Robi22 Posted March 20, 2014 Share Hi Everyone!! Well this year I've decided to do the 94.7 and that will be only the start. I've always loved mountain biking so this will be my first on the road. I need some advice on can I use my mountain bike and just buy slick wheels or do I need to go and have a look at road bikes? If I need to go and look at road bikes, which will be best to start with? Any advice will be appreciated Robi22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F111 Posted March 20, 2014 Share Yes you can use your MTB. I have done it and could not keep up with my friends with road bikes. I now also own a road bike and on my first race I was 45m faster this year on my road bike compared to the same race on my MTB last year. (carnival city). Get a road bike if you want to do the road races you will be faster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audible Anarchy Posted March 20, 2014 Share Any bike will do. i would say just get some slicks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottCM Posted March 20, 2014 Share I have entered already and will be doing it on my MTB. Still to decide on slicks though, I did a road race last month on my MTB with knobbies and yes its slower than a road bike but still massively fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbarn Killer Posted March 20, 2014 Share To start with an MTB is fine with slicks. As you progress, you will probably want something faster. There is a massive difference performance wise between a road bike and a mtb bike on the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vangar Posted March 20, 2014 Share To start with an MTB is fine with slicks. As you progress, you will probably want something faster. There is a massive difference performance wise between a road bike and a mtb bike on the road. Yep and then the bug bites after you buy a mountain bike and you want a road bike too......ask me :/ F111 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robi22 Posted March 20, 2014 Share Hehe ok well let me change the question then, which road bike will the best be then for a beginner ? What should I look out for? Must I buy a second hand bike or a new one? I am going to do this on a regular basis now and I'm really excited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khoisan Posted March 20, 2014 Share If you like MTB and want to continue with MTB, which you should then get a pair of slicks on her and you are good to go. I did it on a TITAN 29er with slicks and it was perfect, seeing it's your first big race your aim is probably to finish as suppose to breaking records, so i think you will be fine. Wlecome to the MTB WORLD!! :clap: Vangar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robi22 Posted March 20, 2014 Share Thanks Khoisan!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beesrib Posted March 20, 2014 Share Get some baggies and a fatbike and earn it!! or just get a road bike. enjoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carrera4s Posted March 20, 2014 Share Hehe ok well let me change the question then, which road bike will the best be then for a beginner ? What should I look out for? Must I buy a second hand bike or a new one? I am going to do this on a regular basis now and I'm really excited. Determine your correct frame size first. Determine your budget. Go secondhand - lots of good bargains to be had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudi-h Posted March 20, 2014 Share Buy a bike for what you do most often and enjoy the most. If it's mountain biking, rather save up for a nice dual suspension MTB. If you are planning to do both MTB and road riding, buy a cheap road bike. Road bikes are much cheaper per km to train with as the wear, tear and number of parts are much less. This is a part of the of the decision of having two bikes that is often over-looked. My road bike by now has been costing roughly 50c per km (including the initial purchase price) and my MTB is closer to R4 / km. Both have done somewhere between 10000 km's and 15000 km's to date. That said, I've had a lot more fun on my MTB, making the 8-fold higher price per km worth my while. Robi22 and Vangar 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vangar Posted March 20, 2014 Share Buy a bike for what you do most often and enjoy the most. If it's mountain biking, rather save up for a nice dual suspension MTB. If you are planning to do both MTB and road riding, buy a cheap road bike. Road bikes are much cheaper per km to train with as the wear, tear and number of parts are much less. This is a part of the of the decision of having two bikes that is often over-looked. My road bike by now has been costing roughly 50c per km (including the initial purchase price) and my MTB is closer to R4 / km. Both have done somewhere between 10000 km's and 15000 km's to date. That said, I've had a lot more fun on my MTB, making the 8-fold higher price per km worth my while. Thanks for that. Very helpfull advice for us newbies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudi-h Posted March 20, 2014 Share Thanks for that. Very helpfull advice for us newbies. Another comment which I may get flamed for this by the serious road riders, but its my 2c none the less... It was mentioned that road bikes are much faster than MTB's and that is VERY true. The main advantage of road bikes (on road) are the more aerodynamic position compared to a MTB and the skinny tires pumped at high pressure which significantly reduce the rolling resistance. Weight is NOT as important with road bikes as everybody would like you to believe. You can easily keep up with the top bunches on a R7k road bike, but if you ride a long or multi-stage MTB race on a R7k MTB your equipment will let you down big time. If you consider having two bikes and need to be conservative with the cash you spend, rather blow the cash on your MTB. Vangar and Robi22 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robi22 Posted March 20, 2014 Share Ok so by the looks of things and the solution to " my situation " is to buy a cheap road bike since I will be doing more on the MTB. Thank you all so much for the advice!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbarn Killer Posted March 20, 2014 Share Take a turn past Solomons Cycles (in Lynwood and Woodmead), they have some absolute bargains on Axis road bikes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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