Originally Posted by SDRider
That is utter rubbish. I can do anything you stated on my road bike and I have the advantage of narrower handlebars so I can squeeze through areas you could not. The only thing I haven't tried is riding backwards...not sure what you could possibly mean by that actually or how that would translate into normal everyday riding. I'm not great at track standing but I know many roadies who can track stand easily on their road bikes.
I guess if your goal is to slide down a stair railing sideways or ride on a skateboard ramp then a road bike is probably not the best instrument but for typical everyday riding a road bike is very maneuverable and an excellent tool for the job.
For some reason I'm under the impression that different bikes do different things well. Commuting conditions can vary wildly from person to person so it should be that some people prefer one kinda bike over another.
Everyday riding for me is basically a 13 mile time trial(with my lunch) twice a day through sparsely populated, well maintained roads in NH. A co-worker lives in the city and rides slow and careful through 5 miles of heavy traffic, crappy roads and constant stops. One of my brother's typical riding day is 2 miles on the road then 3+ hours at a skate park. A group of people at work ride 10 miles of trails a day. Normal for you is NOT normal for everyone.
Originally Posted by SDRider
I guarantee you that I can take turns at a greater speed on my road bike than you could on a mtb or BMX bike.
Now that's just uncalled for and insulting. Duh? Different tools for different jobs is all I'm saying.