Mountain bike – Bike Commuter Hero

It was a complete surprise when I switched from an old steel mountain bike to a brand new, snappy road bike. The bike felt small, light, and twitchy, and it took some getting used to. But in contrast, the mountain bike seemed so slow! So I had to find out - why are mountain bikes so slow? Mountain bikes are slower than road bikes and gravel bikes because they typically have larger tires, less aerodynamic body position, longer frame geometry, heavier bike weight, suspension, and even slower gearing. However, you may be able to increase the speed of a mountain by making some general changes to it. In this article, we're going to take a look at why mountain bikes seem to be slower than other types of bikes, especially road bikes. Then, we'll take a look at a variety of reasons why your mountain bike might seem slow and what you can do to ride it faster on the road. Because mountain bikes are created to go over obstacles with stability, they aren't as fast as other types of bikes whose purpose is speed. Let's look at the details. Tires One of the biggest differences between mountain bikes and other types of bikes is the tires. Mountain bike tires are wider and knobbier than road tires and even wider than typical gravel or cruiser tires. Mountain bike tires also require lower air pressure. A mountain bike tire is meant to handle large rocks and tree roots, so it 'squishes' as it rolls over them, so you don't bounce off. But this type of tire also 'squishes' down onto the road surface, which means it absorbs energy and creates more friction with the road, making you roll slower. The tires on a mountain bike also have a knobby tread, giving you extra grip in slippery conditions. But when you're riding on pavement, you don't need as much grip, so the extra tread will slow you down. Position Body position on a road bike is about speed. So you'll see road riders in a more hunched-over position, with their bodies as flat as possible to allow the wind to pass over them. Mountain bike position, though, is about balance and control. Mountain bikes have wider handlebars for leverage and a more upright position for strength. But this body position also catches more wind, slowing you down when you're hitting speeds over eight mph. So the faster you ride, the more your body position has an effect on speed. Frame Geometry The frame geometry of a mountain bike is long for stability, with a higher bottom bracket to get over obstacles. But this makes them a little slower compared to shorter bikes, like race bikes, which can accelerate more quickly and take turns at higher speeds. Aerodynamics also comes into play with frame geometry. For example, road bikes and some gravel bikes have sleeker and more aerodynamic frame shapes, which means they cut through the wind more easily than a bulky mountain bike. Suspension, wide bars, and even the shape of a mountain bike's frame components will catch the wind, slowing the bike down more than a frame that is designed to be more aero. Bike weight Mountain bikes are heavy due to their large tires and heavy suspension. However, Hybrid bikes, road bikes, and even gravel bikes have thinner tires and lack that heavy suspension. Lighter weight means they go faster uphill and accelerate more quickly. Suspension A bike's suspension is meant to absorb the lumps and bumps from the ground. But a suspension system also absorbs energy, so you'll lose some of the power in your pedal stroke as it gets absorbed by the suspension. Less power means less speed. Gearing Mountain bike gears are made to spin easily (albeit more slowly) up hills and mainly to coast while going downhills. But what is missing are those big gears that make you go fast. Road and gravel bikes have different gears tailored towards speed and power rather than getting over obstacles. So a mountain biker would need to spin a really high cadence on a flat road to keep up with a roadie who is powering along at a more comfortable RPM. Gearing can make it a lot harder to go fast. All that being said, it is possible to make your mountain bike go faster when you're riding it on the road. Here are a few suggestions. How to Make Your Mountain Bike Faster on the Road Swap the tires The biggest change you can make is swapping out heavy, fat mountain bike tires for a pair of skinnier slicks (like these ones from Amazon, for example). Most roads are a relatively smooth surface, so you don't need the extra grip and squish that you find in mountain bike tires. You can also pump up the tires more, reducing the friction between the tires and the road. They will also be lighter and more aerodynamic. Adjust your tire pressure If you can't swap out your tires, you can try adjusting the tire pressure. For example, mountain bikes have a lower tire pressure which helps the tire conform to the terrain for grip and comfort. However, if you're going to be riding on the road, you don't need it to do that so much you can increase the tire pressure (but don't go outside the range listed on the wall of your tires). Make sure you stay within the recommended range. If you don't have a good floor pump with a gauge, it's highly recommended. You can pick up the BV floor pump on Amazon, which does the job perfectly, and it doesn't break the bank. Lock out the suspension Your bike's suspension will absorb some of the energy you are trying to put into turning the pedals. So by locking out the suspension, you're making the bike a little bit stiffer and more efficient, which will help put some more torque to the pedals and increase your ability to accelerate more quickly. Change your position on the bike Mountain bikes tend to have a more upright position, but if you can change to a more aggressive position, you can go a little – or a lot- faster on your mountain bike. Depending on your bike, you might be able to raise your saddle, lower your handlebars, or potentially swap out your flat bars for drops, all of which will give you a more aerodynamic position on the bike. Change gears Changing gears is a bit more complicated because not all cassettes and chainrings will fit on every bike. However, if you can change your gears, you might be able to get a little more power when you turn the pedals. Reduce weight and bulk Remove any extra stuff on your bike that you can. Extra bags add weight and reduce aerodynamics, slowing you down. Make sure your bike is clean If you've been out mountain biking, chances are you picked up some mud, dirt, and grime that can slow your bike down. Also, a dirty chain is much less efficient than a clean chain, so make sure you give it a good cleaning, too.