Can You Ride Mountain Bikes on the Road?
Can You Ride Mountain Bikes on the Road?
Mountain bikes are sturdy and rugged in design to navigate through mountains and rocky terrains. They come in handy when used on hilly and uneven paths, but what if you want to cycle on a smooth surface? Can you ride your mountain bike on the road?
You can ride mountain bikes on the road. These units are versatile, reliable, and adaptable to different terrains. However, they may feel overpowered on smooth roads. They are not a cost-effective option if you intend to ride on the road for the bulk of the time.
This post explores everything you need to know about riding mountain bikes on the road, including the pros and cons.
Why You Can Ride a Mountain Bike on the Road
A mountain bike is for riding on the trails of mountains, hills, and steep slopes. However, it’s still a bike and can perform well on the road when you choose to go off the mountain trails.
This is because a mountain bike and a road bike have similar parts and function similarly. While riding mountain bikes on the road is possible, their modifications for navigating tougher terrains make them a bit more challenging to ride on roads compared to road bikes.
Difference Between a Mountain Bike and a Road Bike
Both bikes vary remarkably in design and purpose.
Design
Mountain bikes have sturdy, heavier designs, big tires, and rough handlebars that are best suited for rough surfaces. Conversely, road bikes are lightweight, aerodynamic, built for speed, and have slimmer tires, which makes them better suited for road cycling.
Purpose
Mountain bikes help you to navigate almost effortlessly on mountains, steep slopes, rough terrains, and rocky paths. Road bikes, on the other hand, are made for well-paved roads.
From the differences, it’s clear that these bikes are made for specific purposes and surfaces.
The Advantages of Riding a Mountain Bike on the Road
A mountain bike is fit for hills, rocky terrains, and uneven ground types. While it might seem odd to take this kind of bike out on the streets, the following reasons prove that you can also use them on the road.
Easy Maneuvering in Traffic
If you live in a big city, you know how terrible traffic jams are. When you get stuck in one, you will have a lot of maneuvers to make as you try to avoid other bikers and motorists. When the time comes to maneuver, a mountain bike does it better.
Manufacturers build mountain bikes for easy maneuvering because riding the snaky terrain in the mountains requires it. You can weave through rough trails and avoid veering off the right paths with concentration and accuracy.
Weaving through a traffic gridlock on the road is effortless with a mountain bike since they are designed to face similar but worse scenarios in the mountains.
Suitable for Bad Roads
Sometimes, you encounter roads in terrible conditions while riding in the city or suburbs. Such roads are usually full of potholes, mild cracks, and even cluttered with debris.
A mountain bike will handle most, if not all challenges that come with uneven roads, potholes, and more.
However, bad roads can put your regular bikes out of their comfort zone and even damage some sensitive parts in worst-case scenarios!
Due to their powerful suspensions, mountain bikes can comfortably handle the most challenging turns and bumps, all while creating an enjoyable riding experience.
One Bike, Two Purposes
Most people prefer to have a mountain bike to use on the road whenever they want. It’s a multipurpose bike and performs well on any terrain.
You don’t need a separate bike to ride on roads if what you’ve got is only a mountain bike. However, you’ll need a mountain bike to ride in the mountains if you own a regular road bike.
Access to Multiple Routes
With a mountain bike, you can easily use alternative routes without worrying about ruining (and replacing) your bike parts.
On most occasions, the alternative route is usually uncomfortable as it can be a construction site, a rocky field, or even a rail path. You are highly likely to decide against the alternative route and stick to the traffic jam if using a road bike due to its incompatibility with the terrain.
The smaller tires of road bikes make them unfit for uneven paths, but what do you have to lose when you have the ultra-performing tires of a mountain bike to grace the rough paths?
Alternative Workout Option
Since mountain bikes are heavier with dual suspensions, fatter tires, and sturdier frames, riding them in the city is like a workout. You will burn plenty of calories commuting to work or just going out for a quick errand.
The tires of mountain bikes have a firm grip on the ground, and the suspensions limit pedaling efficiency. The riding position of these bikes also creates some discomfort that you’ll probably have to adapt to. Discomforts in biking sometimes serve as workouts if you choose to look at them differently.
Generally, you’ll be going out of your cycling comfort zone when using a mountain bike in the city, which is a healthy way to exercise.
Suspension
Suspensions, whether dual or single, are limiting factors for bikers when riding mountain bikes on roads because of the added weight.
However, it’s also an advantage for commuting on bad roads. The single or double suspension makes riding on bumpy roads and potholes easier.
Road bikers often go through the rigors of riding a bike without suspension when encountering bumpy paths.
Cost-Effective Maintenance
Having two bikes for different purposes is more cost-intensive. You have to take care of them individually, and maintenance becomes a drain on your pocket.
If you ride through mountain trails and regular roads frequently, it’s cost-effective to own a mountain bike and get road bike parts like tires. You can switch them as the occasion demands.
The Disadvantages of Riding a Mountain Bike on the Road
We’ve looked at the advantages of pulling mountain bikes off the hills to engage them on the road. Now, we look at some of the harsh realities of taking a mountain bike out of its comfort zone.
The challenges of riding a mountain bike on the road include:
Slower Speeds
Mountain bikes are slower than road bikes, up to 30%. They are heavier due to dual suspensions, wider robust tires, and other sturdy features. These features make mountain bikes tougher to pedal and reduce their speed significantly. If you don’t mind riding slower than you could with a road bike, then this won’t be a problem.
Uncomfortable Sitting Position
Road bikes have aerodynamic sitting positions because of the need for speed, but mountain bikes compel the rider to ride in a more upright position. A lesser aerodynamic position will make you uncomfortable while on the road.
Sturdier Handlebars
The handlebars of mountain bikes are super sturdy. It’s an intentional design to handle the rigors, twists, turns, and irregularities of driving off the roads. These handles will be uncomfortable for road cycling, especially without using padded gloves.
Why Is a Mountain Bike Slow on the Road?
Mountain bikes are slower on roads because they thrive on rough terrains and rocky paths, not smooth pavements. Their design discourages fast speeds, and practically, it’s hard to speed up in the mountains. Other reasons why they are slower than conventional road bikes include:
Tires
The tires of mountain bikes are heavier and wider, which allows them to sink into the ground and have a firmer grip on mountain trails. Unfortunately, this feature of their tires makes them slower on the road.
Weight
Mountain bikes are heavier than regular road bikes due to their robust frames and features. A weighty bike is difficult to pedal and will move a bit slowly on a smooth road. A mountain bike isn’t fast anywhere – road or trails, it only offers efficient riding on the trails better than on roads. You have to keep this in mind when you decide to choose a mountain bike.
Riding Position
Mountain bikes are not optimized for aerodynamics. Their design makes the rider sit upright– a position that limits the maximum speed of the biker. However, most riders are comfortable with this position when they want to push themselves to their limits.
Suspension
The suspensions of mountain bikes are for coping with the impact of steep terrains. A suspension like this makes the bike slower on the road and adds to its overall weight, meaning you won’t be able to hit the speeds you otherwise would with a road bike.
Mountain Bikes Suitable for Road Use
While mountain bikes can also serve as road bikes, not all of them are good for this dual purpose. Some are heavily built to match the roughest mountain terrains and come with full suspensions (front and rear).
A bike with complete suspension will be challenging to ride on the road but easier on uneven paths and rocky mountain trails. It will also be heavy to pedal as the dual suspension adds to its overall weight.
Although some bikes have a lock-out option, you can’t avoid the added weight.
Consequently, the best mountain bikes for road use are those with a single suspension or dual suspension but have a lock-out option so you can lock out the rear.
Cross-country hardtail bikes are best for road and mountain use. Their tires are excellent for both purposes as they only come with a front suspension.
Although they may not handle some rough terrains well enough due to having a single suspension, they are the best fit for both mountains and roads.
Hybrid: Another Option for Road and Mountain Use
If you want the best of both worlds with a bike, go with a hybrid bike. A hybrid bike combines the functions of road and mountain bikes in one unit so you can commute and ride on the trails.
Since the hybrid bike is dual purpose, you should expect a balance and some compromise in performance. It’s in the middle – it won’t perform optimally on the mountain trails and the roads.
The tires of hybrid bikes are bigger than road bike tires. Hence you should anticipate a ride that will be faster than what you’d get from a mountain bike on the road but slower than what you’d expect with a conventional road bike. Also, the tires won’t perform as well as conventional mountain bikes on the trails.
When choosing a hybrid bike, you should go over its specifications and compare various brands. You can choose specifications that match your needs more, thus getting more value for your money. Some hybrid bikes have no suspension, while others come with a front suspension only.
Additionally, some units have heavier tires than others, exactly why you should compare between brands and choose one that best meets your preferences.
Your choice will depend on which path you’ll ride more– the mountain trails or the streets.
Overall, a hybrid bike calls for a reasonable compromise in performance while saving you the cost and stress of having or maintaining two bikes. It’s another option should you decide not to use hardtails and cross-country bikes.
Will Riding Mountain Bikes on Roads Wear Out the Tires?
The tires of mountain bikes protrude in an oval shape and are wider to dig into the earth for stability when riding. Rolling these tires on smoother surfaces will make them wear out faster.
You can use them on the road occasionally, and the tires will still be fine. You ride on roads before you get to the mountains, anyway, so it’s impossible to avoid using roads completely. However, using them frequently for commuting to and from work will cause them to wear out.
Mountain bike tires are also soft rubber products that wear out when you use them consistently on smooth pavements or asphalts.
How Can You Make Your Mountain Bike More Suitable for Road Use?
If you want to enjoy your mountain bike on the road, there are a few alterations you’ll have to make.
Firstly, you have to switch the tires to that of road bikes to have less pedaling resistance and reduce the weight whenever you want to hit the road. You can revert to mountain tires when heading for mountains.
Another modification is to lock down the rear suspension or add air pressure to make it stiffer. While you lock out the rear suspension, allow for about three or four inches on the front side to help you navigate high bumps, potholes, and uneven paths that you may encounter on the road. But you don’t have to do this if you are using a hardtail mountain bike.
Lastly, the handlebar needs modification to fit aerodynamic and high-speed positions. However, this is a critical alteration and won’t be easy reverting to the previous mountain bike handlebar. You can do this, including changing the bike stem if you intend to convert your mountain bike fully into a road bike.
Is It Safe to Ride Mountain Bikes on the Road?
It’s completely safe to ride a mountain bike on the road. No laws prohibit using them in the city aside from general road user rules like avoiding pedestrian walkways.
If you also consider that they make you slower on the roads, mountain bikes are safer than road bikes.
Riding at higher speeds because the bikes have low rolling resistance leaves you prone to accidents. So, it’s relatively safer riding mountain bikes on roads.
It’s also wise to check out the various laws that guide road usage in your area to be on the safe side. Different states have unique laws that govern cycling on the road.
Tips to Stay Safe When Riding Mountain Bikes on the Road
- Always wear a helmet. In some places, you’re only mandated by law to wear protective headgear if you’re 16 or younger. However, bike helmets are for everyone. You don’t need the law to protect yourself from a severe head injury in the event of a crash.
- Stay visible while on the road. If you only ride in the mountains during the day, you may get away with not having working lights and wearing reflective clothing. On the streets, it’s a lot more complex. Even in broad daylight, you need to make sure you’re visible to all road users.
- Check your bike before each ride. A bike that goes through the rigors of mountain biking may sustain some damage that will only come to the fore when you hit smoother roads. Check your tires, chains, brakes, and other vital parts for possible damage.
- Leave the stunts for the trails. It may be tempting to show off some of your mountain biking skills on the road when you run into a speed bump or small pothole. However, it may end badly. Remember, the surfaces are different!
Conclusion
You can ride a mountain bike on the road as it helps you get past potholes, bumps, and uneven paths easily. The added benefit of working out on the road and burning those excess calories is also great.
However, as you pedal on the road, you will have to endure the mountain bike’s slower speed and relatively higher weight.
Making necessary modifications like changing the tires can enhance your road cycling experience with a mountain bike. However, you can leave the tires and enjoy the best of both worlds.
