So I was the turtle.

[mimitabby]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Torrilin]

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]

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]

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...

[sundial]

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]

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]

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