Conference noted::bicycle

    What tires do you have now?   Off road tires with the knobs and
    low pressures have a fairly high rolling restance.  
    
    You can get high pressure street tires for your Mt. Bike.  Some
    of the "City Bike" tires are sort of OK for informal use on both
    street and paths in the woods.
    
    They do make "dual-purpose" tires too.
    
    Also check your brakes to see if they drag.
    
    I hope this helps.
    
    John

    

    Probably a number of factors:
    Wide tires, low tire pressure, heavy wheels, heavy frame, aerodynamics
    of a boxcar...  Mountain bikes make lousy road bikes and road bikes
    make lousy mountain bikes.  I wouldn't pour money into trying to turn
    one into another.  lkb

	Remember, when you're going uphill, you're carrying the weight
	of the bike up the hill.  A mountain bike weighs a lot more than
	a road bike, so uphills are more work.  (compensated for by much
	lower gearing)  The momentum that you carry from a downhill
	doesn't get you too far up the next hill, even on a road bike.
	A mountain bike has more rolling resistance so it's even worse.

	chris

    
    Actually, a road bike can make a surprisingly decent off-road
    bike, simply by shoehorning on a set of knobby tires.  It may not
    be just the thing for bushwacking or riding streams or washed-out
    trails, but for the kind of offroading a lot of folks do- fire roads
    and old railbeds- they can do great.
    
    	Dave

    I also own a Bridgestone mountain bike.  I use 40-45 pounds of
    tire pressure for off-road, and you can really feel the difference
    if you pump them up to 80 or so for pavement riding.  I'd give that a 
    try first off, assuming that you've checked your brakes to make sure
    they're not rubbing the rims when they shouldn't.
    
    The rolling resistance of a fat tire is mostly what does you in, as
    the other replies said.  Short of converting to narrow rims and tires,
    gravity will not get any friendlier.
    
    Riding on pavement is for those bikes with funny handlebars anyway,
    isn't it?
    
    Tom

    Ditto:  ATB's ain't roaddies.  They're better - :^)
    
    Tioga makes a tire called "City Slicker" available in 1.5 which can
    help the rolling resistance considerably.  Pump these babies up to
    65-80 lbs and you can roll easier.  Ride will be rough as Hades...
    
    Position on ATB's is usually more upright than roadies, this will cause
    your hard earned momentum to rub off quicker.
    
    Gears on ATB's are not close as a roadie.  If the gear you are using
    doesn't quite match your speed/cadence it can cause apparent loss of
    power on hills.  Exercise to get stronger legs will help some, knowing
    the gears also will help - the old "ride smart" idea.
    
    Make sure the cranks fit your leg length.  Lots of ATB's come with 175
    mm cranks which are great for low rpm leverage but not great for
    maintaining 80-95 rpm cadence on the roads.  Look at the possibility of
    170 mm cranks if road riding is the main use of your scooter.  Best
    crank length can be checked on "fit kits" as I recall.  Remember, a
    good spin on the cranks goes a long way toward easing hill climb
    trouble.
    
    Hope my, slightly biased, ramblings help.
    
    bob
    
    

    
    Thanks for all the information everyone.
    
    Last weekend I went riding on some trails and had a blast...so I am
    very glad I opted for the mountain bike instead of a hybrid or touring
    bike.  
    
    I will experiment and see what best suits me...but I think one of the
    best ways (as suggested) is to keep on riding thus building up my leg
    muscles and strength.
    
    Thanks again,
    Sarah