[Closed] Are roadbikes the new STW niche?

Road is taking over....mtb'ing has had its day in the sun.
Its too expensive to drive to go riding anymore.People have 'done' everywhere.3000 people at the cheshire cat sportive today and roadbike sales will exceed mtb sales at ours for the first time this year.
Its the next big fad y'know.

definately noticed a bias towards roadietrackworld recently

What road bike for, Look at my new bike, Road bikes are awesome

Its the start of summer.

are there any road bike forums?

[url= http://road.cc/ ]http://road.cc/[/url]

It's getting popular again, but the recent upsurge does coincide with the good weather, in the same way everyone on here bought a 4X4 when it snowed.
I feel a bit of an imposter on here now not owning a mountainbike.

Passing fad. Wait until summer is truly upon us and the negative posts will start.

I buckled my rim trying some 'big-air' 67 miles into an epic 100 miler.

That said, I did buy a hardtail after last summers fad.

Sportives are golfing for cyclists. It's the new mid life thing. Why pay to ride a route you could do for free with your mates?

I feel a bit of an imposter on here now not owning a mountainbike.

I wouldn't worry about that.

However, you gave your age away the other day:
Middle-aged git more like 🙂

Why pay to ride a route you could do for free with your mates?

Because you have none? A lot of people don't like joining clubs, and it's not as necessary to be in a group on the road, less danger and remoteness for a start, and anyone can spot a quiet road on a map so doesn't need as much local knowledge. Sportive let you go on a big group ride without having to race.

It's a bit like saying "Why pay to do the London marathon when you could go for a jog round with your mates?" .

Unsure about roadies being the new niche, however I firmly believe that CX is the new XC. I really like mine, it's like what biking used to be like before it got bouncy

partyboy - Member
http://road.cc/

thanks, but i was taking the piss

Its because conventional 26 inch mtb's are a ****ing rip off at the moment.

Suspension forks for example are insanely expensive at the moment. A decent set of 100mm shockers costs £550-700. That is barking mad considering you could probably have yourself built a 29er frame in steel with a pretty paint job for the same money OR a carbon road frame and fork which won't wear out in 18 months.

I'm thinkin about throwing my hat in with 'conventional' mtb. Big old money pit which I get little pleasure from.

thanks, but i was taking the piss

I wasnt answering your question, just so happened my timing was coincidental to your attempt at humour.

I feel a bit of an imposter on here now not owning a mountainbike

I reckon it's a number of clear factors that have pushed this forwards.

Look how awesome the Tour was last year. I had people I had pegged as staunch anti-cyclists talking to me about how interesting the race was. They were talking then about buying a roadbike. We've been splendid at track cycling for ages and while that's not really a regular option for most people unless you live near a track, the bikes look like road bikes, sorted.

Cyclescheme and in particular, Boardman have made quality bikes available to the masses. And it makes financial sense. Petrol so expensive, buying a bike for a short commute is a no brainer.

I think the last one is most pertinant though. Road cycling is the new niche for non-cyclists. It might have been motorbikes or sports cars before but the amount of fat, wealthy blokes you see nowadays riding around slowly on 4 grand carbon monstrosities is astounding.

I don't mind though. More bikes is always good and some of these guys even want to try and race. Until they realise it's not about the kit or the bike.

Most MTB's are costly, way too expensive. Not many newbies are going to be happy with a steel HT with some old Z1's and XT brakes bolted on when Giant/Trek/Boardman give them nice looking road bikes for 550 quid.
I like road bikes but won't buy one. I want a fatbike and a tandem, and a 29er rigid, and a cargo bike, and a Pompino with SS CX setup. Proper roadie stuff - thanks, been there, done that, got the t-shirt too many times. Most of us here love bikes but are too old at heart or too vain to ignore the fashion. I don't care, bikes are bikes. BTW if they keep roading we'll be seeing "do you shave your bum?" threads again 🙂

seeing "do you shave your bum?"

Yes 😆

Road bikes are the original 29ers, the naysayers are buying then to enter the niche by the back door so the evangelists don't have the oportunity to say "I told you so"

Any MTBers left here?, today the bike forum looks like the 'new riders' section of a road forum 😯

Partboy - proudly, I've never owned a road bike, nor have no intention of ever doing so, unless it has an engine of course.

Roadbikes are boring.

dont worry im still keeping the faith

roadbiking is dull imho

I do think the price of petrol is a big part of it. I used to go mountain biking on my own quite a bit but I won't often drive up to the Lakes from Lancaster now without someone to share petrol with - whereas I can ride my road bike from the door.

I do think the price of petrol is a big part of it. I used to go mountain biking on my own quite a bit but I won't often drive up to the Lakes from Lancaster now without someone to share petrol with - whereas I can ride my road bike from the door.

This.^

So far this year I've done quite a lot more road (and turbo trainer) miles than mountain bikes ones, but given the choice MTB is still my preference (and with good weather at the weekend it was the mountain bikes that were used). I enjoy road riding as well but mainly see it as a convenient way of helping with fitness.

My wife is also more interested in road riding than off-road so when we're out together it's on the road bikes mostly.

Maybe the mods should consider splitting the Bike forum into MTB and Road ❓

Maybe the mods should consider splitting the Bike forum into MTB and Road

It's going to rain from Wednesday so the forum will self right itself.

I wonder if perhaps the demographic on here is relevant. 10 years ago I wouldn't have even considered a road bike, now as I'm older and have less time due to family and work stuff the idea of riding out if the door and not having to piss about with cleaning stuff just to ride seems pretty appealing.

Picked up my giant tcr alliance on Saturday. How fast do road bikes go!?!?

I jumped on the bandwagon just before it became a bandwagon (I like to think...) mostly because of bike-to-work.

I would definitely second the 'MTB is too expensive' comments. I was getting sick of being played for a mug constantly replacing expensive kit, especially when I wasn't really riding all that much.

CX gives me my slip-sliding off-road buzz, and my £500 CX bike is faster than any MTB I've ever ridden, just have to avoid the bigger rocks and roots, which co-incidentally means less needlessly expensive replacement parts, win!

Getting a bit worried about the recent trend for turning roadbikes and CX bikes in MTBs though, leave the lazy geometry and disc brakes on MTBs thanks, CX and Road bikes should be quiet, uncomplicated and sharp handling.

Roadbikes are boring.

Then you're doing it wrong, or you must be some super-cranked adrenaline hero, you should audition for the next XXX film 8)

Personally, I don't get the 'its summer so time to get on the road bike' thang. I mean, when it's summer now is the BEST time for mountainbiking - long days, dry trails, enjoying the luxurious greenery of the hills... Isn't winter the better time for being on the road, and save the off-road stuff for when the weather is better? Unless you're touring, of course, in which case summertime is nice for pottering from place to place 🙂

I wonder if perhaps the demographic on here is relevant. 10 years ago I wouldn't have even considered a road bike, now as I'm older and have less time due to family and work stuff the idea of riding out if the door and not having to piss about with cleaning stuff just to ride seems pretty appealing.

Exactly same here. Primarily a quick way of getting more exercise in.

Picked up my giant tcr alliance on Saturday. How fast do road bikes go!?!?

Tell me about it!

Partboy - proudly, I've never owned a road bike, nor have no intention of ever doing so, unless it has an engine of course.

Roadbikes are boring.

Why are you proud of not owning a road bike and how do you know it's boring?

i must admit that i would love one of these [img] [/img] unfortunately there is no way that i can afford one at present (have to pay off some tickets,pay entry fee for erlstoke 12 hour,buy a guitar/amp.but will get one before the end of next year (hopefully!)

Personally, I don't get the 'its summer so time to get on the road bike' thang. I mean, when it's summer now is the BEST time for mountainbiking - long days, dry trails, enjoying the luxurious greenery of the hills... Isn't winter the better time for being on the road, and save the off-road stuff for when the weather is better? Unless you're touring, of course, in which case summertime is nice for pottering from place to place

Night time road riding is borderline insanity.

Night time MTB in the mud is fun (as long as its SS to avoid mud related problems).

Which is why my road bike rarely sees the light of day over the winter. It's not an either/or situation. I do as much mountainbiking in the summer as I do winter, I just ride on the road as well.

Just bought a Genesis Day 1 SS drop handle, can't wait for it to arrive. I'm sick of commuting on my MTB and having to maintain it. I will always love mountain biking but can feel the pull for some road action now and again. Must admit I am a bit worried about going SS, just hope its ok for the winday days crossing the Tay bridge! A few years ago the thought of owning a road bike would have never crossed my mind.
The way I see it time spent on a bike is time well spent who cares if its road or trail. Its all good.

NIght road riding with off road lights is fun and called commuting in the winter

Any MTBers left here?

Me! My 'road' bike that I commute to work on every day has 2.0" slick tyres (comfy, pothole munchers) and will accept up to 2.7" tyres. It's my camping bike: take off the mudguards and put on knobblies, and bikepacking, STW's other niche, is ready for me!

Ah yes, forgot about night riding...

I'm a bit of a convert recently.

I still see myself a DH rider & racer though, however due to ever increasing transport, riding & racing costs we're having to be a bit more picky with what & we do.

Living in Southampton means a distinct lack of decent hills too, so it makes it even harder. Been riding a lot more XC of late & I have finally taken the plunge & bought a decent road bike in a bit to commute (40 mile round trip) and use it as my main means to get fit. It taske as long to ride as it does to drive anyway.

I expect now the weather is improving however I will be riding a lot more MTB at the weekends & leave the road for the weekdays.

I just enjoy riding bikes, however I can still say I enjoy riding some more than others 🙂

Its too expensive to drive to go riding anymore

Who thinks driving is an integral part of MTBing?

How many people have properly honestly looked and found NO trails within say 10 miles of their house?

NIght road riding with off road lights is fun

Is it bloody hell!

Cost is one of the reasons I'm seriously considering getting a road bike (or possibly just road wheels for my 29er mtb). The cost of replacing parts on the mtb is getting prohibitive, and there's bugger all that's fun/challenging within 1 hour's riding of me, so the car tends to get me to the trails. Road riding certainly wouldn't replace mtbing for me, but it could replace a couple of off-road rides a week. Gotta say though, night riding on the road sounds well crap!

"Why are you proud of not owning a road bike and how do you know it's boring?"

Because I've ridden many road bikes in the past, though never owned one. Plus, this is a mountain bike forum after all. Why stick to the roads when there are loads of lovely hills to ride about on (off road!)?

Plus, lycra is appalling, no one can refute that. Not one of you. Not one. I mean, most mountain bike gear looks horrendous, but roadie gear...

😀

have you read my post

road v mtb ?

mollski, I am not arguing which one is better, I am just wondering why a MTB forum is starting to be dominated by road bike threads.

yes very true i think mtb has had its day,look what you can get for the price of a mtb,road road road everyday

**** this, I'm away to shave my bum and buy a slick wheeled steed so I can join the party.

I've ridden both on and offroad for a few years but was getting a bit bored riding the local trails and got more interested in fitness and barely ride offroad at all now. Lots of route options on a road bike and I've found a nice'n'friendly road club too nearby too.

As for sportives, I've done a few and like the competitive aspect of them; maybe you feel a sense of achievement finishing in the top 20% or whatever - most of us will never race properly.

I'm not a roadie. I'm an idiot 😀

i think mtb has had its day

good..
let's hope so..
strange breed of participants in the main.. out enjoying the beautiful countryside..

NIght road riding with off road lights is fun

Is it bloody hell!

It is actually, especially on quiet roads. I've done the Dunwich Dynamo a few times and I'll be doing the Wiggle Night Rider Sportive in September. Sometimes it's the only way to get out on the bike, do it in the late evening.

As to MTB v road, I'd hate to have to choose but road biking is fantastic. Head out for 2hrs and actually do 2hrs riding, come home and not have to spend another 2hrs cleaning the bike and hosing kit down.

I've done it arround here with my bastid, but we often have fog/mist which makes it impossible, and I still dont feel safe.

I'm thinkin about throwing my hat in with 'conventional' mtb. Big old money pit which I get little pleasure from.

I did this. Well almost. I sold my full sus frame and gears and built a singlespeed for all my off rod needs. Ploughed the funds into a full carbon road bike for the race season. it sits alongside my cyclocross bike which doubles as a commuter and winter trainer. Next purchase will be a TT bike after carbon low profile wheels.

Road kit doesn't break very often but MTB kit wears quickly and is more prone to getting damaged. This is what lead me to singlespeed and it has the advantage of being goot strength training for the road bike too.

I'm no longer a fat bastard since I took up road riding, and now have no issues with getting into a skinsuit or trisuit to compete.

I am just wondering why a MTB forum is starting to be dominated by road bike threads.

There's always been loads of road bikes/riding threads here - especially at this time of year

For me, I'm doing a lot more road riding because I can't find the time at the moment to do any quality mountain biking - decent trails are around an hour away
It's all riding I enjoy both just as much as each other but I should get back to more off road stuff after May

I think it's kicking off a bit more than usual, but it has been a long winter and I can understand why people want to get some rays.
Though if you like mountainbiking I can't see you staying on the road when the trails are dry and dusty.
Then again everyone on here was after a 4X4 when we had snow. And when the TDF starts you'll sundenly find the place full of experts on every riders form like they've been following them all year.
It goes like that.
You'd think 29ers had gone the way of Bird Flu if you went by this forum.
IME your riding eventually goes full circle.

Hmm the up side of this might mean lots of cheap top end kit in nine months. Regardless of what you say they do wear out if you ride all year or else I wouldn't have 2 1/2 sets of wheels in for rebuilds.

Still can't bring myself to buy a top end frame.

[i]IME your riding eventually goes full circle. [/i]

True that.
I have phases of doing loads of track or loads of road but it always diversifies again soon enough. Was out on the MTB at the weekend, lovely dry dusty trails and if there's one thing you learn about living in the Peak District, it's to make the most of dry trails cos they usually only hang around for a couple of weeks!

Road bikes never really appealed to me. They always kinda looked gay and nerdy.
But since i gave it a go. Changed my opinion for sure.
Everything is just so much quicker .. the ups and especially the downs!
62mph is my record so far ..

not have to spend another 2hrs cleaning the bike and hosing kit down

You're doing it wrong!

15 mins for me max.

Everything is just so much quicker

See I don't get this. In absolute terms yes, but what's the point of going faster when where you're going is boring?

15mph on twisty singletrack is way way quicker than 25mph on flat road.

Plus, lycra is appalling, no one can refute that. Not one of you. Not one. I mean, most mountain bike gear looks horrendous, but roadie gear...

That's only true if you're fat and/or have a small willy. I look great in lycra 😀

45+mph on a tight roughly surfaced steep road is alot quicker than 15mph on a singletrack though.

Also a lot crapper. Rough road surface on a road bike is nothing other than extremely annoying.

You don't have much to do apart from hang on.

This is the only kind of road where speed becomes interesting:

[img] [/img]

You'd think 29ers had gone the way of Bird Flu if you went by this forum.

I actually saw a 29er on the trail at the weekend - first time ever I think.

62mph is my record so far

UK?

I've been road riding for several years now. Normally if I plan a ride it will be on a mountain bike. But to echo the comments above. If I only have limited time or don't want to spend more money driving to ride then the road bike is very appealing.

Starting some racing this year too which should be fun although it may end up just been an hour of suffering each week (TLI crits)

Plus, lycra is appalling, no one can refute that. Not one of you. Not one. I mean, most mountain bike gear looks horrendous, but roadie gear...

That's only true if you're fat and/or have a small willy. I look great in lycra

hey.. I wear lycra on my mountain bike... (I don't ride road as I find it very shallow)
I am also fat with a [i]very[/i] small willy..
somehow I still look absolutely flippin ace.. it makes [i]no[/i] sense..

Got to be road,I think you get a better work out on a road bike,MTB is more fun and for a chit chat,all depends on what people want out of a bike

Agonising over which road bike to get at the moment / Ribble Scuro/Cervelo RS/SuperSix/Synapse/Lynskey Cooper.

I want to enter this [url= http://www.bowlandbeast.com/default.aspx ]The Beast[/url] and WIN IT.

Probably do neither though.

62mph?? I've been pedalling my little legs off and tucking down the steepest/longest hills I can find in Scotland and so far my best is 44mph, although in my defense thats on a 50x12..

I want to enter this The Beast and WIN IT

Gay. The Beast from the East 600km 5200m old men and women have been doing it for years, and not a Cervelo in sight

[i]MTB v road, I'd hate to have to choose but road biking is fantastic. Head out for 2hrs and actually do 2hrs riding, come home and not have to spend another 2hrs cleaning the bike and hosing kit down[/i]

So the best part about road riding is the end of the riding? Ah, I get it now.

this is not a well formed thought, but i reckon some mtb'ers are closer to a true appreciation of road cycling than most roadies.

mtb'er: my new road bike is ace! - it's really light! - it's really fast! - it's really pretty! - i just found this lovely pub that does the best chips and it's only 27 miles away! - c'mon, we can be there in 2hours and they do flapjack!

roadie: you've only got tiagra, those wheels are too heavy, don't wear baggies, take that peak off, i'm not riding with you until you get some proper mudguards, start using a heart rate monitor. and stop using spd's.

(ps. i love my road bike, it's ace! :D)

roadie: you've only got tiagra, those wheels are too heavy, don't wear baggies, take that peak off, i'm not riding with you until you get some proper mudguards, start using a heart rate monitor. and stop using spd's.

You'll never find a roadie like that, turn up to a reliability trial over winter it looks like a mobile scrap heap.....sort of 😕
Your remark is more likely to come from the mouth of someone buying into road biking for the first time.
Couple of examples, folks on here buy fantastic kit - straight for the best, better than kit I see on the race circuit.
Start at the Blenhiem CX, I rushed over because I could see all this intimidating uber bling on the start line, I needn't have bothered it was the novices. The main field was a sea of Giant and Kinesis and workman like machines.
Roadies aren't hung up on kit, there's actually a bit of reverse? snobbery in roadie circles.

Peaks Camelbaks and baggies are often seen as impractical that's all. Mudguards aren't however. Try 100K in pouring rain drinking rain water and diesel of a rear wheel for three hours.
And although you'll see some dirty bikes the bits that matter will be in tip top condition and they can get a bit anal about tidy cables, freyed ends will give them an epi.

How has riding a road bike become niche? If you ride a bike on the road at all, it is the most efficient bike for the job no? and if you like going out on long rides on the road on a bike, it's defo the right bike for the job! I think road bikes are actually the standard bicycle. MTB's are more niche, and derive from road bikes! Personally, I don't see this as an mtb specific forum, just people that like riding bikes inbetween typing stuff?

We may see a road bike grouptest in the mag soon!

Are roadbikes the new STW niche?

Yeah!!! WHy not?

[i]Roadies aren't hung up on kit, there's actually a bit of reverse? snobbery in roadie circles.[/i]

+1.

The best thing about riding on the road is that there is nowhere to hide. You either can or you can't, you either do it or go home, with none of that 'I put the wrong tyres on', 'My shock is at the wrong pressure', 'I'm quicker on the downhill bits', and other nonsense that seems to accompany some, not all, but some mountain biking.

Everyone who has ridden on the road with anyone who is keen or involved in competition will know that it's you that counts; we've all been blown out the back by some skinny lad on a clunker, or some guy in trainers and a parka.

Flash kit counts for nowt.

...and I've certainly been at my fastest on a cheap aluminium frame with at best Ultegra; spend money on good tyres and train like a madman...

We may see a road bike grouptest in the mag soon!

that will be when i cancel my subscription! 😥

It's still rubbish riding on the road though.

when I was a kid I had road bikes and the early mountain bikes and although there was a fair gap in between when I was riding a lot less I've always mixed and matched. there are cliquey bikers regardless of what size tyres/shape of handlebars they have... but thankfully these are very few and far between the overwhelming majority of cyclists are great

they are bikes - bikes are good