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SS or Road Bike For Training?

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Mojo Man

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I'm looking to step it up a notch with my racing for next year. It's either building a SS xc racer for training/riding or buying a road bike. In either case, I want to take advantage of the great hills (road) I live near. I feel I would get more use out of a SS moutain bike race machine than a road bike.

I was going to ride up the long step road climbs using the SS mtn bike versus a dedicated road bike for added training. This seam very appealing for the days the weather is poor. I'd throw the SS in my car and do some long road hill climbs.

Am I missing the boat on this training theory with the SS mountan bike? or should I just get a road bike?

Mojo
 
#2 ·
I don't know if what I tell people applies here, as you have a very specific goal in mind. But, for new riders trying to decide between a road bike or a MTB, I tell them that it's easier to ride a MTB on the road than it is to ride a road bike on the mountain.

Usually, I make them go with me on a trail ride before they make their decision. So far, everyone likes trail riding a LOT more than road riding.

I like my stuff to be as multi-purpose as possible and riding on the road bores me to death. I only do it because I have to (for fitness).
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
I thought more in the lines of using a SS to do some road hill climbs by my house. It's only a few miles from my house so using my car to get there wouldn't be a problem. I'm just not sure how riding a SS mtn bike up road hills will be for training. I know it will be great for single track. I thought at times when the weather is bad I will have the other option for training.

Mojo
 
#6 ·
Instead of asking the question "Should I use a SS to make my rides harder." You may want to ask yourself "What kind of racing do I want to be good at?" What category are you going to race? How many hours do you have dedicated to training? How many years have you raced? Do you train with HR, power or by PE? All of these questions are more important than what bike you want.
All 3 bikes have a specific task and require different techniques (XC,SS & Road) and skills. Using all 3 can be a huge benefit, if used as tools for the trade and not just toys. Just my $.02?
Having a training plan and sticking to it is more important!
 
#8 ·
Mojo Man said:
I thought more in the lines of using a SS to do some road hill climbs by my house. It's only a few miles from my house so using my car to get there wouldn't be a problem. I'm just not sure how riding a SS mtn bike up road hills will be for training. I know it will be great for single track. I thought at times when the weather is bad I will have the other option for training.

Mojo
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What kind of training do you want to focus on? Both are beneficial but on different levels and ss IMHO, far out-weighs the benefits of a road bike but I don't want to get into an argument which is better bc it has been beaten to death way too many times, just my opinion. I ride my road bike when the trails are beyond too sloppy to ride and to break up my training. Look at the ss forum sticky http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=161058.
 
#9 ·
Singlespeed road bike?

People tell me that if you really want to learn to spin, you need to ride down hills on a fixie...
 
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#10 ·
imo.. i say go with the road bike!!!!!!

perttime said:
People tell me that if you really want to learn to spin, you need to ride down hills on a fixie...
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this is exactly what i do!
i toss up btwn the mtn bike, road bike and fixed gear.

mtn bike= single track, climbing intervals, techie trail stuff etc. trails in general. you cant duplicate that with anything else.
road= longer rides, climbing, cardio and endurance and some intervals.
fixed gear= cadence work, cardio, endurance, intervals and over all control and awareness. also, blowing out my knees! ;)

if you start riding a fixed gear just remember that you are RIDING A FIXED GEAR!!! sometimes i forgot this simple little thing cause i just got off a free wheel and find myself being thrown forward cause im clipped in and still moving ie still pedaling... there is no resting. besides that, they are super fun to ride and almost majestic, the way you are one with the machine. fixed are my 2nd favorite ride after some sweet single track on a HT mtn bike.

im off to train on the road bike right now....
good luck with whatever you decide.
 
#11 ·
Fixed gear is just a tool to give you instant feedback on the force you're putting into the pedals. It can actually make your pedal stroke worse if you get used to the momentum of the rear wheel carrying you through the dead spot in the pedal stroke. If you pay attention and work on your pedal stroke fixed gear is a useful tool, but it's not magic.

Of course, if you want to get really goofy, ride a fixed gear off-road.

http://www.63xc.com/

- Booker C. Bense
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Well the problem I have is based on my budget. I have enough for a really nice light xc HT SS or a nice road bike. In either case they will be used to up my training. If I choose the road bike, I will miss out on all of the hype associated with riding a SS. Plus I can use it as more of a mud bike when I don't want to get my high end Mojo dirty. Plus why not do some long road climbs with it for climbing conditioning (which I need more of). Or thow a 1x 9 on it and do some racing, or try SS racing.

I'm a Sport racer (3 races and hooked) that wants to up my fittness to the next level.

On the other hand, a road bike is what it is, road only (boring?) If I'm going to be bored with road riding, climbing, I might as well use a SS mtn bike for it no? So why not just use the SS mtn bike to do the road climbing when the weather dosen't allow Single track riding?

Just a thought or matby hold off until I've read the Mtn bike training bible?

Mojo
 
#14 ·
Mojo Man said:
road only (boring?)
Click to expand...
Depends.

I have some nice country roads where even riding a MTB with slicks is a pleasure. But if the roads near you are boring, then riding a bike there is quite likely boring too.
 
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#15 ·
If you want the best training , get a road bike and do road training , intervals , threshold etc. If you want to buy another MTB , do it , use it to do road training . Road training is what is going to give you the biggest return no matter the bike you do it on . In short , do more road work . Good luck .
 
#16 ·
I'd go for the road bike.

I speak from my own personal experience. Granted, different things work for different people, but I thought I was in relatively good shape until I went for my first road ride. I now use the road bike to build up my mileage base and for hill training, and use the mtb for off-road climbing technique, technical skills, and overall enjoyment. I do enjoy riding both, but I vastly prefer to be in the woods, it's just who I am.

Riding on the road really makes you focus on improving your pedal stroke and it also improves your ability to maintain a constant cadence. On a mountain bike, there is a lot of coasting, dabbing, ratcheting, and the cadence is more varied. If you can put the power down on the road, you'll definitely improve your ability on the mountain.
 
#17 ·
Sounds like your mind is made up already. You've defended the single speed multiple times already.

Another vote for the road bike. I have both a mountain and road bike (specialized allez elite) and during the week when I work, I dont like losing 1 hour commute time round trip to the trails. I open the garage, and away I go on the road bike.
 
#18 ·
Also, for the record... you don't need some fancy multi-thousand dollar carbon road bike.

I ride (and also race collegiate) on a 1990 Schwinn Traveler. Downtube shifters, steel frame, 25c tires. Rides nice and smooth, and I haven't spent a fraction of what some people have on their road machines, even though I'm able keep up with and surprise most people I ride with (aside from those who are Cat 2/Cat 1 on the road). All the time I spend on the road bike ultimately goes towards improving my overall fitness for mountain bike season.
 
#19 ·
Zillon said:
Also, for the record... you don't need some fancy multi-thousand dollar carbon road bike.

I ride (and also race collegiate) on a 1990 Schwinn Traveler. Downtube shifters, steel frame, 25c tires. Rides nice and smooth, and I haven't spent a fraction of what some people have on their road machines, even though I'm able keep up with and surprise most people I ride with (aside from those who are Cat 2/Cat 1 on the road). All the time I spend on the road bike ultimately goes towards improving my overall fitness for mountain bike season.
Click to expand...
I wish I still had my 96 Spez M2 with 105 and downtube shifters. I loved that bike.
 
#20 ·
Speaking from 25 years of experience riding and racing both road(Cat 4) and mtn(Cat 1), competing in everything from road races, crits, TT, cyclcross, XC & SS XC and 100 milers and being a coach. What you ride is more determined but what your specific goals are. If you want to be a XC racer you need to map out your training and then execute that plan.
I love riding my Super Six Hi Mod! I love riding my Stumpy S-works! I love riding my SS!
All 3 bikes have very different agendas and they all are great for what they are. When it's time to be a road racer, I up my road miles. When it's time to be a SS XC racer out comes the SS. When it's time to be the 100er out comes the Stumpy!

But in saying that rambling the bulk of my training is done on the road bike! I have 8-12 hours every week to dedicate to my training and to maximize it, it needs to be done on the ROAD!
 
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