How much road is OK for how much trail ???

[hogboy]

I like to ride 8 miles of road, hammering on the mtb, then
hit 20 miles of trail, then hammer back on road. so averaging
36-40 mile rides...

also, I have a few loops which are 15 miles of road, then
only 9 miles of trail (but it is the killer secret stash) then
blast 15 miles back. there are trails all the way to the
site, but it's then become 22 miles out, and 21 back, and adds
2.5 hours...

is this percentage of road/vs trail unacceptable ? I like it,
but would anyone like it ?

I am hoping to start a regular ride but it involves road chunks,
[only because the trail chunks in-between are totally worth it]...
and I don't want the rides to last over 3 hours.

I mean...road = pain in the bank...and I sure need that....anyone else ?

[ArmOnFire]

Dude, you are on the bike, who cares if it is pave or dirt.

-Dan

[BigMac]

what ever moves ya man "just do it"

[Slappy]

I think the most I road (paved or dirt) I can usually stomach would be about 20% of the ride (timewise rather than milewise). Using your example, I'd prefer to drive the 15 miles of road and ride the 9 miles of trail 2 or 3 times. :)

[Husqvarna]

When you ride more road then trail, you are then in technical terminology considered a "roadie". If you do an equal amount of both you are a "bicyclist".

[bdee]

Hold up I went straight to the source of all MTB related definitions - Mountain Bike Action. Here's what the opinion makers had to say:

Dear Mr Bdee,

Thank you for your inquiry into what amount of road riding v. trail riding is acceptable. This question of course leads one to ponder the following: "just what is mountain biking and, am I worthy of being called a mountain biker?". Good questions indeed. Here at MBA world headquarters we have determined (through no small amount of scientific effort mind you) that the ratio is exactly 88.9993452 % trail riding is required to achieve status as a mountain biker. If one does not meet this requirement then he/she is not really a rider. Additionally we determined that not living on the West Coast automatically disqualifies anyone from even thinking they are a mountain biker, but of course you knew that. On top of that if you ride anything other than what we tell you to you're absolutely not a mt biker. And stay away from 29ers they're geekdom to the max brah! See you on the Black Diamond trails!!

Sincerely
RC (with special help from Style Man)

[dirtrider2]

0% or less for me!

Dave

[fisherking]

They mountain Bike on the West Coast too?? :-)

[Quo Fan]

So bdee, you are a geek to the max?

[bdee]

So bdee, you are a geek to the max?

Do you have to ask? You have ridden with me right?? :)

[Scott O]

I don't mind spinning out some fast road miles to get to nice trails, but I always cringe thinking about my nice expensive nobbies wearing away on the road.

[Mr_Cheeze]

I don't get it. What is the point of riding so many road miles before offroad? It does add tremendous wear to the tires... and it's boring as hell. Then again, I don't even own a road bike, being as I would rather, as George Carlin so eloquently described about golf on TV, watch flies f**k.

[hogboy]

I don't get it. What is the point of riding so many road miles before offroad? It does add tremendous wear to the tires... and it's boring as hell. Then again, I don't even own a road bike, being as I would rather, as George Carlin so eloquently described about golf on TV, watch flies f**k.


what's the point ? the point is you don't need to drive a car to get
to nice trails, that is what. so many times I see cars clustering a trailhead when there is perfectly good parking 4 miles out. AND some of the best MTB ride loops evar are made by road chunks. for instance
I am sure a few of us on the board know that by sewing a few 4 and 6 milers together, one can make a
monster loop through acton/littleton/concord/carlisle/bedford/lincoln and hit some of the most killer
secret stashes. if you are on a group ride and whine about a few miles of road then it won't be fun. I
see a road chunk and accept it as hammer time. I've even done all road from acton to groton, just
to ride GTF, and then come back on rt2a to beat the sun. and I consider that an mtb ride.

oh well, I can see that some of us don't mind and some do...

and it doesn't wear the tires out that much at all unless you
are sprinting, or have severe dh tires.

[AA]

I don't get it. What is the point of riding so many road miles before offroad? It does add tremendous wear to the tires... and it's boring as hell. Then again, I don't even own a road bike, being as I would rather, as George Carlin so eloquently described about golf on TV, watch flies f**k.

Perhaps some people just like to ride bikes.....

[pk]

After the last couple of 50+mile / 6 hour rides with AA, I was happy to see the occasional stretch of road just to get some of the poisons out of my legs.

Good luck at the VT 50, AA! Hope the weather holds up.

pk

[Mr_Cheeze]

Perhaps some people just like to ride bikes.....

Sorry, didn't mean to insult the roadies. I realize I am probably in the minority.I just didn't understand the point of the thread. Different strokes, I guess. I get bored if I'm on a doublewide or fireroad for more than 100 yards.

The irony here is that I enjoy watching golf.

[MTBME]

I generally like a little doubletrack thrown in once in a while to give me a chance to stretch my lower back and shake out the hands a little, I have a hardtail GT Avalanche that I use on the road during the sloppy season. Its so stiff its very efficient as a "road" bike. I mean it kicks ass. Sometimes I'll do a road loop with it where on the way back i'll cut through the forest and grab some singletrack. Its set up so that I can change my mind at any point during a ride and be free to go wherever I want. Thats pretty cool in my book.

[Slider]

Sometimes I like to finish a nasty ride with a non-technical spin. Roads, paved or otherwise, work well to get rid of the cramps and help the cool-down. A few mid-ride sections help, too.

For full enjoyment, it helps to act more arrogant, lots less friendly, and to spin fast without looking up while on the non-techie bits. Changing outta the baggies helps complete the effect. ;-)

Bdee - cool Style Man piece!!

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