So I was the turtle.

[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

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

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.

Hey NO FAIR! Counting only "the flat parts" is no average at all! Your average is counting the whole ride, both hills and flats. Like, if I counted only my downhills I would be averaging 30mph instead of the 10mph I actually average including all the uphills and flats too!