from heavy and unequipped to light and suited up

[Elvin]

Currently I ride a MTB(its a heavy Y-frame bike),using it for road cycling, I do an average of 22km/h and wear normal running shoes,I still feel like I'm unfit and there's room for LOTS of improvements.

 

 

 

If I get a light weight road bike,cycling shoes and go riding(at the same fitness level I'm at now) what increase in speed can I expect ?

 

 

 

In other words,what difference can I expect going from a heavy mountain bike to a light road bike in conjunction with wearing cycling shoes?

 

 

 

Thanks!Elvin2009-05-28 05:07:01

[AndreZA]

If your MTB weighs 7kg, you will need to fork out alot of money to get, as you state it, "a light weight road bike".

 

 

 

 

 

 

[droo]

You're not going to find a MTB much under 7kg, unless it's made of helium-filled scandium-flavoured unobtanium with carbon nipples. A road bike with decent shoes and pedals will make quite a difference though...

[droo]

How did I know Mampara would beat me to it...

[Elvin]

I intend to get a road bike, just a entry level one,how much lighter are they ?

[Anti5]

Road bikes weighing less than your "claimed" 7kg MTB will cost you more than an arm and a leg. Entry level carbon fibre road bikes probably weigh in the region of 8.5kg to 10kg...

[Anti5]

Regardless of the weight - a road bike will be more suited to you going faster and it will be easier to ride on the road compared to a mountain bike.

Anti52009-05-28 05:01:56

[Elvin]

ohh....wel then my method in weighing my bike was way wrong .I raised the bike on its back wheel and placed it on a ordinary household scale,lol, well the bike is those bulky Y-frame Dunlop MTBs...

[droo]

Silly chirps aside, you'll probably find that your MTB weighs closer to 15kg if it feels like a hefty one. As anti5 said, aim for 8.5 - 10 kgs of road bike, it'll make your life a lot easier.

 

 

 

Edit - PnP special - more like 20kg. A 10kg road bike will feel like it's got an engine compared to one of those things.droo2009-05-28 05:09:51

[Jules]

Currently I ride a MTB(its a heavy Y-frame bike)' date='using it for road cycling, I do an average of 22km/h and wear normal running shoes,I still feel like I'm unfit and there's room for LOTS of improvements.

 

 

 

If I get a light weight road bike,cycling shoes and go riding(at the same fitness level I'm at now) what increase in speed can I expect ?

 

 

 

In other words,what difference can I expect going from a heavy mountain bike to a light road bike in conjunction with wearing cycling shoes?

 

 

 

Thanks![/quote']

 

 

 

Don't get bogged down in weight. It'll only make a difference if you're riding hills or frequently accelerating. Even then, it doesn't make as much difference as many people like to think.

 

 

 

To answer your question: if you're averaging 22km/h on a supermarket special with fat tyres, you can expect quite a significant improvement in speed if you go to a road bike. This speed will come mostly from the tyres, then your reduced wind resistance and lastly the weight reduction (assuming you ride the odd hill and stop every now and again). I'd say you could expect to average 25-30km/h. Even faster if you ride in a bunch.

[BrendonMyb]

shoooo thats quite the average speed you got going there on the PnP special.

 

If you were to ride with other guys on a much lighter bike - half the weight in fact - you will be pretty up there in the bunch

[Whipme]

I'd say your difference would really come from the tyres and better equipment, and a little from the weight improvement.

 

I'm not a fan of road bikes though, they're just not as robust as a good mountainbike or hybrid bike. So I'd say rather get a nice entry level mountainbike with an aluminium frame and put some Continental Town & Country or Top Contact tyres on it. That way you can ride on the kerb or on the side of the road if you need to, and it would take much more of a beating than any road bike could.