Which is more demanding physically? Mentally?

[AdironRider]

I think road biking is pure torture mentally. Just staring at the pavement and feeling the burn is hell for me. Its why I stopped swimming in my prime in college to take up snowboarding full time, and why I almost exclusively ride freeride/downhill. I enjoy the varied terrain and challenge the MTB provides, and you can always find a more interesting or challenging route down. At the same time I respect and realize that some people like the speed, workout, and mental challenge of road biking.

The difference between road biking and MTB reminds me of the groomer/off piste debate. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[mondeo]

I think road biking is pure torture mentally. Just staring at the pavement and feeling the burn is hell for me. Its why I stopped swimming in my prime in college to take up snowboarding full time, and why I almost exclusively ride freeride/downhill. I enjoy the varied terrain and challenge the MTB provides, and you can always find a more interesting or challenging route down. At the same time I respect and realize that some people like the speed, workout, and mental challenge of road biking.

The difference between road biking and MTB reminds me of the groomer/off piste debate. Different strokes for different folks.

I think you have to be ok with only your thoughts to keep you company on a road bike. Aside from keeping an eye out for traffic and road conditions, I enjoy just being able to let my mind wander for a bit. It's some nice alone time, and at the same time as I'm getting some decent exercise. Plus the flats have a very therapeutic calming effect, with the steady rhythm of the cadence. It's a very calming experience overall for me. Maybe just runner's high.

 

[big oz]

Pro MTBers train using a road bike, yet very few pro roadies train on MTB. That being said, there are two reasons that I have heard from a few national caliber riders. 1. In the Northeast especially, there aren't hills long enough to really push the max heart rate to a long term sustained limit. Only way to reach those max BPMs and watts for long periods is on a road bike. 2. Road bikes don't beat up the rest if your body as bad so your body has a quicker and easier recovery process. Your recovery is focused on your legs and the like and not your upper body, etc. Again, these were words spoken by two serious, sponsored riders who ride at a pro level.

However, I believe that there are other factors such as fear and the like that come into play. Before I get attacked I would like to preface this next statement by saying that I still occasionally ride road. It is my opinion that MTB takes more skill to master in the long run. I've seen a newbie come in and buy a road bike and log quality miles and quickly become a competetive level rider on a local level. MTB is three battles really....fitness, skill and having a mindset that lets you test and improve your skill. If you already have skills (say ex BMXer) you can focus more on pushing it. If you have neither, there are a lot more obstacles to overcome technically, physically and mentally.

 

[RootDKJ]

I think road biking is pure torture mentally. Just staring at the pavement and feeling the burn is hell for me. Its why I stopped swimming in my prime in college

I can totally relate. Nothing like swimming 3000 yards AM practice and then another 2000 yards in the PM. I quit competative swimming in my freshman year.

 

[abc]

Just staring at the pavement and feeling the burn is hell for me.

I think that's just about it. If you're ONLY looking at roads, you're missing the scenary altogether!

Mountain bike can be done at the most boring locale as long as the trail itself is interesting (e.g. twisting, with obstacles). With road riding, I pick routes that has views, lake, mountain, quaint villages, animals, what not.

When I live out west, there're stretches of flat, boring roads which feels like it never end! I hate them and don't go there.

 

[AdironRider]

Tell me about it. I live in the Tetons, so thats pretty sick scenery, but for the most part Wyoming is wide open and boring as hell. If I wanted to see the scenery along the roadside, Id rather just drive.

 

[Marc]

However, I believe that there are other factors such as fear and the like that come into play. Before I get attacked I would like to preface this next statement by saying that I still occasionally ride road. It is my opinion that MTB takes more skill to master in the long run. I've seen a newbie come in and buy a road bike and log quality miles and quickly become a competetive level rider on a local level. MTB is three battles really....fitness, skill and having a mindset that lets you test and improve your skill. If you already have skills (say ex BMXer) you can focus more on pushing it. If you have neither, there are a lot more obstacles to overcome technically, physically and mentally.

I don't think that opinion is likely to get you attacked. I agree with it for the most part, being a roadie who, up until three years ago, road almost exclusively MTB. Roadies who have never mountain biked... especially newer ones to the sport, really don't have the bike handling abilities that most MTBer's have, and that carries over to the road a lot. I feel safer drafting with someone who has a MTB background who I know is a competent bike handler than someone who never has.