So I was the turtle.

**indigoiis** · 07-21-2007, 03:40 PM

I rode the mountain bike (with road tires) last night for the lbs Friday night ride. My DH took his beautiful road bike that he hasn't ridden in 15 years and needless to say, he was gone within a minute, up with the big boys.

Me, I'm the turtle.

But I have to say, I loved riding with a group - there was a lot of comraderie. I just hated feeling slow. I definitely must get a road bike.

Indy

**bikerchick68** · 07-21-2007, 08:59 PM

hey, you were OUT there! good for you

your mountain bike will definitely be heavier than a road bike, but putting slicks on it was smart. AND if you keep riding it, when you DO get a road bike you'll be all the faster for pushing the extra weight of the mtn bike during training.

I had a friend who rode with us on a mtn bike with slicks... when she bought a road bike, we couldn't keep up with her anymore

**Zen** · 07-21-2007, 09:58 PM

I started out just like you, mountain bike with road tires. I wish I had my knobbies back cause now that mountain bike only goes on the canal. But I did do a fifty mile charity ride on it!

I still don't care about being fast, I just care about being there.

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 07-22-2007, 04:53 AM

I'm always the turtle anyway, even on my steel road bike. But I can probably ride longer distance than *some* of those rabbits.

**yellow** · 07-22-2007, 07:29 AM

There will always be somebody faster and there will always be somebody slower. Sometimes you'll be the fastest rider in a group and then the next time you'll be DFL. Everybody's different: what works for me may not work for someone else and vice versa.

I agree with BikerChick: at least you're out there riding!

My motto is ride what you want as fast as you want when you want...in other words, do what works for you and don't worry about what/how everybody else is riding! As long as you are enjoying it and getting benefit, then it's GOOD! Keep it up!

**mimitabby** · 07-22-2007, 07:51 AM

oh, i'm used to being the turtle too. When we rode up hurricane ridge I was overjoyed when the lady who rode with us "only" had to wait 45 minutes for us to get there. (DH was staying back with me)

keep climbing, you'll get better.

**sundial** · 07-22-2007, 08:11 AM

My first "road" bike was a mountain bike with slicks. Riding it really got me into shape and when I did get my first true road bike, I felt pretty zippy.

**LoriO** · 07-23-2007, 07:30 AM

One of the guys I worked with had suggested doing thatswapping out the tires on my bike to road bike tires. Did you notice much of an improvement with speed? I was thinking of giving it a try since I can't afford to buy a road bike right now.

**indigoiis** · 07-23-2007, 07:58 AM

I am pretty speedy even on this bike, just not as speedy as the folks riding lighter bikes.

I think the issue is WEIGHT. My bike weighs about 45 lbs. I fly down hills but I am slower uphill. On straightaways it's ... eh... okay. By mile 20 I am pretty tired.

I have road bike envy.

**sundial** · 07-23-2007, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by LoriO

One of the guys I worked with had suggested doing thatswapping out the tires on my bike to road bike tires. Did you notice much of an improvement with speed? I was thinking of giving it a try since I can't afford to buy a road bike right now.

The slicks seemed to provide less surface contact with the road (no nubbies) which seemed to make it easier to accelerate and provides a smoother ride.

**DDH** · 07-23-2007, 08:55 AM

I road the mountain bike first too. Only I went to a hybrid, because of the road I live on, I need something that will make it down the dirt road with big rocks and such without getting a flat as soon as I start. LOL
I have loved my mountain bike with slicks. I sold it to my stepmother to get her into a better bike than that px special she had without spending a lot of money and now sometimes I wish I had it back. LOL

**smilingcat** · 07-23-2007, 11:36 AM

The knobby tire has much higher rolling resistance. Mtn bike also weighs a lot more. And if you have suspension without the lock out, you burn more energy going up and down on your shock.

The bright side is when you get a road bike you'll be going a lot faster.

Also being a turtle is far better than being called a jack rabbit. Jack rabbit comment is tad derogatory. It means you are tad slow in the head and don't know how to pace.

Smilingcat

**Torrilin** · 07-24-2007, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by indigoiis

I am pretty speedy even on this bike, just not as speedy as the folks riding lighter bikes.

I think the issue is WEIGHT. My bike weighs about 45 lbs. I fly down hills but I am slower uphill. On straightaways it's ... eh... okay. By mile 20 I am pretty tired.

I have road bike envy.

That's pretty heavy even for a mountain bike. Mine is around 35 lbs, loaded with full commuter/utility goodies. A lighter bike would help.

**indigoiis** · 07-24-2007, 10:36 AM

It might not be 45 lbs. I'm guessing.
Maybe it is closer to 35... it's a rigid frame steel bike with nothing light on it.

Update: today I did a little better - Mr. Wonderful installed toe clip/cages for me. What a difference.

**Geonz** · 07-24-2007, 01:24 PM

It's prob'ly 35 (I've got both). When I rode my steel bike in a paceline (before I put the Xtra on it and got my aluminum bike) it was a real pain because it was like being on a truck with a bunch of sports cars. Acceleration... whew!!!!
I've got a 45 pound bike too... getting *that* thing to 15 mph is a challenge and holding it is more like weightlifting than riding a bicycle - and it's a well-built Dutch commuting bike, so I'm really only fighting the weight. It's nice, though, when the wind's at 25 mph and it's raining - it'll plug along at 12 through the worst of it.
Save up for that road bike :-) Pick up those pennies from the intersections...

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