So I was the turtle.

[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...

[jonesy124]

I started a couple of months ago on a MTB and saw a gradual improvement in my time. ON my 20 mile a day ride I started to average 17mph on the flat parts. Then I was lent a road bike by my LBS and I was amazed at how fast I flew. I had to give it back earlier this week and convert back to my old MTB - the difference is shocking! I now struggle to reach 17mph on my MTB because it is so heavy compared to what I have been used to recently (hills are where I notice the biggest difference).

I am buying a road bike this weekend but I have officially decided that I will do at least one ride a week on the MTB because it does wonders for fitness (kind of like running with weights in your socks!)

Anyone who cycles a MTB is going to have to push twice as hard as anyone on a road bike. Dont let it get you down when a roadie whooshes past, just tell yourself that when you can afford a road bike you will probably be much faster than them!

Get a road bike on finance - its sooooo worth it. Im practically wetting myself about collecting my new Bianchi tomorrow

[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