I'm just about to buy my first road bike. Having never ridden a road bike before I've recently done a few test rides and I'm very excited about the whole experience and the freedom a road bike allows. I test rode a Tarmac Comp and a Wilier Mortirolo, both feel fast but I'm still undecided on exactly what I want from a potential race bike. I'm not concerned about carbon as I know it's got the strength to cope with uneven roads but is it best to avoid curbs on a road bike at all times or is there a certain technique to it like in mtb'ing with a mini bunny hop?
Carbon frames and curbs.
Busdriver
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I'm just about to buy my first road bike. Having never ridden a road bike before I've recently done a few test rides and I'm very excited about the whole experience and the freedom a road bike allows. I test rode a Tarmac Comp and a Wilier Mortirolo, both feel fast but I'm still undecided on exactly what I want from a potential race bike. I'm not concerned about carbon as I know it's got the strength to cope with uneven roads but is it best to avoid curbs on a road bike at all times or is there a certain technique to it like in mtb'ing with a mini bunny hop?
This wouldn't be for showing off in the slightest. My question was more to do with taking the shortest route. If I cut across two curbs I save a minute or two on my ride as the main road goes off and then comes back to the same point but with a grass verge and two curbs in the way. On the mtb I would just plough over the curbs but on the road bike I think it's best to keep the flow by keeping on the road even if I know it's longer. Bit of a silly question but to me it makes sense as I think my mind is still set as a mtb rider. So with the road bike I've got to think of it more like a car and forego the rally-cross.
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If you are riding a bike on the road you are a vehicle and you shouldn't be jumping medians or whatever else just to take a short cut and rejoin traffic 
That said my carbon frame didn't spontaneously combust when I hoped it up and then back off a curb yesterday to avoid being smooshed by an idiot. It's all in how well you ride.
I like how you state you aren't worried about the carbon after titling the thread CARBON frames and curbs. Clearly, you are worried about the carbon...
That said my carbon frame didn't spontaneously combust when I hoped it up and then back off a curb yesterday to avoid being smooshed by an idiot. It's all in how well you ride.
I like how you state you aren't worried about the carbon after titling the thread CARBON frames and curbs. Clearly, you are worried about the carbon...
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yeah thinkiing out loud is fun huh?
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Get the right wheel and tire combo and you could go off whatever you want. Its all about learning to bunny hop properly. Normally when I am faced with a curb (not very often at all) I will kind of ease my way up or down it. Hop the front wheel onto the curb and pedal forward slowly until the rear hits lean forward and keep pedaling with a bit of a hop thrown in.
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i avoid curbs on my carbon road bike, in fact i try to avoid any kind of rough road period, on my commute to work i actually get off the bike to get up a curb that leads through a back street to my job, it can probably take more than i give it but as newbie road biker and long term mountain biker it just feels fragile and im extra careful with it, im riding my full suspension to work tonight lol
Seriously? I don't think I would own a carbon bike if I was that worried. The roads where I live are bad. They wait until 2 days before winter to semi-fix them then they get heaved all to pieces again during our never-ending winters. I'm in my 4th year on those roads on a carbon bike, it's rough on wheels but everything else is fine.darkest_fugue said:
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im spoiled because the roads where i am are generally good so im not used to the shakes and shudders when i come across a bad patch, nothing like the feeling of high speed cruising on smooth tarmac though, im glad i bought a road bike
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as a first road bike I would buy a relatively cheap aluminium bike. ride it for a year and see how you go before you start spending more.
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I'm from northern Ohio. I don't know where you're from, but I've seen pictures of roads like the ones you describe in magazines.darkest_fugue said:
Sounds like you need a steel burly cross bike as a road bike, not a carbon one. Carbon road bikes are find when used withing their limits, but bunny hoppy and going off curbs may lead to explosions.
Don't get a race cross bikes, those break too if you biff your bunny hop like this guy.
The Salsa La Cruz and Surly Cross Checks are all good burly rides.
Don't get a race cross bikes, those break too if you biff your bunny hop like this guy.
The Salsa La Cruz and Surly Cross Checks are all good burly rides.
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i live in gran canaria which is one of the canary islands, its one of the best places in europe for biking, many pros from around europe come here in the winter months to train
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I would suggest practicing the easing up and own of said curbs... I looked like a damn fool when I went over the bars trying to be extra easy on the wheels when i hopped up a curb in the effort to save time. This was between classes on a college campus, so there were extra spectators for my mishap.
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