Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Hi All

I'm quite shocked to announce that I was out paced today by a MTB

Riding home from work on my racer I noticed a MTB roughly 200m ahead of me. The ride home is roughly 15km so I thought I'd catch and overtake him soon enough. 5kms later I noticed that he was actually pulling away from me:?: How was this possible

I started pushing the pedals harder and despite a loaded backpack and head wind my average speed crept to around 37km/h, yet I could not catch him My thighs still burns

I was only making ground when there was a hill. On any other day when my average is in the low 40s I'd have caught him, but it made me wonder how fast can a MTB really go on the roads.

I've only managed an average of 27-30km/h on my MTB, but to reach close to the 40km/h mark????????

What do you guys average on MTBs

PS: If you happen to have been riding along railway st from Merrylands to Fairfield today on a MTB, please introduce yourself and tell us you're superman

You did know that Cadel is back in town didn't you?

Don't judge the rider by the bike - "engine, not the bike" etc.. Many MTB riders are super-fit and able to really put the power down. I wish I were one of them, but I often caught roadies on the hills around here myself because I was accustomed to climbing on the MTB. It's par for the course.

Cheers,
Graeme

If they're on a high end MTB they're only carrying maybe 1 or 2 extra kilos in the bike, and with slicks you don't have the extra road drag, so all they need is to be a bit more fit to handle the wind resistance.

And of course, someone strong enough can go faster even on knobblies.

Or he had an electric kit.

even a slicked-up MTB has a mountain more drag...

What was the distance he traveled? He may have really high power output.

I take it that Mr888 has finally bonked!

Yeah I reckon he had an electric kit on his bike. 200w power assist with pedalling on an MTB and you can easily maintain 40km/h.

Like these: http://www.elationebike.com/

Bnej wrote:Yeah I reckon he had an electric kit on his bike.

You cynic!

.jk

Bnej wrote:Yeah I reckon he had an electric kit on his bike. 200w power assist with pedalling on an MTB and you can easily maintain 40km/h.

Like these: http://www.elationebike.com/

Problem is that 40kph isn't fast enough to burn off mr888

Bnej wrote:Yeah I reckon he had an electric kit on his bike. 200w power assist with pedalling on an MTB and you can easily maintain 40km/h.

Like these: http://www.elationebike.com/

I can only hope this is true. I didn't get to see his bike properly, but it was definately a MTB or possibly a hybrid type.

He's difinately put me in my place (for now) and has given me more incentive to train harder for the new season in September....might consider competing with the MTB