What type of biking gives you the hardest workout? mountain or race?

Question

My mountain bike finally gave out. I love mountain biking but I was thinking about buying a road bike. I have never tried a road bike but I sure would like to try it out.

Answer 1

Both can give you a hard workout!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

The road bike works out your arms and legs much more than the mountain bike.

With the road bike, one is "paying the piper" full time through inherent ergonomic inefficiency to gain an areo advantage just in case there's a headwind.

The "trainer" is the harshest workout, while either the racer or tourbike are faster and less exercise (in many cases).

You'll see varying opinions on this, because a small size road bike with tall forks or tall stem (booster) can actually be comfortable and quick.
Schwinn (especially) and Specialized Allez (needs "gorilla" stem replaced with Profile H20 90 to bring it within the range of "normal") are such smallish road bikes that are both more comfortable and faster.

However, a full size road bike that is said to be the right size for you will give you an incredible workout with very rapid gains in strength. This is known as a trainer.

This is tradition, and it also why you see professional athletes with huge legs straining to keep a paltry 26 mph or so sustained speed, when the fastest of the hybrid or cross bikes can do this easily.

It is all about joining the club. Even though the more comfortable bikes have become accepted, they are not yet respected. Tradition.

Notice also that the Tour de France riders were not holding on the drops section of the handlebars and neither were the time trial riders. Narrow drop bars (40cm) can be fairly effective into the wind. Put up where you can actually reach the drops, they do work.
Mainly, drop bars are used because of style, and because the "wilted arrow" that is more effecive is also quite homely. People will say that a major advantage of drop bars is the wide variety of grip positions; however, that is because they hurt in every direction so that you require a wide variety of grip positions. There is a lot of nonsense.

Road touring is an unbelievably wonderful experience that shouldn't be missed. The bikes that do this are usually a bit different than club ride bikes (weekend warrier, decoration racer) and racing bikes (racer) in that they have clearance for winter tires (tourbike, cross, hybrid). Although, you'll see all sorts, including the occaisional lightweight XC racer (road-ish version of mountain bike) riding side by side with a time trial bike. Most amusing is the Sand Racer (rare high speed aluminum beach cruiser) keeping up with a carbon fiber Trek road bike (a real racing bike from a different sport against a decorative purposes carbon bike). However, that won't happen on an uphill. Decorative purposes or not, road bikes rule the uphills.

For those with the competitive spirit who race, they usually keep a "trainer" (for a harsh workout) which is full size, and a "racer" that is one size smaller, very customized, and considerably faster.

Road bikes are far and again faster up hills, especially those that have the 24/20 wheelsets with even spaces between spokes. Those are like a rocket up hills. Many aftermarket wheels, such as Neuvation, Rol, etc. . . are available if you purchase a more-economical road bike, and these wheels have a rather instantaneous quality enhancing effect on speed. Avoid the 16 spoke front wheel unless your ride is totally carbon fiber.

Just like the mountain bikes, there are application specific road bikes.

There's comfortable, there's faster, rarely, there's both. There's all-season, or not. There's time trials, road racing, long-distance racing, and a few commuters that are just as fast but don't have the looks. These are all different.

So, while the road bike is far harder to fit than a naturally ergonomic mountain bike, and it is nearly impossible to re-size one that is wrong (unlike the mountain bike), you do get higher uphill speeds, wonderful touring experiences, much more flirting, a far wider variety of places to go, and you're certain to get sexy arms out of the deal.

There's lots to love about the road bike.
Although it was like closing the barn door after the horse got out, the most painful varieties have finally fallen from the market to be replaced by the new crop of road bikes that are more comfortable with no cost to speed.

So, go to your bike shop and test drive. Test drive a lot. Don't miss the not-so-glamorous but fast and comfortable Schwinn, just so you know what that aspect feels like. Whatever brand you go with makes not much difference. All are different and modern frame sizing makes no sense whatsoever, so do try different sizes.

Most importantly, get the bike that makes you want to ride it (such as your fifth or sixth test drive of the same bike, because it makes you smile).

So what if it is $375 or $2800? Due to technology trickle down (same or similar frames), the usual differences in effectiveness are only wheelsets and cranksets (aluminum chainrings are more efficient as are better wheels--these both are easy to change). The bike that makes you smile is the right bike. ;)

Answer 3

Road biking with a mountain bike. Or something of the sorts. If you want a workout on a roadbike to raise your cardiovascular fitness, you won't get it unless you throw in sprints while riding, or ride in very hilly areas that put you out of breath on the uphill. Same with mountain bikes essentially, but mountainbiking is more sononomous with hilly terrain. But if you're just looking to burn calories, then I'd suggest roadbiking. The long hours at high speeds you spend on the road will burn quite a few calories.

Road biking is pretty fun when you get going fast, and ride with a team. Mountain biking you can have fun by yourself, just hopping around.

Answer 4

both! replace your mountain bike and get a road bike.

Road biking is more aerobic, you stop less often (or should) it's more of a constant workout

Mountain bike riding is more anaerobic, while you need upper body and core strength in road riding it's more essential on off road, your balance is more used of course. Mountain bike rides call for more "explosive" strength to clear obstacles and such. Unless you are a sprinter that's not as much on the road.

On the other hand you tend to stop more often on a mountain bike ("ooooh, lookit the view")

Answer 5

You are able to coast more when mountain biking. When road biking, you are putting forth almost as much effort on a flat as a slight climb. You are also constantly going on a road bike, and you never really relax on your whole ride. If you pedaled with full effort mountain biking, you would wreck easily. Also, road cyclists, on average, generate more average wattage than mountain cyclists, which is the true measure of power. I like road biking better.

Answer 6

I do mountains. But I heard from a lot of friends that road biking improves your condition and makes you faster.

Probably mountain biking helps more your upper body, since you have to shift your weight and lift the bike more, but I'm just assuming this, since I haven't done road.

Answer 7

Work out is a work out, it's how hard you make it.

However most people train on a road bike to race mountain bikes. Most just ride their mountain bike 1 maybe, 2 days a week to practice descending and handling skills.

You should really have both! Heck get a cyclo cross bike, and a TT bike and a track bike, haaaaa.......sorry

Answer 8

There are challenges to both categories---road cycling tests your speed and endurance sans the fire roads and mud and clean asphalt. I enjoyed riding road bikes but you get more flats in a hundred kms aboard a road rig---which makes it a DRAG! ( even with repair kits, this is a punishment! ) So to see those Tour de France cyclists race then CRASH, suffer injuries, makes you wish FOR A BOMBPROOF BIKE! Enter the MOUNTAIN BIKE arsenal---you name it---cross country, freeride or downhill models of every magnificent design with or without suspension, with the most dangerous rock gardens as your playground. It takes GUTS, ATTITUDE, STAMINA, and a wicked imagination---that makes the TOUGHEST WORKOUT! So I have to vote ( with no BULL) MOUNTAIN. ( Try riding your rig on a muddy-super soaked downhill trail with COMPLETE SAFETY GEAR ----and find out what I'm saying....)

Answer 9

I beileve that it depends on how you ride. I like mountain biking and road biking equally. raod bikeing is chalenging for me because I have to push for a constant ( and preferable fast) speed. And it definitally gives you a work out in your legs.

Mt biking is also fun to me because there are more twists and turns. more unknowns. It also works my arms more.

Hwoever I mainly road bike, because i live in the city. I ahve to drive several miles to get to a place where i can ride my mountin bike.

Before I bought my road bike, I rented one from a bike shop, to make sure that I liked what i was buying. it was about $35-$45 for an all day rental, but it was worth the "preview"

Answer 10

Go with mcslain's answer. It is very reasonable and thought out...plus I think he has done both.

Mt. biking is a good workout for the purpose of efficiency. Once you are on a trail, you have to work VERY hard the whole ride. Road biking gives you a chance to coast here and there, giving your body some rest periods.

Answer 11

road biking generally gives a much better workout. with mountain biking you generally get fatigued in large part from getting beat up, riding over rocks & stumps & the likes. (if you are doing 'real' mt bikng that is) w/ road biking it is pure exercise.. you get tired cause your body is drained... plain & simple. also, mt will fatigue you if you have a weak link, like a bad back, poor abs, weak upper body. again, road cycling is more forgiving & will let you ride longer than the very demanding mt trails...