Mountain Bike for London to Paris.... or buy a road bike???

[Shawn Carr]

Hello,

Last year I purchased a Specialized Rockhopper Comp, which I can take on trails or for exercise riding around the neighbourhood.

I have started doing longer distances preparing for a bike ride I am doing in August London to Paris. It is a supported ride, and I am very much looking forward to it. Training has been going well, but everyone I know has been telling me I need to buy a different bike. It isnt a race, but we have been told we need to be able to do 50 miles in 4 hours roughly without it breaking you.

I have made changes to my bike to make it more road friendly. I have purchased a set of Marathon Kevlar Touring Tyres, and also added SPD's which I absolutely love. I have also added Bar Ends which not only have been great for a change in hand position on longer rides but I have also noticed benefits climbing on the trails.

Right now I am debating on how important a Road Bike would be for this journey as every bike person i know is telling me I need to seriously consider a road bike for this trip.

For £200 I could get a new set of rims with disc brakes and a different cassette (adding a quick link for my chain between the 2 cassettes) which would give me faster gearing.

I am also prepared to purchase a road bike at around £600 but as I am presently happy using my bike changing tyres out depending on the surface, I want to make sure I dont make a frivolous purchase. I like the idea of long distance rides, but I have done quite a few 50-60 mile rides on my MTB (wth Touring Tyres) without much problem.

What would convince me to buy the Road bike is the fact that I can go that much faster without much more effort.

Should I ......

A. Ride my bike as it is?
B. Great idea.... mod my bike with replaceable rims and quick link chain for mtb to use on the roads. You will be plenty fast with that set up
C. Get a road bike because i have no idea how much faster and and more efficient they are on the road.

 

[KneesUp]

D. borrow a road bike of one of your knowledgeable friends and see what difference it makes.

 

[Shawn Carr]

D. borrow a road bike of one of your knowledgeable friends and see what difference it makes.

Thought about that but my friends who have road bikes are 6 inches shorter than me at 6'3. Might try and do a test ride at a bike shop.

Good idea though

 

[jagman.2003]

In my opinion, it is perfectly possible to do reasonable distances on a properly adapted mountain bike. I've done 50 miles in a day commuting with fully loaded panniers.
But if you want to make it easier on yourself a road bike will cover road distance alot quicker & with less effort. Even if your happy with the extra weight of a mountain bike the aerodynamics will slow you down with the straight bars. I have recently converted back to drop bars for road bikes & am amazed at how much easier a head wind became.
Also although you shouldn't give into to peer pressure. If you are riding in a group over a long distance it might be fairer to make sure your group aren't waiting for you too much.
My suggestion is, borrow or test ride a road bike to see what you think. I like mountain bikes, road bikes & anything in between. But I'm a firm believer in horses for courses.

 

[vickster]

D. borrow a road bike of one of your knowledgeable friends and see what difference it makes.

Or go to your local Evans and test ride a couple of roadbikes or touring bikes in your budget and see what you think

 

[Shawn Carr]

In my opinion, it is perfectly possible to do reasonable distances on a properly adapted mountain bike. I've done 50 miles in a day commuting with fully loaded panniers.
But if you want to make it easier on yourself a road bike will cover road distance alot quicker & with less effort. Even if your happy with the extra weight of a mountain bike the aerodynamics will slow you down with the straight bars. I have recently converted back to drop bars for road bikes & am amazed at how much easier a head wind became.
Also although you shouldn't give into to peer pressure. If you are riding in a group over a long distance it might be fairer to make sure your group aren't waiting for you too much.
My suggestion is, borrow or test ride a road bike to see what you think. I like mountain bikes, road bikes & anything in between. But I'm a firm believer in horses for courses.

Would it mainly be aerodynamics slowing me down or gearing as well?

 

[KneesUp]

Would it mainly be aerodynamics slowing me down or gearing as well?

Aerodynamics and (to a lesser extent) weight. You can change the gearing easily enough.

 

[fossyant]

Would it mainly be aerodynamics slowing me down or gearing as well?

Mostly tyres. I've used my MTB in the past as a commuter, and it was pretty quick with 1.2" slick tyres on it. Did look stupid though.

 

[jagman.2003]

Would it mainly be aerodynamics slowing me down or gearing as well?

The tyres you can change, as already stated. The gearing can be changed but my mountain bikes are not bad already. But aerodynamics you are limited to what you can do. Perhaps drop bars? But then you have a Cyclocross bike?

 

[vickster]

You could get a second hand roadbike, like for example the Giant Defy in the classifieds, use it for the ride and then either keep or sell on if no longer required. You might lose £100. Buying new would lose you more In the short term. Otherwise, you could go for a cx, saw a cannondale with sora reduced from £800 to £600 for example

 

[marzjennings]

Sounds like you're good to go and a road bike is NOT going to make much difference. Maybe 1 or 2 miles per hour more and if you are riding in a group then aerodynamics are not an issue as you can tuck in behind other riders (after you've taken your turn at the front). Also you've only got month or so to train and adjust to a new bike and riding position, and it sounds like you are already comfortable knocking out +50 mile rides on the mtb.

 

[MikeG]

Sounds like you're good to go and a road bike is NOT going to make much difference. Maybe 1 or 2 miles per hour more and if you are riding in a group then aerodynamics are not an issue as you can tuck in behind other riders (after you've taken your turn at the front). Also you've only got month or so to train and adjust to a new bike and riding position, and it sounds like you are already comfortable knocking out +50 mile rides on the mtb.

Yebbut.....

I doubt the difference between a road bike and a road adapted MTB would only be 1 or 2 mph, and if everyone else is on a road bike, then our OP isn't going to be riding in a bunch with them, because they'll be out of sight up the road. Struggling along on your own, with the broom wagon just behind you, wouldn't be much pleasure for anyone.

As for the maths: 2mph slower than others on the ride who may be riding at 15 mph would put the OP over half an hour behind everyone else.........every day. I can't see the fun in that.

 

[KneesUp]

Yebbut.....

I doubt the difference between a road bike and a road adapted MTB would only be 1 or 2 mph, and if everyone else is on a road bike, then our OP isn't going to be riding in a bunch with them, because they'll be out of sight up the road. Struggling along on your own, with the broom wagon just behind you, wouldn't be much pleasure for anyone.

As for the maths: 2mph slower than others on the ride who may be riding at 15 mph would put the OP over half an hour behind everyone else.........every day. I can't see the fun in that.

Alternatively, if the OP is comfortable riding the adapted MTB at the same speed as the others are riding road bikes - but buys a road bike anyway, the OP will finish half an hour ahead of everyone

 

[Shawn Carr]

Alternatively, if the OP is comfortable riding the adapted MTB at the same speed as the others are riding road bikes - but buys a road bike anyway, the OP will finish half an hour ahead of everyone

I think I more wanted to get an idea of the difference. It is a mixed ability group with the minimum requirements being you can average 12.5 mph to complete but having read the comments I am leaning towards getting a road bike and possibly selling it on afterward IF I wont use it as much afterwards. I also like the idea of not having to change tyres every time I want to go MTB riding with the wife, or doing a distance ride on my own.

Great replies. Thanks for all the feedback so far!

 

[Shawn Carr]

[QUOTE 3134790, member: 45"]I once roaded up an mtb. Rigid forks and skinny tyres. It wasn't far off my road bike at all, and great fun in traffic.

Others will be doing this ride on hybrids. You won't get left behind.[/QUOTE]

Would the super skinny tyres make a massive difference over my Marathon Touring tyres?