Shattered..
 

I ride a mountain bike to 'commute' to my mates houses about 5 miles away almost daily. However, ive made a new friend who lives about 25 miles away from my house, and today I took the time to cycle out...

Im only 16 so people look down on me when I try to cycle on the road, but I know (pretty much) the laws and I make sure I stick to them....

Is it just because I am young that crazy drivers expect to get away with anything they want, for example - passing me at 50mph with about 1 ft. seperating me from them??

Apart from a few crazy moments, I got there and back finishing my first 50 mile journey on my bike - and Im shattered lol

Anyway, plz tell me if everyone gets hassled by a few drivers or if its just me... or Scottish drivers :P

It's not just you nor Scottish drivers. It's drivers most places.

Perhaps I live in an odd place, central Maryland, but in over 2 years of cycling well over 10,000 miles, I have had only one major league scare. And I'm more than 3 times your age.

Look in a few other areas and you will find all sorts of horror stories. Just hang in there, keep your head on a swivel, and ride defensively.

Quick reply :)

Dont worry tho, im not put of at all by this... maybe it could be my downfall im not scared of those guys lol

Also, I was thinking of investing in a roadbike for this kind of thing as it would make it easier, but:
1) I cant afford it
2) It would look wierd (a kid on a road bike)
3) I ride in hope to keep my weight down, mountain bike takes more effort and so (im asssuming) more energy needed

Is number 3) true anyone lol

A 16-year old on a road bike doesn't look weird. To most people you'll probably look like any other rider regardless of age. I started riding when I was 16 (17 now) and never thought I would look weird because of my age (many other reasons for me to look weird:)). I don't think The third thing you mentioned is true at all. If you have to put in X watts to go 20mph on the mountain bike lets say, doing the same X watts would have you traveling faster on the road bike. So as long as you maintain the same power output it shouldn't matter which type of bike you ride.

Chances are you'll be moving faster on the road bike like BigFloppyLlama said if you apply the same power. I know a lot of guys in highschool that bike (me being one of them) and none of them look weird. A good place most definitely to get yourself a road bike at a bargain would be ebay if you're looking to start.

My son is age 11, he has done numerous organised rides and he doesnt look weird at all, I think he looks rather cool :D
This season will be his first 50 mile organised ride tho he has ridden 50 miles during training with me...

I have a 9 year old son and wanted to get him into riding but I was thinking he is to young. So my questions is when did your son start riding.

I got his first REAL road bike for his 10th Birthday, we just rode the trails, he learned the gears , how to use the pedals etc, we just rode about 20 miles a day/100 a week
His first organised ride was a 32 mile ride, he did real well and was proud he finished before a bunch of old guys on nicer bikes.. his second ride was only a 16 mile ride, he finished first out of apx 100 riders (the two guys we were riding with allowed this of course) but he was so proud.. he has done mostly 32 mile rides, I tell him we need to move forward and back, he is a pretty good cyclist, he can maintain 20 mph for apx 20 miles, he may fall back and I go back or wait and reel him in every now and then, but he keeps on going.
I may push him a little hard, but he feels so good and proud when he finishes an organised ride. He now has a Bianchi Giro identical to mine (little big for him, but he is growing into it), I get most of his jerseys and bibs on ebay, (NEW ITEMS) since I can get them cheaper and since he is still growing, its great to have your son ride with you, its an awsome feeling when you both cross the line , the accomplishment of doing more and more rides, more and more miles ,,, I cant wait till he can do a century, hopefully next season :D

forgot to mention he likes getting the tee shirts and jerseys at the rides, he has a little scrap book with his #'s and maps, entry forms and so on, its way cool to get your kids involved, you may not be able to ride at your speed, but nothing can beat spending time with your kid on a ride and seeing him/her full of pride when the complete a ride that is organised. we usually go early to watch the mass starts of the century riders and groups above our ride and I clue him in on where we will start and what to watch for and so we can take a quick ride from the start so he will know where we are going, since I seem to start fats and want to get ahead of the pack, he stays on my wheel and I look back every chance I get, he is usually within ear shot so i can always ask if he is ok and how he is doing, beleive me its worth it to start your kid young.

Thanks for the info. My son is turning 10 in august so I guess I will try it. I like the part of the awsome feeling you get riding with your son thanx.

No prob, keep us posted and be sure to post pics of those special rides.... maybe someday we can watch them both ride the TDF :D :beer:

Where in Scotland are you? I remember the Borders being mental for insane drivers - fly through the countryside and just assume that there is never going to be anything else on the road. Good to know that it won't put you off though!

A set of smooth tyres for your mtb (if it doesn't already have them) could make the longer rides a fair bit easier and quieter.

Great picture - I love your kid just by his smile.

OK - Gotta Know - does he ride a Bianchi?

That is one kid who will not be into gangs and other bad crap. A kid with a compelling interest in a hobby/sport will be a well-adjusted kid, in my book.

Make sure he gets other exercise due to the predispositioning of intensive biking to osteoporosis. Personal experience speaking here.

Thanks DnvrFox, His first bike was actually an AMX Patriot, aluminum aero frame, with shimano sora groupo, I found a great deal on a Bianchi Giro, its a little big for him but he is definately growing into it, so yes he rides Bianchi :) , tho he likes Fuji :( , But as long as I am paying for and buying his cycling gear and bikes he "WILL" ride Bianchi :D hehehe
I agree he definately wont be into any gang or trouble, he loves cycling and is always telling me its time to ride, so he is sort of a motivation to get me out and ride LOL
again thanks

I was taking a ride from about 10 miles north of glasgow, through glasgow to the south-end and back up again...

Cheers for all the advice also, I mite consider a roadbike (for priority rite now is gettin paintball money together :P). Although I dont think ill be shaving my legs if I get one like a lot of you in here apparently like ;)... By the way, are they less stable than MTBs at lower speeds because of the thinner tires?

I suppose you might say that a road bike is a bit less stable than a mtn bike - I don't really know.

They are both "stable." I guess it depends on where and why you are riding them.

I have 2 road bikes - both perfectly stable, and a mtn bike - also very stable.

My wife has a mtn bike, hybrid and road bike. She feels that the road bike is a bit less stable than the mtn bike.

Stability is not generally a problem that most folks consider much when buying a bike, IMHO.

Good luck.

Hey a fellow Glaswegian biker! You always get idiot drivers no matter where you are but I dont get much hassle. In town drivers never drive very fast and its probably safer than some of the main country roads. If you know it the road between Eastkilbride and Eaglesham is pretty deadly.
I changed the my MTBike to road tires and it made a huge difference. You feel the bumps more but on a smooth road theyre so much faster and hold onto the road better too.

It has been a while since I rode an MTB, but I don't remember it being any more stable than a road bike. The road bike has different geometry and is generally lighter. That people can track-stand on a roadie shows it's not unstable and very slow (i.e. dead stop!) speeds.