Can you put slicks on it? That’d help loads.

depends how often and how far you ride, I wouldn’t personally attempt to try it unless I’d built up to 70 miles, you’ll end up being a burden on your roadie friends if you’re not used to any distance riding.

Sticking some CX/road tires on might make it a tad easier?

Done 75 miles on a ss 29er fitted with 35mm cx tires a few weekends back.

Well off the pace mind.

If you want to keep up/chat with your buddies it might be worth borrowing a road bike though 😉

stick some slicks on it an youll be fine.

You may die, but then you may die from asphyxiation from your next fart.

High pressure slicks and set your bike up (position wise )for the road.
You will hurt ,and they will have to wait for you.
Set off early and it will all work out. 😉

Of course you may well be a cycling god ,and spend all day on the front telling them to hurry up 🙂

It’ll be fine as long as you can ride in a group and you don’t try and go too hard.
In 92 I rode from Plymouth to Bristol on my mtb on my own, with a rucsac. It was hard but totally doable, the next day to Wolverhampton did flag a bit…

I once did the liverpool-chester-liverpool charity ride on a 5 inch full bounce with 2.3 factory DH tyres. THAT hurt, a lot. I did it a few years later on an MTB with slicks and it was an absolute doddle without much training and completed a lot faster. But compared to the road bike – not sure I’d want to swap any more! Also not sure I’d do that far without prep any more.

you can definitely do it. i did my first 100 when i was 15 on a 1988 dawes ascent mtb (15 speed,s.i.s thumbbies,fully rigid 501 tubing,with grips harder than a Glaswegian bouncer,toe clips,and the knobbly tyres that came with it) 🙂

If it hasn’t already been suggested, then may I suggest you put on some slick tyres. That will help. A lot.

full body armour, full-face helmet, 2.5″ DH tyres and a rucksack.

if you’re going to fail then at least give yourself an excuse, and look awesome doing so 🙂

Omsk at Phil!!

It is all down to the group’s attitude and your ability. If you’re fit, can hold a wheel and your bike has a closer ratio cassette and slicks on and they want to ride calmly together, then go for it. Otherwise pain and loneliness are calling. It can be done! Saw a bloke turn up to a local (road) club run many (many) years ago on a mtb with knobblies on. He proceeded to burn everyone off and arrive at the cafe well ahead. He did then go on to win national championships, finish second in the Milk Race, turn pro, ride to 6th in Flèche Wallon and participate in the Tour.

Semi-slicks, two bottles and a barbag filled with nuts, jelly babies power bars etc. And get 2 or 3 40 mile rides under your belt by a week before.

Do that and it will only be the boredom you have to worry about.

If you get left behind your history. You and the group have to work to keep together

Unless it’s at a very social pace you’ll soon be at the back spoiling it for everyone else for the rest of the day.

Buy a road bike if you want to ride road, if a lot of your mates ride it should see plenty of use (if you’re really interested).

🙂

I did the Cairngorms Classic 100 on a voodoo wanga with slicks and a carbon pace fork last year.

If they are going to riding at somewhere around 15mph for a social/paced ride then no problem if you have slicks – and you could also put a rigid fork (on-one carbon) on the front to reduce weight. If you are fit then you could go quicker, obviously. Wear clipless and just spin those pedals…

You won’t necessarily hurt as much as they do as your riding position is a bit more upright and so they may be getting more back pain than you…

I got gapped on the downhills by the mates I rode with but would then catch them up on the climbs.

The climbs that the roadies might mention as being tough will be easier for you are your gearing range is better for hills.

Take some Nunn or similair rehydrating tablets, and maybe some Powerbar protein bars. I packed some and when some of my mates were flagging I gave them the bars and tablets and they were rejuvenated.

Trying to tuck in or draught for a pull is a waste of time, so don’t bother.

Plus as you are on a mtb then you can relieve the boredon whenever you see a tempting looking dirt track and have a blast down there.

really? they have 3 positions to choose from whereas the mtb is stuck with one, their bikes will fit better and any niggles with fit will be exacerbated over long distances.
the mtb will be too upright with poor weight distribution and your core will not be as strong so your lower back is going to complain as you try to get more aero with the bars too high and your arms too bent to support your weight.
more weight on the saddle too so that comfy padded mtb armchair saddle is likely to cause some discomfort.
you are looking at 5.30-6.30hrs riding time, that’s a long time to suffer.

It’s absolutley do-able!
Especially on a 29er.

Stick some skinny slicks under it & jobs a good un.

Whether you are up to it I don’t know! It’s a long time in the saddle if you’re not used to it & road riding doesn’t give you the same natural pauses or tempo changes.

Entirely doable, especially on a 29er, but unless you’re considerably fitter/faster than your mates you’ll not keep up with road bikes. There’s nothing worse than

a) Getting dropped less than 10 miles into a 100 miler and facing the prospect of spending the next 4+ hours trying to catch up with nobody to talk to, or;
b) Having to stop less than 10 miles into a cracking ride because one of your idiot mates turned up on a mountain bike and can’t keep up.

You won’t be doing yourself or your mates any favours in my opinion. Borrow a road bike if you can.