mountain bike to ride roads
 

could I just put on slicks to keep up with road bikers? It seems where I live that's the majority of riders around here....I'm just not ready to commit to a road bike...thanks!

I have both a mountain and road bike. Even with slicks on my mountain bike, I doubt if I could "keep up" with the road bikes once the group settled into their pace. Maybe others can answer what the speed difference might be. If the road bikers were out for a recovery ride, it might not be too hard to keep up. But if they're out for a training ride, you'd likely get dropped.

Walter

I've got both a decent road bike and my commuter, an old rigid MTB with 1.25" semi slick tires. While the tires do make a big difference for on road performance, my commuter is still nowhere near as fast or efficient as my road bike.

I use these.

Others covered it, but I'll reiterate. Slicks will be nice, but you will not be as fast as road bikers, period.

Yep. Thin slicks with high pressure will help, but still not the same as a road bike. I can ride my light hardtail (21 lbs) with slicks with a slow road group (and do so sometimes to hang out with a group that I would not normally ride). I could not even think of staying with my normal group rides on it. Probably 2 mph different.

Weight is an issue
Rolling resistance is a big issue, even with slicks.
Aero is a very big issue. It is hard to get into the same position on a MTB that you are in even just on the hoods on a road bike. You are just more stretched out and flatter
Power position is an issue. A road bike geo puts the body in a more efficient position to sustain power.

Not saying you should not do some road rides on your MTB, but you will be working a lot harder to sustain the same pace as the others.

Also remember those bikes have bigger wheels and larger chainrings too.
If you've got a 44t big ring, you'd have to be a legend to keep up.. I spin out way too easy on the road and must look like one of those idiots who spend all their time going nowhere in the granny. USE YER GEARS YOU TW@!! (not you, them)

Most likely, no.

Rigid fork, narrow slicks, lower handlebar.

You'll be fine (plus you will get a better workout than roadie friends).

You've likely got a big chainring very close to the size the middle ring on a road triple and small on a double. In terms of gearing (which is the bottom line), you're not going to be able to keep up unless you are climbing.

I found slicks on my mtb made a big difference (about 2-3mph average speed difference over 10 miles). Then I decided to offset this with rack, panniers and the obsessive need to carry enough equipment to crush my rear wheel. With a 44tooth chainring and a 48lb bike (incl. luggage) I can manage a heady 13mph average.
Roadies leave me for dust.

Buy a used road bike on Craigslist at a realistic price. If you find you really didn't want to commit, sell it for the same $ you bought it for. No/low risk.

you can keep up for the first 5 miles, but as the distance increases the better off the road bikes will be for the efficency reason in others posts. plus due to your you won't draft well in a group...

over 25 miles:

road bike with group ~19mph
road solo ~17.5
hybrid (upright but with 700x38c tires) ~16
mountian with regular knobies ~ i don't think i would ever go more than 15 miles averageing about 14 but of course i play around a little more hopping curbs and what not on the mtb)

the slicks if thin would go about the hybrid speed but like i said as the distance increases the roadie will hold its pace the mtb will drain you