Top 5 - Reasons Mountain Bikers Should Try Road Cycling

Riding a road bike can actually improve your mountain biking, and here are five reasons why.

[scootosan]

I like anything that has to do with cycling and don't care for pitting one group or style against another....I'm in it for fun and the more the better

[grahammckinney]

I love my mountain bike just as much as my road bike😃😃😃

[JackCamino]

yeah, I need to sell my MTB, no trails here and I don't like driving to get to a place to ride; I'll stick to road at least for a while till I move.

[llamaofvinter]

I love the acceleration and speed you get from riding a lighter bike with skinnies on. Nothing compares to that on two wheels when you're the engine and looking at the ground you've covered on Strava or GPS is a great feeling when it's a nice big number.
That being said, I also love the feel of the splash of mud from the mayhem on the tracks away from meddling motorists and blind pedestrians.

Both disciplines have their perks. I've recently picked up road coming from a mtb background and enjoy being able to cover much more ground in a shorter time, thanks to higher speeds, which as a sensation, is nearly equal to conquering a mountain/hill or difficult trail. Cycling is a glorious sport. Easily the best.

[tillman]

Id trust a rock or a tree before a woman driving

[almitas]

I challenge you guys to do a ''Top 5 - Reasons You Should Try Fixie'' :P

[skullmanUK]

Since I started road riding my fitness went up massively, and more fitness = more fun on the trails. You don't even need a road bike - if you have a crappy old xc hardtail just put some slicks and spd's on it and get out there.

[DavidCulshawmer-r]

I ride my mtb in the winter then road and mtb in the summer, they both have their good and bad points but who cares, I ride bikes because I love riding them :)

[frank.zuijdevelt]

I do all terrain on my mtb including road.
So on a mtb there is more to enjoy and more to explore.
Also most people here hate road bikers because they don't want to brake.
And most lady's give you a wink when they see you on a mountainbike ;)

[lupo]

Scraping the barrel a little there ain't you? lol
With the exception of the leg training the rest don't change my mind!

[CultRelics]

One thing I love about mountain biking is be able to build a trail. 

[MuppetAlex]

I ride both.  I have some good bridleways on my doorstep, so can get out on the mtb most of the time.  However, at some points in the year the trials are unridable and my choice of trails can be limited.  The road bike allows me to commute with kit, but also allows me to get some miles on the legs, even if the trails are claggy.  It also opens up other events, like sportiffs, charity events etc. that just the mtb would not allow me to do.   The thing is, you can limit yourself with a label like Roadie, or mtb, but at the end of the day, you are a cyclist.  Why not enjoy all that it has to offer?

Luck

[ThunderStruckMTB]

You missed the best one: Your heart rate will skyrocket as driver after driver almost kills you while they are checking their Although you might not see most of them, as the attack comes from behind and gives you no chance to defend yourself. No thanks. 

[bladesofnaga]

so you are saying that people should try road cycling becouse its an old sport?

[tuitaco]

Taking up weekly track cycle racing is one of the bet things I could of done as a mountain biker. Can now sprint harder out of turns and go further at 100% effort. I couldn't recommend it enough to people looking to get faster.

[mikejones]

the wonderful feeling of the wind as cars pass next to you at 60mph

[riggermortisfpv]

Some of these tips and reasons to ride road are very specific to the the mountain bike terrain I could ever want is just outside my door. I have ridden road, and while the speed is kind of fun, the road itself is just boring terrain, I can do sustained off road pedalling here for the same distances as the trails usually mirror the roads a bit, and offer a greater challenge. 

[at-teclonetrooper]

I take really long rides on the road with my xc hardtail, is this still considered road cycling?

[bikecamuk]

Improve your cycling further,
ride your mountain bike on the road, and your racing bike offroad ;)

[jeezosdude]

Bought my first road bike after training on uphills with mountain bike on mid gear..I feel like a feather