IMO riding a SS (48:16) road bike is like riding a razor compared to my heavy, clunky, fully suspended 21spd "mountain bike" (that'll never see a mtn). A road bike is about distance and lightness. I like road bikes and the feeling of quickness and agility, mtbs give me the opposite feeling. I like how success in real life situations force dicatates the use of what's best for that application. Alley cat races use SS road bikes, not mtbs (90% of the winners), down hill (and uphill) off road aficionados use mtbs. Alley cats, sprints and even touring interests me.