Road bikes- offroad limitations?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MA
Posts: 139
Bikes: Bianchi Trofeo, Fly Pantera
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Road bikes- offroad limitations?
Hey all,
I am still getting a feel for the roadie scene, I don't have a bike yet. I am hoping to get one this weekend. Just to save myself pain after I actually get a bike, I want to know how strictly road a roadbike is. I mean, can you ride it down curbs? Up curbs (slowly)? Grass? Dirt paths? Potholes? Don't worry, I don't want a mountain bike! I just need to know before I end up with a dented/bent rim...
Thanks
I am still getting a feel for the roadie scene, I don't have a bike yet. I am hoping to get one this weekend. Just to save myself pain after I actually get a bike, I want to know how strictly road a roadbike is. I mean, can you ride it down curbs? Up curbs (slowly)? Grass? Dirt paths? Potholes? Don't worry, I don't want a mountain bike! I just need to know before I end up with a dented/bent rim...
Thanks
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 149
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by KevRC4130
Hey all,
I am still getting a feel for the roadie scene, I don't have a bike yet. I am hoping to get one this weekend. Just to save myself pain after I actually get a bike, I want to know how strictly road a roadbike is. I mean, can you ride it down curbs? Up curbs (slowly)? Grass? Dirt paths? Potholes? Don't worry, I don't want a mountain bike! I just need to know before I end up with a dented/bent rim...
Thanks
I am still getting a feel for the roadie scene, I don't have a bike yet. I am hoping to get one this weekend. Just to save myself pain after I actually get a bike, I want to know how strictly road a roadbike is. I mean, can you ride it down curbs? Up curbs (slowly)? Grass? Dirt paths? Potholes? Don't worry, I don't want a mountain bike! I just need to know before I end up with a dented/bent rim...
Thanks
Mine is similar to this, but a couple of years older:
https://www.bikespecialties.com/marinoni/ciclo.html
#4
cab horn
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 28,353
Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 25 Times
in
18 Posts
Originally Posted by Marlin523
A good road bike should not be ridden in the way you described. If you want to do that, consider a cross-bike.
#5
Announcer
I disagree.
Those bikes are built to take much more than you can ever dish out.
Seriously, a decent set of wheels and tires will get you across any surface.
In attempting to avoid dangerous traffic, I've ridden my Trek down washboard roads, cobble streets, rail-trails, etc. at full tilt.
Granted, you might have to replace headsets and bottom brackets a little more frequently, but you're not going to kill your bike. Ain't no way.
Those bikes are built to take much more than you can ever dish out.
Seriously, a decent set of wheels and tires will get you across any surface.
In attempting to avoid dangerous traffic, I've ridden my Trek down washboard roads, cobble streets, rail-trails, etc. at full tilt.
Granted, you might have to replace headsets and bottom brackets a little more frequently, but you're not going to kill your bike. Ain't no way.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 149
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Marlin523
A good road bike should not be ridden in the way you described. If you want to do that, consider a cross-bike.
#7
DEADBEEF
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Catching his breath alongside a road near Seattle, WA USA
Posts: 12,234
Bikes: 1999 K2 OzM, 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
I've ridden my CF roadbike over curbs and have bunnyhopped it over potholes. I've hit some potholes at high speed too. Also, I occassionally ride it on gravel trails that I use as shortcuts to get back home. It's good to have very solid wheels with strong rims. I'm running Mavic Ksyrium SSCs with 700x23C Continental GP3000 @ 130PSI. In the four years I've had the bike, I've bent a spoke once but I'm not even sure when and how that happened. And after I discovered the bent spoke, I checked the wheel which was still true and round. I even rode on that bent spoke for another 500 miles while awaiting the replacements (I ordered extra spares) to get shipped. The only time I had to retrue the wheel was after I replaced that spoke and even then it wasn't really a retruing... just a tensioning. While it's not advisable to continuously offroad a roadbike, it can be done from time to time for short distances without a problem.
__________________
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
#8
semifreddo amartuerer
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 4,599
Bikes: several
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
crossbike++
Kind of like 4WD on a car . . . most people don't need it, but when you do need it, there's no substitute.
Kind of like 4WD on a car . . . most people don't need it, but when you do need it, there's no substitute.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 153
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If you're spending money on a nice bike, treat it right. However if you're riding a beater do whatever you want with it. Road bikes and road tires can be ridden off road...carefully.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: N. Fla
Posts: 269
Bikes: 86 Schwinn Peloton (under construction)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I second (or third) the cross bike suggestion. Especially for a first bike. If you commute around town, or just ride in town, it's probably the best choice. You can still have drop bars, STI shifters, and tall gearing. The wheelsets you can use however, are much better suited even to the occasional offroading. I prefer 30/32 700C's for around town use, but switch to a traditional road wheelset for weekend rides. You can't do that with most "road" frames.
#11
...
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: hell
Posts: 749
Bikes: some piece of s h i t
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I am poor so my baby stays safely in the road. I dont even like riding it on the sidewalk but maybe Im just weird. If I need to ride somewhere like that, I take one of my other bikes.
#12
@ Checkmate Cycling
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 1,617
Bikes: CAAD 8 - Ultegra
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
With a road bike its best to learn how to pop up the front and rear wheels separately. That way when you come up to a curb you first pop the front wheel up (primarily done by pulling up on the bars and giving it a good kick on one pedal). Then when the back wheel is a few inches from hitting the curb, lean forwards on the bars and use the clipless pedals to "bunny hop" the back wheel over the curb. Make sure that you don't lean to far forwards, especially in deep grass. If I had a dollar or every face plant from this move I've seen going into the grassy areas around crit courses (not people who were racing, but people who already did race or were waiting to race). If you get good at this you should be able to do the back and front wheel at the same time, enabling you to hop over RR tracks at full speed. Make sure they aren't double tracks though, its a LOT farther and you risk landing a wheel on the rails which could either get you hurt badly or at the least you wheel.
#13
Meow!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Riverside, California
Posts: 6,019
Bikes: Trek 2100 Road Bike, Full DA10, Cervelo P2K TT bike, Full DA10, Giant Boulder Steel Commuter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have taken my bike with training wheelset over a few things. I do worry about things like scraping my long crank arms, etc though. At races I have seen it more than once so it can be done.
__________________
Just your average club rider... :)
Just your average club rider... :)
#15
RacingBear
Depends how comfortable you feel. I've ridden my bike through the gravel at one point during one of the RR, bike is still in one piece. Yes road bike is not intended for of road riding, but comming down from a curb on a occasion won't destroy it.
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MA
Posts: 139
Bikes: Bianchi Trofeo, Fly Pantera
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by jbhowat
With a road bike its best to learn how to pop up the front and rear wheels separately. That way when you come up to a curb you first pop the front wheel up (primarily done by pulling up on the bars and giving it a good kick on one pedal). Then when the back wheel is a few inches from hitting the curb, lean forwards on the bars and use the clipless pedals to "bunny hop" the back wheel over the curb. Make sure that you don't lean to far forwards, especially in deep grass. If I had a dollar or every face plant from this move I've seen going into the grassy areas around crit courses (not people who were racing, but people who already did race or were waiting to race). If you get good at this you should be able to do the back and front wheel at the same time, enabling you to hop over RR tracks at full speed. Make sure they aren't double tracks though, its a LOT farther and you risk landing a wheel on the rails which could either get you hurt badly or at the least you wheel.
#17
Keep on climbing
I've gotten road bikes with 700x23 tires down more miles of dirt roads -- plus three very memorable miles of dirt road in pouring rain -- then I care to remember at this time. I wouldn't necessarily recommend high speed, but you can most certainly get through it. I'd think the danger of hitting potholes is greater to you (from the resulting fall) then it is to the bike. I wouldn't make a habit of riding off curbs, bunny-hopping, hitting potholes, etc., but the bike can most certainly take it. Get some good wheels, and you're good to go.
As another poster said, look up some pictures from the cobblestone sections of the Paris -- Roubaix race. Greg LeMond once compared it to riding over a miniature graveyard.
As another poster said, look up some pictures from the cobblestone sections of the Paris -- Roubaix race. Greg LeMond once compared it to riding over a miniature graveyard.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Illinois
Posts: 372
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Snakebites may be the most common problem with bumps and potholes etc.... Keep the tire pressure high it will help somewith that Carry pump and spare tube patch kit etc....
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: England
Posts: 12,948
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
Ive taken road bikes on tracks and trails, curbs, potholes etc. They don't falll apart if you avoid ultralight weight-weenie type equipment. Did you see in the TdF when Lance avoided a crash, and cut a corner across a ploughed field at fairly high speed?
With curbs the technique described above is good, where you pop the front wheel up, then brake, then get the rear wheel over. Riding off curbs is no problem, unless you drop into a rising camber at slow speed. With potholes, you can lift the front wheel over the hole. It all comes down to having a responsive and sensitive technique.
Taking a road bike off-road will improve your riding skills.
With curbs the technique described above is good, where you pop the front wheel up, then brake, then get the rear wheel over. Riding off curbs is no problem, unless you drop into a rising camber at slow speed. With potholes, you can lift the front wheel over the hole. It all comes down to having a responsive and sensitive technique.
Taking a road bike off-road will improve your riding skills.
#20
NFL Owner
... can you ride it down curbs?
Yes.
Up curbs (slowly)?
Yes, although I've found it easier to bunny hop up it while going fast.
Grass?
Yes.
Dirt paths?
Yes.
Potholes?
Yes, again, I prefer to bunny hop them.
I've done everything on your list with every one of my road bikes with no damage sustained to any of them.
Yes.
Up curbs (slowly)?
Yes, although I've found it easier to bunny hop up it while going fast.
Grass?
Yes.
Dirt paths?
Yes.
Potholes?
Yes, again, I prefer to bunny hop them.
I've done everything on your list with every one of my road bikes with no damage sustained to any of them.
#21
Full Member
I've ridden my road bike on trails, grass, etc. and never had a problem. A reasonably strong set of wheels will hold up to almost everything one could throw at them.
If a bike's too fragile to handle the occasional off road foray, then how well will it hold up hitting a pothole, rock or whatever at 24 mph? Don't worry...most modern frames will hold up better than the rider off road.
If a bike's too fragile to handle the occasional off road foray, then how well will it hold up hitting a pothole, rock or whatever at 24 mph? Don't worry...most modern frames will hold up better than the rider off road.
#22
DEADBEEF
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Catching his breath alongside a road near Seattle, WA USA
Posts: 12,234
Bikes: 1999 K2 OzM, 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
Originally Posted by Point
Don't worry...most modern frames will hold up better than the rider off road.
__________________
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
#24
DEADBEEF
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Catching his breath alongside a road near Seattle, WA USA
Posts: 12,234
Bikes: 1999 K2 OzM, 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
Originally Posted by JT354
Does light offroad riding do anything bad to your frame over time?
__________________
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
#25
Announcer
IMO, putting the bike on a wind trainer and locking the front fork down does more damage to a bike than riding on a dirt road.
And even then, only trace amounts.
And even then, only trace amounts.