The Difference btn. Road and Mtn. Racing LOL

[Kitsune06]

Yeah, I've noticed (sorry for the generalization, I realize not everyone fits stereotypes, but this is just something I've noticed)

mtn bikers tend to be very hippish where I've been riding... Old "much loved" (beat up) gear, granola, pb&j, plain water, Clif products and honey (or Hammer). Organics, etc. Stringy vegan/veggie guys and gals with great smiles and dispositions. I've been offered 'to share a bowl' quite a bit (not that I've taken them up on it) but that's just the type...

Roadies tend to be more white-collar, high-dollar, fancy equipment-oriented. Friendly, but very much into their cadence, HR, speed, etc. Shiny, clean eq, look at you like you're going to burst into flames if you happen to pop off your bike downtown and share a beer and a smoke with a friend.

I'm not sure if it's that hippies aren't always as into 'speed' as they are into 'getting on trails'... or that they see their bikes as utilitarian modes of travel instead of an excercise habit/hobby?

I dunno. I'm too much of a wuss to actually do mtb racing (I'm afraid I'd break easily if I braked hardly) so I have a do-anything mtb frame with cushy shocks and thin-ish smooth tires. hybridisation?

[Eden]

Up here in WA state I get the feeling road racing than mt biking is much more popular for women. One of my teammates complains that she always comes in second (at mt bike races)- because there are only two of them........

If you do go ahead with moving to CA you'll probably find larger fields (I would guess in both disciplines). Road racing is even more popular with women in CA than it is here and we have a pretty good field of women here. Our road races range from as many as 60 women in the early season (yes lots quit after a race or two) to around 15/16 for some of the less popular races.

[velogirl]

I race road, mtn, and cyclocross and sum it up like this:

Road racers drink a beer after the season.

Mtn bike racers drink a beer after the race.

Cyclocross racers drink a beer during the race.

[littlegrasshopp]

And don't even get started on the single speed racers! I think beers is ALL they drink

[yogabear]

You goddesses crack me up! Hee hee!

I always say the more the merrier when it comes to racing...Helps to get us faster...well, faster

I'm giggling about the beer stuff...Hee hee! (I'm pretty boring...No alcohol or drugs LOL, but last road race of the year, I did have sugar and caffeine! Whooohoo!).

I guess though it's not just the road racing that's getting old here for me...it's the weather and the same old same old conservative stuff...LOL.

When I run into my old mtn. bike racing friends at road races though, I am so happy...They actually say things like, 'nice job' or 'way to hang in tough'...what a concept! LOL

Not sure where the tides of change will make me land LOL...

[Bluetree]

We had a local crit here a few weeks ago (Manhattan Beach) which drew 20-30 women in each of the Cat 3 and 4 levels, and more than 50 at the women's pro level. The men's Cat 3 and 4 each drew 100+ entrants in comparison.
Where was I? I was there for the free samples at all the vendor booths!

[KnottedYet]

If cyclocrossers drink beer *during* the race, then that's where I want to be!

(Commutermobile could be a cyclocross bike, couldn't she?)