kevin_cambs_uk
Guru
- Location
- Near Cambridge
Well after over 17,000 miles by road bike commuting, winter has arrived and I posted about my first ever commute by MTB, earlier this week. So after my first week here are my thoughts.
Hard work, without a doubt. So much harder than the road bike. I find I am unable to cruise on the MTB despite the slick tyres. Even the wife thought I had lost weight this week. I find that it requires more discipline. To get into a good rythm and stick with it, cause I soon as I let off the acceleration so to speak, you slow down so much more.
It has promoted a more consistent pedal action all the time. By the end of the week, my legs were tired again, just like when I started over 2 years ago. I am in no doubt that come March time when the road bike comes out, I will have increased my fitness rather than just maintain it over the winter.
When the storm hit on the way home on Thursday, down to 4 mph, and it rained like I was cycling in the bath, the bike stood up so well, I am pretty sure if I had been on the road bike I would have been blown off. Its got great stability. I still love the brakes, and getting around town on the cycle paths is great.
I was over taken by a roadie and I tried to keep up, but I just could not, I got to 20 mph, but it was so hard, I had to concede defeat. But its all great for the fitness.
Although its harder I still enjoy it, its so satisfaying getting home. I have had a lot of trouble with the gears, (it was brand new a week ago) and today I sorted them out once and for all, so although you may think its been built okay, after 150 miles they needed serious attention, they were all over the place. That and some oil, and its almost a different bike already.
I have already christened it, as I fell off yesterday coming home on the guided bus way, yes no traffic, no people and I fell off !
On the latest section, its not so straight, and because it is so dark its difficult to tell where the tarmac ends and the soil starts, and I veered into about 6 inches of top soil, which woke me up from my thoughts, and I just sank into it, unable to get my foot out of the clip less pedal, I keeled over, but luckily my left knee took the brunt, and the bike was not scratched.
So I have earned my weekend, respect to all the MTB people out there. Here's looking forward to some snow and my spiked tyres !
Hard work, without a doubt. So much harder than the road bike. I find I am unable to cruise on the MTB despite the slick tyres. Even the wife thought I had lost weight this week. I find that it requires more discipline. To get into a good rythm and stick with it, cause I soon as I let off the acceleration so to speak, you slow down so much more.
It has promoted a more consistent pedal action all the time. By the end of the week, my legs were tired again, just like when I started over 2 years ago. I am in no doubt that come March time when the road bike comes out, I will have increased my fitness rather than just maintain it over the winter.
When the storm hit on the way home on Thursday, down to 4 mph, and it rained like I was cycling in the bath, the bike stood up so well, I am pretty sure if I had been on the road bike I would have been blown off. Its got great stability. I still love the brakes, and getting around town on the cycle paths is great.
I was over taken by a roadie and I tried to keep up, but I just could not, I got to 20 mph, but it was so hard, I had to concede defeat. But its all great for the fitness.
Although its harder I still enjoy it, its so satisfaying getting home. I have had a lot of trouble with the gears, (it was brand new a week ago) and today I sorted them out once and for all, so although you may think its been built okay, after 150 miles they needed serious attention, they were all over the place. That and some oil, and its almost a different bike already.
I have already christened it, as I fell off yesterday coming home on the guided bus way, yes no traffic, no people and I fell off !
On the latest section, its not so straight, and because it is so dark its difficult to tell where the tarmac ends and the soil starts, and I veered into about 6 inches of top soil, which woke me up from my thoughts, and I just sank into it, unable to get my foot out of the clip less pedal, I keeled over, but luckily my left knee took the brunt, and the bike was not scratched.
So I have earned my weekend, respect to all the MTB people out there. Here's looking forward to some snow and my spiked tyres !
