What Is Harder - Mountain Biking Or Road Cycling?

[@gcn]

Mountain biking or road cycling: which is harder and which is better? 👀

[@thechampion1671]

Brexit voters prefer Mtb, in the woods, away from all the rules, signs, cars, adverts etc. It's pretty in the woods, away from the crowds and you are in your natural habitat. Remainers though they prefer road. They like rules to follow, being told where you can and can't ride, unelected bureaucrats running their lives, big daddy government keeping their ride within it's rules and regulations. Mtbers are independent minded, roadies obedient followers.

[@scottwatson7844]

Love both disciplines and usually find over the same duration road riding burns more calories.

[@twatts4436]

Neither is harder, or better. They're different. Road riding is primarily a CV endurance effort. MTB is less steady, with a more spiky power profile, and is much more a full body workout. There are significant training benefits to doing both.

[@plosg]

you guys are mostly right.. MTB is determined by the terrain, and if you not getting off to push the bike up, there's no resting.. Road, as u guys said, is how much effort u want to put in.. BUT if you're riding in a group that's too fast for you, and unless you wanna get dropped, its just as bad as the MTB terrain.. pushing to the max until u eventually get dropped.. bottom line, they are different.

[@cauldron101]

It is two different worlds. It should be what you like most rather to what is harder. I like both of them yet I find them totally different. My MTB is quite slower on the paved road, so is my road bike slower off road (wherever it is possible to go off road with it).

[@matt_acton-varian]

Great comparison video but I think the comparison is a bit of an apples/oranges discussion. Road riding is generally about sustained power and pushes the limit of fitness but off-road riding requires a greater level of technical skills which require short bursts and constantly changing effort levels, which can be more fatiguing short term. Hank's conclusion about making road riding as hard as you want to make it is spot on.

[@tothehillsmtb5615]

Totally agree

[@Dreggz1312]

You can make either as hard as you want. Only road can be made as easy as you want.

[@watcher24601]

​@@Dreggz1312 or mountain biking. Can't get much easier than a downhill non-technical trail with gravity assistance!

[@Dreggz1312]

@@watcher24601 a downhill road is easier

[@fuzzb0x436]

Sometimes a video is just supposed to be entertainment 🤷

[@rachelharvey71]

Love this content, nothing more fun than watching Si and Hank compete with the passion of little kids ❤

[@MrEcted]

I do both very regularly and I love them each for their own reasons. Mountain biking is certainly harder, especially technically, but it's more exciting I would say. There's nothing quite like charging through the perfect line or blasting through a rock garden like a madman, or hitting air, etc. Road cycling isn't as exciting but that's not a bad thing at all, it's much more zen for me. It helps me clear my mind, I'm less likely to injure myself, it's more practical in that I can commute much easier (let's be honest, standard commuting on a mtb kinda stinks), you can get way faster top speeds, etc. I don't think either is better than the other and the fact that both exist means we all win!

[@MountainClimberZoom]

I fully agree with all you said. I, too, ride both, about 50/50. Living in Southern California, in the 6th most densely populated county in the US, I love heading out on the trails in the mountains -- away from cars and concrete. I can ride for over an hour at times without seeing another person on the trails!

[@jean-paullanglois5452]

You just don't push hard enough on the road,go racing a criterium just for...fun!?!

[@jooptablet1727]

Love that! I too divide my time between mtb and road (and indoor training). MTB will always be the most exciting sport for me but road cycling, especially in the Netherlands where we have good safe infrastructure, is a fantastic way to really get into the zone (almost meditative indeed) and accumulate those miles!

[@chiefsittingstill6061]

As mentioned in the video, mtb riding forces you to go at a higher minimal level of intensity; it's like running in that respect. It is, paradoxically, very difficult to go easy offroad 😄, whereas road riding offers the possibility of a nice easy ride. The crux of it afaic is that both disciplines have a lot to offer, so imo more people should try doing a bit (or a lot, if you have the time and inclination) of both rather than persisting with these odd tribal affiliations to one over the other.

[@tothehillsmtb5615]

If you're only comparing Xc mtb vs Road, then calories per/km is going to have Mtb coming out as harder. But, like you've said, it's often how hard you choose to ride. For instance, im so used to varied pedalling on an mtb, that consistent cadence and power output on a road bike is often a shock to my legs.

[@stevesullivan9377]

Same here. The constant cadence you need for road riding is something that ruins me. Saying that, it is nice to put some slick tyres on my hardtail and hit some nice smooth tarmac once in a while.

[@douglaspate9314]

Great video, strange comparison. I have just (re)discovered XC at the age of 65. First pump track ever a couple of days ago. If I have 2 hours to ride and want to really have an intense workout then MTB wins the day. I love it! I love both disciplines.

[@asquare9316]

At 67, I agree with you. Try a bike park, they are super fun. I first went to a bike park at 65 and try to go at least once a week in the summer now.

[@stevenmeyer9674]

@@asquare9316 Riding once a week at a park may be fun, and a good workout, but will do very little for your over all fitness.

[@asquare9316]

@@stevenmeyer9674 Bike riding , for me, has always been just for fun, the fitness is a nice byproduct of that. That's just me. If something is not fun for me, I don't do it.

[@asquare9316]

@@stevenmeyer9674 btw, I only go to a bike park once a week as I race sailboats, windsurf, play music, do car track days, and ride road and trails the rest of the time.

[@giantolentino9186]

All bikes are good bikes. All rides are good rides.

[@a_diverge]

Agree with Si. All forms of cycling is fun and amazing. Actually goes for motorcycle as well. Two wheels is a great time.

[@SNIFFMYBADGER]

Love both sports. Apart from a good cardio workout, Road cycling for me is like meditation, I can zone out and feel fantastic after a ride. Mountain biking is pure fun, I always have a smile on my face and you really get the adrenaline going.

[@polskawlasnie]

That’s funny that you have posted this video today. This morning I’ve had the same conversation with my neighbour - he is mountain biking fan, while I am in love with road biking. I believe that all of us are winners, as the most important is that we’re doing activities instead of sitting on a couch 💪

[@brandonclark8736]

As someone who mainly rides only road, when I purchased a heavy fat tire bike and rode it in 3inch of snow up hills it was a major wakeup call. Props to MTB's.

[@cyclingSausage]

I do both, mountain biking is harder but more fun. Mountain bikers are friendlier also.

[@adamsandler4076]

Great comparrison. This roughly reflects my experience. Years of riding MTB and now on a road bike I feel like I am going places (and not just from one forrest to another). Much more controllable training sessions on road as well, that is why I tend to come back from road ride with much more fatigued legs. But in a good way ;)

[@Schmidteren]

Stumbled on your channel when I was looking at bikes a few years ago. I'm not really into biking, but your videos are great! It's kind of like I'm not into cars or farming, but love The Grand Tour and Clarksons Farm. Good job on the videos.

[@gcn]

Thanks, we're glad you're enjoying them! Are there any videos you'd like to see us do in the future?

[@Schmidteren]

@@gcn As long as you are yourselfs, have fun and make good content, I'll stop by. Whatever you guys find interesting and fun, I think I will do as well.

[@derickcastillo9083]

What I like about mountain biking is how easy it is to pack in the climbing. My kids and I did a 10 mile (16 km) mountain bike ride and did over 1100 feet (336 m) of climbing. Some of the climbs were 28%. I looked for a road ride that I did on Strava that had the same amount of climbing and I rode 30 miles. I enjoy both and both are as hard as you want to make them.If I had to choose one, I would choose the road because that is where I have spent most of my time.

[@AndysAverageAdventures]

I do both. They both compliment each other in fitness and bike handling.

[@biketimist6943]

I do both and there is absolutely no doubt that MTB is harder pr minute. You basically use your entire body. Keeping my heartrate in zone 2 on my mtb rides is practically impossible unless i ride it super slow on gravel.

[@douglaspate9314]

True

[@gcn]

That's a great point! Of course, it will also depend on how you ride your road bike.

[@mlee6050]

I never did heart rate but had to use a lot lower gear, personally I ride both basically the same amount of body input and often blank out anyone else in the world so ride chilled and only focus what is ahead

[@clayeewing]

mattfrobisher123 put it well, and the efforts seen in Hank's uphill and Si's uphill efforts are good indicators. I got into mountain biking 35 years ago, and finally put road-type tires (Conti Town & Country) on my Bianchi mountain bike to try and keep up with the roadies in Corpus Christi (TX). Gearing dropped me on all-out attacks, but almost none of the roadies--when I could coax them to a trail--could hold my wheel when things got tough. Early MTB racing was the same: roadies could hold us off on the flats, but when things got technical their speeds dropped well below what a mtb'er could easily do. Apples and Oranges, but great apples and even better oranges.

[@swites]

Mtb xc races are just go from the gun and as fast as possible, so are more intense. Road races are more on or off but longer. Sometimes incredibly hard. Other times quite nice sat in the wheels until the next hill. So both are hard but for different reasons.

[@blue-tb6uv]

As mountain biker that uses road bike for occasional commute … if you want to work on your VO2 max, power ,technical aspects of cycling , enjoy not breathing in car exhaust and just being happier person mountain biking is far superior… on the other hand if you have to much money and all you want to spend it on is Lycra road is cycling is for you.

[@skreeeboy]

I love it all. Gravel, road, MTB, urban commuting, etc. But when considering the effort needed to do a type of cycling, single speed MTB is often overlooked. I ride a steel, hardtail 29er with 3" Minions single speed (29T front, 22T rear). They call it a single speed, but there are actually three speeds: sit, stand (until you cant stand any more), and get off and push. It is HARD. Fantastic for building leg strength, and its a core, back, chest, and arm workout too! Highly recommended for anyone who hasnt tried it. Makes you feel like a kid riding a BMX on steroids.

[@florenceetalexismartel8365]

Nice video. I agree with the conclusion. In MTB, it's hard to go easy, easy to go hard ! In road cylcing, you can chose your effort . I love both, it's for me basically the same sport ... it's cycling.

[@gcn]

Well said! 🙌

[@jevgeniardassov]

Same here, ride road, gravel and mtb. MTB is definetely more hard and fatigueing since you have to press on to stay on the bike. On a road/gravel ride you can regulate the effort. Nonetheless, love all cycling.

[@333wheeler]

Either ride is equally enjoyable IMO . I like my MTB position specially for a fairly relaxed gentle spin on so called gravel with a smooth tread fitted.

[@johnwoodard8717]

On our mountain biking trail around a lake (it's called the Root Loop, and let me say it's aptly named), my soccer player 19 year old son can drop me like a bad habit during the steep climbing and descending technical parts, but when we get on the flatter sections he just can't keep up with his roadie Dad.

[@SnideArt]

I agree, its all relative. You can go hard or chill on road... but id say mtb is always hard going (on climbs mainly) everything is slowing you down or changing your direction. I love both so its not a negative on either.

[@michaelclarke8066]

Really liked this video! Such a great vibe and it's the perfect balance of funny and thoughtful for an opinion debate like this one

[@gcn]

Thanks Michael!

[@willjones7132]

Great video, nice honest ending.

[@Jayneflakes]

There is an important element that was forgotten here in regards mountain biking. Being out in the countryside, away from all of the people, being self reliant and occasionally just chucking a bivvy bag in the hedge makes mountain biking a spiritual pursuit as well as a sporting one. Being alone with nature, away from the roads makes me feel connected to our planet in a way that road riding does not. Also, you can hugs the cows! 🐄🐄🐄🐄🐄🐄🐄🐄

[@nstrug]

Sounds more like bikepacking to me. MTB here consists of driving to a trail centre with bikes in the back of the van, doing a bunch of loops (often with uplift or on an ebike), and then driving home again. The kind of cycling you are describing seems to be done mostly on gravel bikes.

[@tamaskisely]

For me it’s downhilling. I walk up and then goooo, brain off, enjoy the ride the forest and the fresh air.

[@gcn]

That's a great point! We have a great documentary on GCN+ that you may enjoy about Tom Ritchey who brought MTB to the masses. You can check it out here 👉 gcn.eu/Ritchey

[@PTSeTe]

@@nstrug Don't know where you live but here in less than 5 min of road I hit the trails and can stay there for hours without barely touching tarmac, mostly because you cross a mountain road from side to side but not much

[@nstrug]

@@PTSeTe this kind of traditional XC MTB is pretty much dead here in the UK - it's all about trail/enduro/gravity. It's a real shame, but just take a look at GMBN and you will see how low profile XC riding is. XC is seen primarily as a racing scene. What you describe is mostly done on gravel bikes (even when an XC bike would be more suitable).

[@DavidWhiteOfFleet]

I prefer road because I can start the adventure from my front door and being able to go further means I see more countryside. Also I don't have a mountain bike…

[@seattlegrrlie]

What is great about pavement and road bikes is just about anyone can ride on them. Grandma can pop over to a friend's house. Kids can wheel to the park. It's cheap, easy, healthy, and fun. You can make it an epic challenge, but it doesn't have to be Mtn is generally more difficult. Sand needs to be ridden different than big chunky gravel or mud. Trail surfaces are uneven, often requiring line choices and thoughtful riding. You work your upper body more and need core strength. Grandma might die unless Grandma is super cool and shreds

[@tbp0701]

Cool comparison. I ride my hardtail mountain bike on paved rail-trails, gravel paths, and dirt MTB trails. (Not much shredding as injuries are expensive). Mountain biking feels harder, but my trackers say I burn more calories and have a higher average heart rate on paved trails. I believe it's because mountain biking forces intervals, while paved riding keeps my heart rate and effort steady. Fitness trackers do not measure mental state, however. On a smooth rail trail my mind wanders to thoughts, memories, conversations. But MTB trails demand constant focus: the best line, roots, rocks, ruts, animals, and embankments. So I do think mountain biking is harder, but I go for longer rides on asphalt.

[@nikhil23911]

what an episode guys, love this type of stuff.

[@bkmontgomery]

I’m with you Si. Sometimes I go out into the garage and get stumped by which bike to ride: road, MTB, cx, or gravel

[@alastairstedman7840]

As someone who does both XC MTB and road. I usually regard MTB distance (especially over difficult Terrain) to be equivalent to 2x the road difference. So a 70km XCM marathon makes me feel similar levels of exhaustion and pain to a 140km road ride.

[@roeland_st]

I have to say one hour of riding the mountainbike feels like 2 hours one a road bike

[@douglaspate9314]

yup

[@Seba-yf1pi]

I ride both and road biking puts a less strain on me indeed, however it puts a higher mental stress as it is more dangerous so there's that. But physically yeah, mb tops

[@Dreggz1312]

@@Seba-yf1pi if your road rides are more dangerous then you are are mountain biking wrong

[@Seba-yf1pi]

@@Dreggz1312 I've had one friend killed by a car, and several including myself got hurt few times while road cycling. The problem with road cycling is that you share the road with cars, trucks. I don't disagree that mb is dangerous, but at least you can calculate the risks you take and have some expectations about what's gonna happen if you send a certain jump for example. Now when road cycling, you just hop that the drivers behind you aren't on their phones. Of course, this depens on where you live and the attitude of drivers towards cyclists, but it really takes one tired driver to hospitalize a cyclist. You'd be surprised how blind some car drivers are. Now try this in Eastern Europe, where drivers are headless chickens.

[@MindyTunnell]

@@Dreggz1312 you definitely need more I formation to make that assessment. And they've given that to you. Road biking can be way more dangerous than mountain biking.

[@paullinnitt5450]

Started out mountain biking. I got a HRM and could never understand how you could do zone training as my heart rate was never steady. Then i got a road bike and finally understood. Best to do all kinds of cycling. Just get out and ride.

[@zaskadu8320]

I used to be a road cyclist for over 10 years.. now i only do mountain biking. If both bikes are placed on a tarmac road then MTB requires 30% more effort to maintain at same speed. Lots of factors at play here, aerodynamics, weight, rolling resistance, terrain.. I would say 100km on a mtb on tarmac is the equivalent of 130km on a road bike.. Now lets go on to the dirt.. terrain difficulty plays the biggest role here.. very difficult terrain you could probably double the km's. When i was still a road cyclist i tried doing a mtb race... my very first mtb race.. 80km.. it had climbs rocky climbs so steep that you had to walk them.. i crashed 4 times and had about a dozen cramps.. the constant and continuous rattling over rocks and rough terrain makes your body ache in places you couldnt imagine.. it felt like hell.. to the point where i was questioning maybe im not going to finish.. but you have no choice its not like you can wait for the car pick up no car can get there you just have to push on.. It was rough.. during those times i said to myself i would rather do 150km road than redo that 80km mtb race again..

[@ebmike8]

Last year. I was riding my 2012 Trek MTB on a paved bike trail for 40miles back and forth. Whenever I told my coworkers that do triathlons/cycling/etc they were always laughing and taken back that I was doing that distance on a clunky MTB. The beginning of this year I got a proper road bike and I'm doing 60 mile rides without issue. I did the 40 mile route a few times when I first got my new road bike and my times and effort were much lower than on the MTB. I was surprised haha.

[@Boopop1024]

3:25 - Riding to work, the supermarket, or indeed the pub is the most accessible type of cycling 😉. Perhaps not the most exciting topic for a YT video however!

[@oi32df]

It depends on the terrain ,the nature of the ground, it's like asking the question for cross-country skiing which is more difficult : classic or skate ... it depends

[@beermonster1234]

Never have I agreed with the conclusion to any video as much as I do this one!

[@chivacetana]

I did my fist gravel ride yesterday. Im a road rider and found dirt very hard. It’s hard to keep and consistent pace, and don’t even get me start hitting any sand, Its like a v02 max effort! I have a new found respect for dirt riders.

[@CyclingGeo]

I love both. I finally found a nice route near my home around the Finnish fells with 300m elevation gain and 300m down. The DH sections are child’s play compared to what actual MTBers do but it felt phenomenal to go down some technical rocky trails at a high speed. I drove to Norway today and I’ll be going on some fantastic mountain trails tomorrow. Can’t wait!

[@alinapopescu872]

What I think? I think Simon is so funny when he says "moove" and "mooving." The cow-thing is there, working to alter his pronunciation 🐄🐄🐄🤣🤣🤣

[@performingartist]

I live in the Black Forest with hundreds of trails right out my door. The thing is they are almost all in the 12-18% range, so yeah, way harder than the roads. Way more fun with amazing views in my book too. The roads are amazing for motorcycles though!

[@chubbyman6929]

Cycling is what you make it, regardless of type. Do it for whatever reason you want: health, social interaction, enjoying nature, clearing your head, accomplishment or Adrenalin. It's all good, just do it.

[@gcn]

We couldn't agree more!

[@danharvey3096]

So i used to mainly roadbike as a commuter, as opposed to doing it for fun. In which case i did Downhill mtb for fun. But injuring my PCL got me very into Roadbiking as part of my rehab. At first i felt like to get the same satisfaction as one 1km run downhill (400m vert), i had to do about 30km of roadbiking. That is until i got more familiar & used to the feel of roadbiking itself, not just biking with my tunes on (liquid Drum & Bass & mellow house to get me up the hill), but actually coming to like the feel of roadbiking itself.. So now although i will say i still look forward to mtb more, i actually like roadbiking almost as much. And contrary to what many people think, both disciplines have transferable skills. Doing regular roadbike hill climbs gets you hill fit for mtb. And riding mtb agressively, gets you more used to riding aggressively in roadbiking too, particularly useful when it comes to weaving in & out of cars in an urban setting, or bunny hopping over small obstacles on your roadbike, & this is withgout relying on cleats too, as i ride both bikes with flats, & can still get to about 45kmh on the flat on a busy 50kmh road if i get a nice flow of traffic lights, which i think is a pretty decent speed, & a commuting average of about 30kmh. Not too bad for a 2012 model 6060 series aluminium frame with older generation 105 groupset, the 10spd model, as opposed to the latest Ultegra or Dura-ace on a late model carbon frame.

[@MindyTunnell]

I just recently got myself a hybrid bike after commuting in Seattle on a trek 800 with schwalbe marathons tires. LOVED that bike. I'd LOVE some recommendations on the best way to find a better saddle that doesn't make it difficult to get back on the bike the next day, if you know what I mean....

[@richardhaselwood9478]

Unfortunately, part of the answer is "Harden up"... specifically, you need to spend the time in the saddle to get your nether regions used to taking the load. However, many people (men and women), find a firm saddle with a pressure relief channel in the centre to take the pressure off the delicate tissue, and put it on the sit bones, which will take the load much better. Finally, according to James on the Francis Cade channel (Bike Fit Tuesdays) - he's a well respected professional bike fitter in the UK, a good bike fit will also help enormously. Hope this helps.

[@MindyTunnell]

@@richardhaselwood9478 that's fair lol Thank you for the additional information!

[@richardhaselwood9478]

@@MindyTunnell Glad that helps.

[@MindyTunnell]

@@richardhaselwood9478 I've always assumed the channel didn't really do much, but now I'll look more into it. I'll grab one when I have the funds and report back. In the mean time, I suppose I'll have to "harden up" 😉

[@Lone_wolf_31]

Please buy degas SERFAS you will not have saddle sores it’s designed for human anatomy

[@johanrr4]

I love both but as you said road riding is basically only one thing whilst MTB can be soo much more and that's why I prefer it. If I would go for a ride in pouring rain id rather it be MTB than road, road for me is more place and weather dependant for it to be enjoyable.

[@beardedvikingmtber]

Gcn throwing shade at gmbn 😂 two great channels

[@reecedawson6113]

UK tarmac is "Smooth", yeah right its like a battlefield down where I live on the roads

[@bonzaiii3]

For me, roadcycling is a lot harder than mountainbiking. On the trails there is a lot of rest in the descents, while on the road you have to keep pedaling continuously (here in the Netherlands). I prefer the punchy efforts on the trails instead of the looong efforts on the road. Also on the open roads there is lot more wind than in the woods.

[@craigviolich692]

Depends how you ride a decent. My climbing HR can get to 180, and if I push on the downhill I often get my HR to 150 and after a 2km DH run your legs are on fire with fatigue.

[@robbchastain3036]

You made it look fifty-fifty, even-steven between the two disciplines, Si and Hank, nice work. Besides, we all know that gravel riding is hardest. Kidding. 😀

[@EuphoricPower-fy9nv]

Great video but I reckon you’ve missed something. I use a mountain bike to go road cycling. Like Hank said, you can go as easy or as hard as you want. It does make hard climbs much easier, that’s a fact because of the range at your disposal. But for me because I’m older, I’m enjoying my cycling more doing it that way. I’m getting more out of it than with a road bike.

[@madshansson20]

Great video. More like that😊

[@Throttle_therapy_326]

Hard group rides on the Road bike and MTB outside of that 🤘🏻 Road riding solo seems less and less appealing as of late though. I’d rather be accountable for hitting a tree on my MTB then allowing myself to become a speed bump for a distracted/angry driver on the roadie (that seems to be more common recently)

[@joelogjam9163]

Difficulty depends a lot on pace. You can make any form of exercise hard if you up the pace, and easy if you take your time.

[@stevencole7331]

The easy way to figure this out is take a beginner not fluent in either dicapline and let them have a go with both and conpare . I would think the moutainbiking is a bit more dificut if truely riding mtb trails . Now it would be intetesting comparing gravel to road . That gets you a bit better conparison but anything less smooth and conditent is harder . Now efford can be as hard in any athletic sport if you max it out .

[@rogue1996]

XC for me, I'll always love my XC bike lobe the feeling of the suspension workinh when hitting bumps and dropa also I can throw it around in any terrain with ease and climb insane gradients with it's 11-50 cassette love it!. But I'm still planning to buy a separate Aero Road bike when I'm going for long distance rides with my buddies.

[@shawnsee2688]

I ride both, on the road my biggest concern is cars, but I just watch the road and maintain a good cadence. MTB, is a lot of sprinting, and figuring out lines over rough terrain.

[@HeyPaulhasopinions]

I feel like you can ride really easy on a road bike, because most streets aren’t that steep, but 20%+ on bad tracks with a mtb are always going to be hard… you can’t really ride it too relaxed…

[@Michael-po7ou]

Depends on the terrain you are riding on. Its like comparing apples with oranges or how longs a piece of string is.

[@delorangeade]

Cycling off road can be more enjoyable most especially because there is no traffic, and you are expecting the terrain to be challenging. Whereas the challenges in road cycling are inevitably stressful, looking out for speed bumps and treacherous road surfaces, parked cars, unfriendly drivers and thoughtless pedestrians, so getting into a rhythm and a consistent level of effort can be more about the environment than anything else. So road cycling can be mentally much harder.

[@bdysntchr7]

I rode MTB for 22 years until i decided to give Road a try. From my experience, the rule of thumb is 1 MTB mile is equal to 10 Road miles(Obviously as bit exaggerated). What makes MTB difficult is the spike in effort from constantly changing terrain and technicality. MTB isn’t something you find a rhythm in which burns you out quicker during a ride. Road, I’ve learned is all about sustained but relatively low effort over a distance. As mentioned already, Road can be as difficult as you’re willing to make it though.

[@xavierhulbert5849]

I think the biggest different between road and mtb is the minimum threshold for difficulty on their routes. Most mtb trails have a minimum skill level (green, blue, and black, etc.) that is required to traverse while staying on the bike. Both can be made more difficult by making them longer, faster, or steeper, but mtb also has the added technical difficulty to it. For that reason I do think mtb is harder, but that’s also what makes them incomparable. Road cycling is all about mental and physical limits, where mtb is more about technical skill and physical fitness.

[@WillKalman]

I rode my MTB almost a mile last Saturday and I was exhausted! Of course, that was a *vertical* mile - in addition to the 43 horizontal ones! :P

[@smefour]

love these guys :)

[@briananderson687]

I love this... regularly have mtb vs road bike races to the pub and it gives you something really fun to joke about when you all arrive... good fun! Thanks you!

[@andrewmcalister3462]

green hills, blue skies and ice cream. Road v mtb - everyone is going to have a great time on a day like that. ❤

[@stevewindisch2882]

I say pick the one you enjoy the most, but still do the other for some excellent cross-training

[@seraph4581]

I'm a roadie, but I'll say this: Mountain bikers know how to have fun, so that probably makes it easier. Everytime I'm on my road bike it's just pain.

[@bobbysilver272]

The only two benefits I can see to mountain biking are 1) the ability to go off road and get off the beaten track into the countryside. 2) the lack of traffic The downsides are i) It can get rather technical and sketchy/dangerous on a mountain bike ii) It's slow and it's hard to cover lots of miles. The upsides to road bikes: a) You can travel large distances b) You can go fast or slow The only real downsides to road bikes: x) The traffic on the roads can be off putting/dangerous. y) The potholes can be a concern.

[@bateriayvr8988]

Si owes Hank lunch!!! I am loving these Si/Hank combos- I also enjoyed how giddy and kid-like Si was to start-- isn't that usually Hank's bit? I think Hank's rubbing off on Si 😁😅😉

[@jrlpking]

Let GMBN plan the contest. I suspect the results will be different

[@adambrickley1119]

When im feeling unmotivated i go on the mtb, but can still have a decent workout, just less sustained. Think you hit the nail on the head that mtb takes less mental effort.

[@pbayliss]

@gcn what mount are you using for the insta on the mtb?

[@chrisridesbicycles]

It depends. Road cycling gets hard when it goes above 8% and I can‘t ride with a comfortable cadence any more or into a headwind. MTB gets hard when you have to go hard again and again to make it over difficult uphill sections.

[@nalissa77]

Entertaining but not fair. While Si and Hank are great athletes they are both roadies at heart. You need a dedicated Mountain bike rider to do the MB route to have a more balanced outcome IMO. The disciplines are different as witnessed by Si’s description of his ride.

[@chriswintermute1518]

Yes, this the way to do the comparison. MTB riders are more adept in fitness for this kind of riding as the roadie is adept as well. Both are elite but specific to the disciplines.

[@nalissa77]

@@chriswintermute1518 Exactly

[@gcn]

We could get one of the GMBN guys to help out and do another video in the future!

[@MrLMFV74]

Just to enjoy the views .... MtB forever

[@gcn]

GMBN ... Is that you? 👀

[@JamesSmith-zs8fl]

I love Road Cycling, but Mountain Biking seems to require more overall strength and technical abilities.

[@lsantilli]

The thing about mountain biking, is no data matters other than your own - on the same bike, same course, etc. There is no such thing as an interval session mountain biking. The riding is funner, but the simple reality is you can get away with being less fit mountain biking because it’s so technical.

[@ninjashoyo9086]

How can one get away if they’re less fit?

[@lsantilli]

@@ninjashoyo9086 , because a more fit person can still get absolutely destroyed by someone who is significantly more technically sound.

[@juilescieg]

I have 4 types of bikes (plus my shity commuter bike) and I chose a bike, depending on where I want to go at that day. Gravelbike is nice for a long ride on different kind of roads. MTB is great for mountainbiking obviously. Hardtail or Fully depending on the road... A fully is better at the bikepark. The Hardtail is good, if I have 50% road and 50% easy-offroad sections... I kind of ended up having bought 4 bikes in the last years... :D

[@sherab2078]

When it comes to the strain on the muscles, circulation and respiratory system, both types of biking can be equally hard. What I think makes mountain biking harder is mostly the fact it tends to be more technical. Without well-developed skills, MTB may be less accessible (and more dangerous) than road cycling for starters. On the other, gaining those skills and overcoming obstacles that seemed impossible to overcome before, can make mountain biking so rewarding to a rider. That is not to say road biking doesn't require skills altogether. I think that such things as a fast, downhill cornering requires some skill development and experience. It is however hardly comparable to what mountain bikers have to face, almost regardless of subdiscipline (XC, downhill, enduro, etc.).

[@funkycoldm3dina]

Ok.. here is the way that I see it. In a road race, the riders are in a vacuum and I remember one time that GCN said that the amount of effort/energy required to ride in a peloton is considerably less. less energy used to get further and all because the peloton helps. whereas in mtb, you are not so much in a vacuum and then you have to use whatever fitness levels you have to make it through the race.But when it comes to the sprinting, and mountain climbs, that cancel out anything the MTB rider gains an advantage. so all in all both disciplines are bastard hard!

[@LuvToRide]

The same distance, the same vert, there is no comparison that MTB is harder. Each has its own skill set required to be an upper level cyclist for each discipline . I do both and have successfully completed some of the most difficult MTB events in the US such as Leadville and White Mountain Peak in a day. I train for epic MTB events at a ratio of about 70/30 road to MTB so I can log more miles and specific interval workouts to improve my overall fitness level on my road bike. MTB required technical skills that can only be perfected by hitting the trails. To sum up, for myself one required the other and both contribute to my overall cycling lifestyle.

[@russellmoore1533]

MTBing for sure, there is hardly any time when you are not switched on both mentally and physically when mountain biking, where as when road riding it is mainly a physical thing, and even then you have times when you just switch off and roll along downhill, you can't do that while mountain biking. You need to look for and dodge rocks and holes etc, almost all the time.

[@aethylwulfeiii6502]

Depends, usually it’s mountain biking due to the technical skills, unless you are doing those crazy alpine descents at 100 kmph.

[@dorydiavelone3531]

Watching the descents was great for both!!… but I would hold Si to lunch a deal is a deal!!

[@Motorep146]

Mountain is harder when climbing as you're constantly redlining your heart rate to keep traction in the loose stuff. I can "cheat" on the road bike and settle in at a solid cadence and bounce between heart/lungs/legs to maintain the pace. That said, I find climbing on the road to be way more enjoyable since I can duck into the pain cave and just sit there and pound out the miles. Gravel is much like road except in the rare cases I find myself searching for traction. Naturally the heart rate goes up as traction goes out the window.

[@gregsettle9725]

in the end I think we can agree that ice cream is wonderful!

[@samj1185]

You can ease up hills in any discipline but the technicality of mntn biking presents more challenges to your core. The desire for speed on the road, to me, makes the longer sustained efforts of road cycling more aerobically difficult. Just ride.

[@antonlvdm]

I think it's true what they said, road riding you can choose how hard you want to go, but mountain biking is just a nightmare. Plus the dirt and shaking, the wear and tear on the bike. I tried it a few times and no thanks. Road cycling all day long!

[@wobbly_jelly]

They are very different as exercise road biking is very constant - was speed, now cadence / power. Mountain biking (XC) is much more irregular, very intense power burst - speed or power. Even downhill on a MTB uses more muscles legs braces out of saddle and arms, where a road decent is much more one with bike. Plus if the majority of mountain bikers attempted the time in a saddle a roadie does they'd melt.

[@keithbreaux612]

Don’t think one is harder than the other, we have all seen roadies cross over to Mtn bike and do well and vice versa , so it just comes down to what you like to ride or the mood that strikes you on the day.

[@LAFooFrmLA]

I bought a Mac ride seat for my MTB so I could bring my son along. The “WEEEEEE!!!” I get out of him when we go down a descent is clear indicator for me that mountain biking is better.

[@junkandcrapamen]

I think a better question is which is more difficult. MTB is more difficult than road cycling, requiring more skill.

[@jpg6482]

My observation would be MTB more intense and all over body, road cycling more isolated muscle groups. Hence MTBers tend to have more muscle'y physiques. Rides tend to be shorter though on a MTB too.

[@squid7479]

I prefer mtb. I use the number of breaks needed on the same trail to mark my progress. Speed is not a thing. The technical skills to go over difficult terrains, and the confidence development are very rewarding.