November 11, 2007 by Boonerider
Posted in
This year has been a weird year riding wise for me. I used to ride only mtbikes and had a great passion for it for many years.
I bought a road bike 2 years ago just to ride to keep in shape for mtbiking. Now two years later I'm riding road 90% of my rides. I really miss being in the woods but road riding is so much easier to get in a quick ride that I find myself only doing road rides. I dig the social aspect of road riding also. I did manage to get a ride in a Caney Loop last week and it was awesome.
I'm afraid I'm turning in to a Roadie, I think I need an intervention.
Does anyone else bike passions change like this from time to time?
Stop whining and get ready
Stop whining and get ready to do another road ride next weekend.
Yes I do. It seems to be a weekly flop from road to mtb. But it is so easy to jump on the road bike and ride for a couple of hours and enjoy the rest of the day. Were as mtbing is a little more involved.
Awesome ride Saturday
Awesome ride Saturday Gonzo!
If I remember correctly it was you who talked me in to getting a road bike in the first place. It's all your fault.
Did you clean that nasty road bike yet?
I was thinking Buckskin next Saturday if it doesn't rain all week. You in?
Road riding has quite a few
Road riding has quite a few advantages over MTB riding, which helps to account for its increased popularity.
As soon as you step out your door, you’re on an approved path. The state legislature many years ago passed a law allowing cycling on secondary streets, at up to two abreast, so long as you obey all traffic laws.
In addition, when road riding for 20 to 30 minutes you’re typically passing a store/gas station, which provides for an opportunity to refuel. Meaning you can jump on the bike, without any provisions and ride for as long as you want (if you know where the next store is).
Another big advantage of road riding is that the road grade is typically 5 to 15% (there is the occasional 20 to 30% “killer” climb for “training” but you usually have to seek those out) and on most road rides you never have to clip out and walk your bike. Compare that to mountain biking, where it’s not unusual to find to grades up to 45%, not to mention extremely dangerous descents over and around protruding rocks and logs. While some people appreciate this type of trail, for most the thought of injury is just too great, and they find another hobby, such as road riding.
I’ve never visited the Brown County trail system in IN, but it sounds like they have the right idea for trail layout. Smooth and flowing trails close to the trailhead, and ever more challenging trails the deeper you get into the park.
Another disadvantage to mountain biking is bike maintenance. For road bikes you typically only have to replace the tires. For mountain bikes, due to how much more complicated they are, you can usually count on having to perform additional and sometimes expensive maintenance.
The local Louisville Bicycle Club is populated with riders who cut their teeth many years ago on mountain bikes, but you’ll rarely find them riding anything other than road bikes these days.
Great points Don, you didn't
Great points Don, you didn't mention no horses on the road. Dealing(or not dealing) with drunken redneck equestrians was the biggest reason that I have started road riding more than mountain biking.
Your welcome. I can't ride
Your welcome.
I can't ride this Saturday, I have to work. Someone schedule a meeting for Saturday.
This mornings rain brings
This mornings rain brings out another negative for mountain biking, NO riding on damp, wet or muddy trails. No problem for road riders.
I guess in all fairness I should also do all of the positives/advantages of mountain biking, but I need to get back to work!
My friends and I are going
My friends and I are going to hit the trail the day before Thanksgiving you're welcome to come if you want. We're probably going to ride the Caney Loop.
Thanks for the invite. I
Thanks for the invite. I have to work
Anytime Jim. Wish you could
Anytime Jim. Wish you could have made it out.
Gonzo I probably won't be
Gonzo I probably won't be riding Saturday either. My little girl (Katie) Got really sick on Tuesday and they admitted her to the UK childrens hospital that night. She is still in there but doing much better. Hopefully she will get to come home tomorrow.
It's been a rough week.
Bummer dude. i hope see is
Bummer dude. i hope see is doing better and can come home.
I hope she's better soon
I hope she's better soon Jim. Whenever you and Gonzo get time you both need to hit the trail. I rode Caney today and it's in great shape. There's no sand traps, no horse damage really, and it's fast. I realized I didn't have enough money to build up a full suspension bike so I bought Reeder's Jamis we talked about months ago. It needs a little work, but it will be worth it in the end. If we ever get to ride together I'll return your bike. It's not in the way. If you and Gonzo go riding sometime in the next week give me a call, if still have my number. My wife usually keeps the phone, oh yea I got married in August, so just tell her we're going biking.
I almost forgot there's one
I almost forgot there's one hidden rock in the leaves on Caney that I found the hard way. If you turn left it's directly after the place where you can cut across the field. It's a pretty big rock and I almost went down. I thought it knocked my rim out of true, but it just shifted my tire with 40 psi in it. I took the tire off the rim and the rim is fine. I'm glad the tire didn't come off the rim. Anyways just look out for that one rock. I may have knocked it off the trail or at least out of the line.
Thanks Rod. She came home
Thanks Rod. She came home Friday and is doing much better. She has to have tests in a few weeks to determine if she will need any further treatment.
It's ok about the frame. I will keep it and part it out. Congrats on the bike, hope you like it.
I crashed the last time I rode the loop also. Had some pretty good bruises for a few days.
Hopefully we will get in some trail riding over Thanksgiving, if we do I'll post on here and you are very much invited.
If you head out to the trail
If you head out to the trail definitely post on here. I would like to go riding with you and Gonzo. I attempted to go today with a friend and my advisor, but my friend go sick and he had a mechanical problem on top of it.