I want to go faster!!

[Mike!]

After selling my crosser i had the first commute in on my old MTB today (it is slicked up). Much more comfortable on my back and neck (which is why i sold the drop bar) but my god is is heavy and slow.

When i first started riding it in earlier in the year i struggled to get into top gear but this morning i only used the top three and wanted to go quicker! Just counted the front sprocket and it's got 42 teeth. My fitness has really improved!

Need to get my replacement flat bar roadie asap...lol

 

[Moodyman]

I've got a rigid mtb with slicks and a flat bar road bike for commuting.

Over a 12 mile commute the flat bar is only a couple of minutes faster.

I think a lot of it is in the mind.

 

[Mike!]

Quite possibly Moodyman, it just felt odd to be in top gear and have nothing to move to!

The crosser was a 50/34 and i struggled on the 50 cog but it was a good challenge. Just got a little bored this morning i guess....

 

[mark barker]

If the riding position of the MTB suits you wouldn't it make more sense to just change the gearing on that to suit your riding style rather than buy a new bike that might not be as comfortable?

 

[ColinJ]

The MTB probably has an 11-tooth sprocket on the back. Even allowing for smaller wheels, a 42/11 gear should be good for close to 30 mph with a decent cadence.

According to Sheldon Brown's bicycle gear calculator, with 26" wheels:

80 rpm = 23.6 mph

90 rpm = 26.6 mph

100 rpm = 29.5 mph

Fast enough, surely?

(I'm happy to pedal up to about 110 rpm which would correspond to 32.5 mph with that gear)

Mind you, I'd still get a nice light road bike. MTBs are much more fun offroad.

 

[Mike!]

In a word no, i've not brought myself a new bike (only second hand) since 1996, have the cash and have my heart set on doing it. Plus my MTB is the bike from 1996 and will be converted back to a true MTB for off road and snow usage.

I did consider changing it to rigid forks and altering the gearing a while back but want the versatility of two bikes.... (especially if as planned i sell the second car and go to a one car house, at least i have a backup bike then!)

 

[BentMikey]

If you got a more modern design you could go a fair bit faster!