherpaPeak
and one needs to talk to a pro mountain bikers to know this. argue as much as you want but I dont see how road biking can "improve" your mountain biking skills (bar endurance). that said, I have nothing against road biking/bikers, and road biking during winter when you can not use the mountain biking trails. but trying to make a justification that does not make sense is not necessary.
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Originally Posted by gmoneyhobbit
if pedaling for miles and miles on the road is boring.. then what is pedaling for miles and miles on a trail?
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Originally Posted by MattP.
Road riding is boring in any weather.
I wish my trails were rideable in the winter. Snow is too deep. But I do understand you opinion on the trail being covered. It doesn't really get that cold here, -20c is about the lowest, but the trees and coverage would make that much better.
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Originally Posted by sherpaPeak
have you ever been on a trail? EVER. if you did, you would understand the difference.
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riding your personal "fast" on pavement is albeit different than dirt. A good mtb'r WILL pulverize a good road rider on mtb'ng surroundings. It won't neccessarily be so in opposite formation.
cornering & handling your business is quite a bit different on the loose & dirties.
Regards,
SingleTrackDufus
cornering & handling your business is quite a bit different on the loose & dirties.
Regards,
SingleTrackDufus
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Originally Posted by Maelstrom
+1..its on par with jogging.