I've had a few heart-stopping moments on a road bike when the rear wheel lets loose in a slippery turn or even the front sliding in some slimy gutter. Don't like it. Rode open class 2 stroke mx bikes in the desert for 10 years, so I don't mind sliding a bit in the dirt. I'm timid on the mtb when in high consequence situations, but I like sliding that thing a little, too.