Chris is doing a very worth while bike ride, a 250 mile sponsored ride. He wants to know if he can undertake this mammoth ride on a mountain bike? We have some reservations wither he should and some suggestions to help him if he has to ride such a long distance on an off road bike

Question:
I am about to join a 250 mile sponsored bike ride. Would a mountain bike be suitable for this? We will be traveling on roads.

Hi Chris,

Well done on doing a sponsored ride of this distance and best of luck.

Yes, you could do this long ride on a mountain bike, but I would suggest that a road bike would make it easier, especially as you are riding on the road. The position is better and that you have different positions on a road bike makes it better for your body as you can rest sitting up and you have many positions to place your hands for comfort and aerodynamics. Being able to move your position on the bike on a long ride will help you to “suffer” through the miles.

If you have to ride a mountain bike on the long ride then there are a few things you can do to help you on your way. First I would fit narrow road tires, this will help your bike roll easier on the road, light inner tubes will also help, but not as much as road tires, smooth treaded road tires like the ones from Michelin or Continental.

I would also fit bar ends to the handlebars; this would give you more choice for placing your hands in the best positions to ease any stiffness in the back or neck etc. On a long ride with even the occasional climb, being able to put your hands further forward helps getting over the hills and you can stretch your back out of the saddle.

Another question comes to mind, are the gears going to high enough so that on down hill sections or with a tail wind will you be able to keep up with the conditions? If you needed to change the gearing it would probably be cheaper and easier to buy a road bike.

Good luck Chris and we hope you make lots of money for your sponsored bike ride, 250 miles is quite an undertaking!