Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Just bought 19year old son a Fuji 1.3C to replace a MTB and speed him up for a big ride this summer, for 2014 they’ve changed to 28c tyres, and fitted cable Promax discs, a little heavier than a typical rim-braked Road bike but the tyres and discs make it more versatile. I did a stress test not that long ago and inadvertently found out that my interval training allowed me to outlast all the marathon runners…. Consider the equivalent bike: similar level of components, cost and quality, ect… the MTB is heaver. That is why we suggested at the beginning to note down your priority traits. The PowerTap hub I’m testing is built into an MTB wheel, so I didn’t have a way to mount it to my road bike. Tire thickness impacts a lot on the speed of the bike. But, your choice here is between comfort and speed. High-performance Road bikes are majorly used during racing explaining why they are fitted with thinner tires. For off-road use and over rugged terrain, a mountain bike is the best choice. For every possible kind of ground, there is a bike devised to handle it. Definitely tough to calculate. Exactly. So to make things simpler, here we are to state the main differences between Mountain Bike (all trail bike) and a Road bike so that you can comprehend their mechanism better. Either way I like the data you collected. It might be interesting to set up a separate test on trail surfaces alone to understand how much difficulty each one adds. TORAY T800 Carbon Fiber Frame provide mountain bike a structure that is uniquely strong and lightweight. Next, I set up ten obstacles along the same path at even intervals: 6 two-by-four and 4 four-by-four pieces of lumber. Also, the sharp steep climbs and twists and turns…sure the roads can have those too, but not like on the trail, in general. Why Do You Need to Wear Proper Clothing While Cycling? You are going nowhere, and are recovering. It’s just a different kind of thinking required for Rd vs MTB. I’ve been mountain biking for decades, and as far back as I can remember, mountain bikers have always taken pride in how much more difficult MTB is compared to road riding. I hope my mountain bike vs road bike article could help you enough, to drag you out of the tangle, which the mountain bikes and road bikes have caused. More like 9 mph faster. There is an option of choosing between hardtail and suspension bikes. And besides, I can think of only two wipeouts ever on my road bike versus four wipeouts on one recent MTB ride…. As you say you’d have to compare both types of rider in both situations. If you purchase a product or service linked from this site, we may receive an “affiliate commission”. Thanks Paul. I do not like the penguin walk, but I value the expertise of my bike shop. Then again this is my opinion; you are the one to make a final decision. This can be deduced by the fact that Mtn bikes usually have lower gearing. Tires: Wide and thick for stability Handlebars: Flat with a wide range of gears Posture: Upright Terrain: Gravel or dirt bike paths and off-road or unpaved terrain. Shop our newest MTB bikes now. High five on the science to put values to what we know, nice to see some numbers! That is why you need to check our full review of mountain bike vs road bike. In fact, this is an entirely different level of whole body “effort” that fits into the equation this article is discussing. I will say, off road is always more work no matter where you are. Time is money they say and nothing costs you more time than paying over the odds for poor quality products that suddenly stop working and give you pain! Jedes einzelne Modell steckt voller Features und Details, die jeden Kilometer auf dem Trail zu einem besseren Erlebnis machen. Widely regarded as the bike industry's leading innovator of game-changing technologies, Cannondale and its handcrafted bicycles continue to innovate across mountain, road, and electric bikes. For example, bike weight. The road bike, designed for pavement, has over a century of racing heritage and is the predecessor of every bicycle since. For that reason, I decided not to test this factor. When I bought my road bike my average speeds went from 12s and 13s up to around 16 mph the difference was amazing compared to my commuter. Less popular as difficult to film and televise and is the only mountain biking event at the Summer Olympics. Great article! I decided to see if science could get me closer to an answer to that question. I’d love to be able to test this on some of the steeper, rocky front range trails like Apex, Chimney Gulch, or Mt Falcon, where occasionally I see crazy/enthusiastic individuals riding up on cross bikes. Road Bikes. I would guess that at no wind, the resistance of the air (drag) is a dominant relationship between wattage and the equilibrium speed. You’ll notice that our mean data reported the MTB trial to have a 32W greater power output (only about 10%) while the physiological intensity was about 6% greater. It can be difficult to decide between mountain bikes and road bikes for the best workout, but here … A 7-speed bike has seven different speed ratios for use in different conditions. However, “Rocky Mountain” proponents of tri- bikes may argue that the 650c wheels make up for the geometrically inefficient frame. Kona likes to get very technical with their mountain bike designs. The last sentence above is the key to your choice. Performance & Racing; Triathlon; Fitness; City & Hybrid ; Folding; Cruisers; Electric Road Bikes; View All; Mountain Bikes… The Moots Womble: A Titanium Hardtail That's Designed to Rip... Mountain Bike Deals to Make Winter Suck Less, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277666661_The_Effects_of_Vibrations_Experienced_during_Road_vs_Off-road_Cycling, Mountain bike trails often have sharp, steep climbs, while roads usually stick to milder, more consistent grades. That is why you need to check our full review of mountain bike vs road bike. Mountain bikers tend to be a lot more laid back, casual, and open to exploration. The difference between a 7-speed bike and a 21-speed bike. I’ll stop once in a while to see where I am, or take in the view, but it’s not usually as often as I’m hitting red lights on the road. With so many different reviews, and criteria, anyone is supposed to get confused. Great point, loved playing soccer and I remember the 5k’s and 13’s seemed like cake compared to it. Adventure If you’re more of an adventurous and enjoy seeing rural landscapes, then a mountain bike … The road bike was running standard road bike tires at about 80psi. Speed & resilience. The road bike was running standard road bike tires at about 80psi. but for me subjectively the more variable power put in when mountainbiking suits my body better than the more continuous effort when roadbiking. Mountain bikes, on the other hand, are generally heavier and more cumbersome especially on concrete-based terrain, making road bikes the better option for on-road cycling. For more science type stuff on MTB follow: P.W.Macdermid and Co on http://www.researchgate.net. Mountain Bikes. Thanks, Jeff. Mountain bikes offer an upright riding position for better visibility, and have flat handlebars for superior steering control. Because of the smaller size, lightweight wheels, climbing uphill on a triathlon bike is much easier than a traditional road bike with larger 700c wheels. They are hard enough on a full sus mountain bike…and seem 5x harder than riding up roads that often parallel them. However, from my tire pressure tests a while back, I learned that downhill speeds are a pretty good proxy for uphill climbing power changes, at least for the purposes of this test. As you now understand the difference between both kinds of bikes. Trek ist weltweit führend im Bereich MTB-Technologie. Mountain bikes are created for off-road cycling in non-paved rough environments. Frame Styles. The tyres that are usually fitted are intended for grip on gravel and dirt, and are not efficient for bitumen conditions. I know that road rides are very nice but seem easier. Whether you have a road bike or a mountain bike, riding with a bike helmet on means a safer biking experience. 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Of course, you need to be fit enough to maintain that pace. In case you are used to sizing road bikes, I must warn you – sizing a mountain bike is different. For part four, we show you the differences between road and mountain bike saddles. Compared to a road bike… Stop-and-go riding due to traffic signals can take a real toll on road rides, just like dismounting for hike-a-bike can for MTB rides. One thing to consider is that if you an advanced trail rider, throwing the bike around also requires more physical effort. The more you know about this kind of stuff the greater advances can be made in technology and training to alleviate the extra stresses which ultimately leads to more smiles as you spend more time on the tracks. All these features are merged into a Mountain Bike, to support you through rough, uneven, rocky and hilly terrains. Suspension for downhill assistance, sometimes full suspension is added. As for not being able to cope with the constant effort of Rd i fully agree. Based on the factors I was able to test, I found a 51% increase in the effort needed to ride a mountain bike on a grassy, leafy trail with obstacles, compared to a road bike on a paved surface. Are you still stuck in the fundamental process of choosing a bike, cannot make a decision whether to choose a Mountain Bike or a Road Bike? Now I understand why it’s impossible to form an exact comparison between the difficulty of road and mountain bike riding! Often these bikes are very light and easy to be carried. Personally I’ve always hated riding on grass and I’ve long suspected that it was more difficult to ride on grass than other trail surfaces. As GTXC4 said, being on the road is mentally taxing too, navigating all the 2 ton obstacles that are always trying to hit you, claiming they don’t see you. You are can check our best mountain bikes reviews by budgets. Some road rides might have a lot of acceleration points while a MTB ride on a flow trail could have relatively few. I also found that my average mph was higher on some of the longer distance rides I was doing 15-16 mph on a 50 mile route where as if I'd attempted the same route on my commuter the average would be way down. That's of order 5 km/h increase of the speed. Yes, some Mtn bikes are lighter than some Rd bikes, but as stated, Rd bikes are generally lighter. Road bikes can easily speed up to 50mph.The frames of road bikes are thinner and more aerodynamic that help a biker achieve high speeds. Pavement and trails have very different surface characteristics that demand a specialized bicycle. A 21-speed bike has 21 different speed combinations. United States {{Cart.NumberOfCartItems}} 0 {{Cart.TotalToFormat}} My Account . It is specially designed for city trails. Mountain Bikes will supply a smooth, safe ride, with zero impacts. And muddy clay will slow tires way more than organic black dirt. Road Bike vs Mountain Bike. This doesn’t, however, mean that bikes with more gears will outperform those with 21 gears. Both increase the requirement for a really good, reliable bike. Maintaining an average speed of 25 km/h (15.5 mph) on a mountain bike, over rocky and technical terrain, would put you in a very elite category. As a 35+ year runner, the soccer comparison is perfect. How Electric Scooters are Transforming Cities? While road bikes far surpass hybrid bikes in speed – the right gear combined with your sheer will and capabilities will take you a long way. This test would assume same bike for the entire course and of course the notion is pitting the cumulative speed advantages of the road bike on the tarmac vs. the speed advantages of gravel/mtb on the dirt, with the notion being….you don’t want to switch bikes mid-ride based on surface and take the switch time … Read more » Hybrid bikes go a long way to increasing comfort, and a cyclo-cross bike can serve you really well on this terrain. But since you're comparing the same levels of effort, that's a bit more than 2-3 miles an hour. The problem is finding people that don’t do it all i guess. Mountain bikes are definitely more diverse; you are not going to buy a bike every week, so, why not choose a bike, which can be ready to face any kind of trail. I’ve heard rules of thumb like multiplying the length of a mountain bike ride by two or three to get the equivalent road ride, and based on my own experience, I’d say something close to the two-times rule seems about right. A Road bike is a bicycle which can only be used on paved terrains. So, Do I Want a Mountain Bike or a Road Bike? Some trails are a non stop battering of rocks and roots. Both of these types of terrain will demand a lot of skill, a lot of resilience and a lot of speed. Getting air or descending steep trails at speed is where a mountain bike comes into its own (Image credit: Giant) Where the mountain bike reigns supreme. Mountain bikes offer an upright riding position for better visibility, and have flat handlebars for superior steering control. But as before stated, when you’re having a great time doing something you love, those things aren’t even noticed as effort, just relaxing, therapeutic, smiles. You can take a 40 to 50 mile ride on a road bike at an average speed of around 20 MPH, and get about the same workout as a person on a mountain bike … These are the two major prominent types. Best MTB Gear | Before choosing it’s important to check that the models you are looking at have met the safety standards of the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) or are endorsed by certified organizations like CE. Probably not completely accurate or scientific but based on my fitness tracker, heart rate went down, active minutes went up and calories burned went way up. Front derailleurs: FD's need to be shaped to the number of chainrings (typically 2, less so common 3 on a road bike vs often 3 on a mountain bike) as well as the size of the chainrings. When you love something, the effort doesn’t seem like it, just pure enjoyment. force and velocity at the cranks or rear hub and this may be alright in road cycling but the static forces being applied to the bike during MTB’ing would contribute considerably you’d assume. If you have decided you are going to buy a mountain bike. This bike promises to bring you back home safely from any adventure. Depending on the number of creek crossings, I feel that in 4 hours at 12.5 mph or whatever, I would average about 3 miles per hour faster on a similar road ride with the same bike and slicks. This does depend on where you’re riding though, in both road and mountain locations. Before you start throwing out terms like isometric and lactate threshold you should know what you are talking about. MTB Podcast | If a rider averages 8mph on an MTB ride and 18mph on a road ride, that means the equivalent road ride is about 125% longer than the MTB ride, assuming the same total moving time and average heart rate for both rides. The difference is 17 mph on the road bike over 12 miles with load vs. 10-12 mph on the mountain bike over 6 miles with load. Mountain bikes are safer and reduce the risk of injuries. For most of my life, my idea of physical activity was to throw people around the … The only true way to know is to control speed and measure work and forces at a number of positions on the bike. At the magazine EMTB our All-Mountain model E-Inception AM 9.7 GTF scored the highest number of points and became the test winner with the verdict 'Super' - just like 'its big brother', our E-Inception FR 9.7 GTF from the new model generation of Carbon E-Fullys. There was a time when it was impossible to ride through the snowy, sandy, muddy and damp land. Not all mountain bikes have suspension, anyway. My local bike shop thinks a road shoe and pedal is best vs. my son's pushing the mountain bike version. Less popular as difficult to film and televise and is the only mountain biking event at the Summer Olympics. The seven gears can be reached by the internal gears in the hub or by an external gearbox with a gear lever. Mountain biking is also 2x more fun than road cycling. Fat bikes have distinct geometries that make them excellent for plowing and XC riding. To illustrate the difference between road and mountain bike power, I collected powertap power data on two different 10-minute tempo climbs. Roads are designed for cars. Back to top. anyway. Mountain biking became a sport in 1970s and has since then diversified into cross-country riding became an Olympic sport in 1996. Starting and Stopping…You have red light breaks on the road. We design our mountain bike components so they do what you want them to instantly. is that by switching from a mountain bike with knobbies to a road bike, one increases the speed achieved with the same "human wattage" by 15-20 percent. Road Bike. The ruts, the potholes and the rough tarmac repairs make for a bumpy ride, and a full racing bike can be a hellishly rough ride on your average city street. Road bike vs mountain bike: which is the better workout? The increased rolling mass of an MTB tire compared to a road wheel makes a big difference here. Now, if the obstacles had been larger or spaced more closely together like a rock garden, that number would obviously rise. Instead, I ended up testing in patchy grass and leaves. The same grade on pavement is so boring that agony is my mental state. I guess the limitation is that we are all only measuring work in the propulsive sense i.e. Ask a marathon runner to play rugby until injured, so not delicate. 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