Why Do You Ride Mountain A Bike On Streets?

On Mon, 31 May 2004 19:58:56 GMT, "Pete" wrote:

..
.."Mike Vandeman" wrote
..
.. They are built to withstand the beating that you get on trails, but not on
..the
.. street (unless you like riding off curbs etc., which is stupid).
..
..You seem to be spectacularly uninformed about biking in general, not just
..mountain bikes.
..How, in your opinion, is a mountain bike, mounted with slicks, inefficient,
..as compared to something else?

Heavier & more gears. Why do you think that track bikes have no breaks & only
one gear?

.. .Perhaps you're thinking of the specialized engineless motorcycles known
..as
.. .'DH' bikes. The vast majority of mountain bikes are not like that. As you
.. .well know.
..
.. BS. They are designed to take a beating, which road bikes are not subject
..to.
..
..Potholes and cobblestones are not much different than tree roots and rocks.

And if you can't avoid them, you can't ride. Or you need to lean on your city
government.

.. .Come now, Mikey. You dispute scientific studies comparing different
..street
.. .tires? Done with no thought of mountain biking?
.. .Do you have any different data? I'd like to see it.
.. .("It's obvious" is not data)
..
.. It's obvious to anyone with an ounce of brains that smooth, hard tires
..roll with
.. less resistance than bumpy, knobby tires. I shouldn't have to prove it for
..you.
.. One ride would do it.
..
..Reading deficiency, Mikey? You know very well I specified "different street
..tires" in the wide vs narrow comment.
..Sure knobbies, on the street, are less efficient than slicks.

And that's what most people have on their mountain bikes.

And you also
..know full well that there are many, many slick, high pressure tires
..available in mountain bike sizes.

Not as slick, nor as high pressure as road tires.

..I have a bike sitting right here in my living room with a set mounted.
..Pumped up to ~90psi. Quite a comfortable, fast ride. I just came back from
..dodging cicadas on a ride to the store.
..
.. I don't ride for "efficiency", since I'm not a machine.
..
..Just a simple question, Mikey. What type of bike(s) do you ride? I'm
..genuinely interested.

3-speed (only high works). $25 and works as well as any bike, for what I need.

..Pete
..

===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)

http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande

On 31 May 2004 20:59:13 GMT, ospam (Stephen Baker) wrote:

..MV blurts:
..
..Straight handlebars are stupid, and force you to put
..weight on your arms, which humans haven't evolved for.
..
.."Stupid"? Interesting concept, since they obviously have no brains...
..
..As for "evolved for", we did not evolve to sit our butts on a skinny-arse
..little saddle, either, but that hasn't stopped you from doing it, has it?

Yes, it has. I have never used one.

..Stupid!
..
..Steve

===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)

http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande

"Mike Vandeman" wrote in message
...
.As for "evolved for", we did not evolve to sit our butts on a skinny-arse
.little saddle, either, but that hasn't stopped you from doing it, has it?

Yes, it has. I have never used one.

You don't use a seat?

Strangely that seems to fit the image I have of you.

"Mike Vandeman" wrote

Heavier & more gears. Why do you think that track bikes have no breaks &
only
one gear?

So mountain bikes are heavy and inefficient compared to minimalist racing
bikes. Thy sky is blue, and water is wet.
Now...how about talking about bikes that people actually ride?

. BS. They are designed to take a beating, which road bikes are not
subject
.to.
.
.Potholes and cobblestones are not much different than tree roots and
rocks.

And if you can't avoid them, you can't ride. Or you need to lean on your
city
government.

Many of us live in areas where potholes and other road defects are a fact of
life. Places with 4 actual seasons.

But, as usual, you miss the point.

.
.Reading deficiency, Mikey? You know very well I specified "different
street
.tires" in the wide vs narrow comment.
.Sure knobbies, on the street, are less efficient than slicks.

And that's what most people have on their mountain bikes.

That's their problem. Not one I have.

And you also
.know full well that there are many, many slick, high pressure tires
.available in mountain bike sizes.

Not as slick, nor as high pressure as road tires.

They *are* road tires, dumdum. They just happen to fit common mountain bike
rims.


. I don't ride for "efficiency", since I'm not a machine.
.
.Just a simple question, Mikey. What type of bike(s) do you ride? I'm
.genuinely interested.

3-speed (only high works). $25 and works as well as any bike, for what I
need.

You're still riding that clunker? Care to contemplate the efficiency of your
broken 3 speed internal?

Pete

MV blurts:

Yes I can. Bicycling is about freedom.

... without responsibility.

So you admit you are irresponsible, Mike, since you bicycle? Nelson wasn't
talking about MTBiking, just biking.

On Tue, 01 Jun 2004 10:53:41 GMT, "Pete" wrote:

..
.."Mike Vandeman" wrote
..
.. Heavier & more gears. Why do you think that track bikes have no breaks &
..only
.. one gear?
..
..So mountain bikes are heavy and inefficient compared to minimalist racing
..bikes. Thy sky is blue, and water is wet.
..Now...how about talking about bikes that people actually ride?

The same applies, for the same reason. Boy, you guys are dense.

.. . BS. They are designed to take a beating, which road bikes are not
..subject
.. .to.
.. .
.. .Potholes and cobblestones are not much different than tree roots and
..rocks.
..
.. And if you can't avoid them, you can't ride. Or you need to lean on your
..city
.. government.
..
..Many of us live in areas where potholes and other road defects are a fact of
..life. Places with 4 actual seasons.

So what? A mountain bike is still overbuilt for street riding.

..But, as usual, you miss the point.
..
.. .
.. .Reading deficiency, Mikey? You know very well I specified "different
..street
.. .tires" in the wide vs narrow comment.
.. .Sure knobbies, on the street, are less efficient than slicks.
..
.. And that's what most people have on their mountain bikes.
..
..That's their problem. Not one I have.
..
.. And you also
.. .know full well that there are many, many slick, high pressure tires
.. .available in mountain bike sizes.
..
.. Not as slick, nor as high pressure as road tires.
..
..They *are* road tires, dumdum. They just happen to fit common mountain bike
..rims.

Implying that they are WIDER than normal road tires, and hence have more rolling
resistance. DUH!

.. . I don't ride for "efficiency", since I'm not a machine.
.. .
.. .Just a simple question, Mikey. What type of bike(s) do you ride? I'm
.. .genuinely interested.
..
.. 3-speed (only high works). $25 and works as well as any bike, for what I
..need.
..
..You're still riding that clunker? Care to contemplate the efficiency of your
..broken 3 speed internal?

Try saying that in English.

..Pete
..

===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)

http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande

On Tue, 1 Jun 2004 16:21:50 +1200, "Dan" wrote:

..
.."Mike Vandeman" wrote in message
. ..
.. .As for "evolved for", we did not evolve to sit our butts on a skinny-arse
.. .little saddle, either, but that hasn't stopped you from doing it, has it?
..
.. Yes, it has. I have never used one.
..
..You don't use a seat?
..
..Strangely that seems to fit the image I have of you.

Read your own post. DUH!
===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)

http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande

"Mike Vandeman" wrote
.
.So mountain bikes are heavy and inefficient compared to minimalist racing
.bikes. Thy sky is blue, and water is wet.
.Now...how about talking about bikes that people actually ride?

The same applies, for the same reason. Boy, you guys are dense.

Gears. Most bikes sold today have multiple gears.
Road/City/Hybrid/Comfort/MTB. Irrelevant.
Brakes. Most bikes sold today have two brakes. Irrelevant.
Frames. Stip a low end road bike, and a low end MTB down to the bare frame,
and I'd be surprised if you found more than a pound or so difference. Hardly
'overbuilt'


.They *are* road tires, dumdum. They just happen to fit common mountain
bike
.rims.

Implying that they are WIDER than normal road tires, and hence have more
rolling
resistance. DUH!

Please show some data illustrating that point. I've posted data to the
opposite. Your turn.

.
.You're still riding that clunker? Care to contemplate the efficiency of
your
.broken 3 speed internal?

Try saying that in English.

Run out of things to say?

Pete

MTBs offer more versatility and durability. If I were to ride a roa
bike on my daily commute, I would certainly wreck at least once a week
and probably crack a rim/rib or two. Be smart ride different bikes. Bu
the one that fits your needs


-

On Tue, 01 Jun 2004 16:18:38 GMT, "Pete" wrote:

..
.."Mike Vandeman" wrote
.. .
.. .So mountain bikes are heavy and inefficient compared to minimalist racing
.. .bikes. Thy sky is blue, and water is wet.
.. .Now...how about talking about bikes that people actually ride?
..
.. The same applies, for the same reason. Boy, you guys are dense.
..
..Gears. Most bikes sold today have multiple gears.

10, not 15 or 21.

..Road/City/Hybrid/Comfort/MTB. Irrelevant.
..Brakes. Most bikes sold today have two brakes. Irrelevant.
..Frames. Stip a low end road bike, and a low end MTB down to the bare frame,
..and I'd be surprised if you found more than a pound or so difference. Hardly
..'overbuilt'

If that were true, we wouldn't need mountain bikes. There must be some
difference, or people would be mountain biking on 10-speeds.

.. .They *are* road tires, dumdum. They just happen to fit common mountain
..bike
.. .rims.
..
.. Implying that they are WIDER than normal road tires, and hence have more
..rolling
.. resistance. DUH!
..
..Please show some data illustrating that point. I've posted data to the
..opposite. Your turn.

Something so obvious doesn't need "data". It is simple physics.

.. .You're still riding that clunker? Care to contemplate the efficiency of
..your
.. .broken 3 speed internal?
..
.. Try saying that in English.
..
..Run out of things to say?

Can't answer that one, huh?

..Pete
..

===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)

http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande