Mountain Biking - Why is Road Cycling more popular than Off-roading?

Just wondering. Usually the ratio of people viewing this forum and the roadie forum is 1:4. Also, in my town there are dozens of road cycling clubs, and only 2-3 mountain biking clubs. I thought there were a lot more people going from a mountain bike (or hybrid) to a road bike than vice versa. This was my transition.

Any thoughts?

Mountain bikers are too busy riding to be in here as much...


Got to go ride my bike now!

I ride both road and mountain bikes. Unless you are lucky enough to have mountain bike trails close enough to your home, you usually have to carry your mountain bike via car to the trailhead. That's why I didn't do any mountain biking the first couple of years after I moved to San Francisco from Colorado (sure you can ride across the Golden Gate Bridge and ride on some fire roads, but that ain't mountain biking to me). I finally found a really killer area to ride - it is 45 minutes south of the city by car. But almost everyone has paved roads right in front of their homes. So road biking is a lot more accessible to everyone.

People who ride mountain bikes on pavement are usually not bike enthusiasts so they won't be checking out bike forums on the internet. Those people aren't smart enough to realize how crappy knobby tires are on pavement and most likely can't figure out how to get on the internet anyway.

Because mtbing is alot better and people are outside doing it, instead of talking about it.

I tried the road thing but it sucked.I guess everyone can't be cool mtnbikers.

I tried the road thing but it sucked.I guess everyone can't be cool mtnbikers.
Yea seriously, Ive tried road biking. Its boring as hell. Anyone who thinks road is better than mtb is lying.

I've got a lot more miles in on road than off partly due to commuting on the bike and partly due to high gas prices. It's an hour drive to get to any trails much less decent ones

I would hazard a guess that you are more likely to get hurt mtbing than zipping around on the road, and I guess a lot of people are afraid of getting hurt. I don't mind riding on the road, but I am more scared of getting hit by a 90 year old lady or a dumba$$ 16 year old driver not paying attention than I am of breaking an ankle or an arm!!! I'm one of the lucky few that can use a trail to commute.

I am more scared of getting hit by a 90 year old lady or a dumba$$ 16 year old driver not paying attention
Then you'll want to avoid coming down here to ride on the road :p "Land of the newly wed and nearly dead"

Road biking is more popular here just cause we dont have trails everywhere. If we had trails everywhere, im sure i would be seeing more mtbers.

New Road biker wanted advise buying new bike it's between
TREK 1000 or Motobecane Record does anyone have any experience with the Motobecane seen a lot of post on the trek 100 wanted input on motobecane

New Road biker wanted advise buying new bike it's between
TREK 1000 or Motobecane Record does anyone have any experience with the Motobecane seen a lot of post on the trek 100 wanted input on motobecane
Umm this is the MTB forum genius try asking in road

Mountain bikers are too busy riding to be in here as much...


Got to go ride my bike now!
Uhhh, not quite. I'll tell you right now I'd bet dollars to donuts roadies log more hours on their bikes then we do each week. For one thing, our season is shorter. For another, the accessibility issue already discussed is pretty major.

Road biking is more popular because it has an older user base. Not older in terms of participants but older in terms of sport. Road biking was around before mountain biking.

Because you all are out riding, while roadies are posting in the forums and fighting about everything under the sun. ;)

Koffee

Then you'll want to avoid coming down here to ride on the road :p "Land of the newly wed and nearly dead"

:roflmao: HA! I'll bet, I'd probably end up with one of those bikes with huge plastic wheels that ride on water and end up riding in the ocean, or through some swamps or something. :eek:

Road biking is easily accessable. Simple answer.

I still say we're way cooler!! :D As far as safe.......I'll take the tumble in the rocks or hitting a tree. Getting smacked by a car just seems like it might hurt way to much.

I tried "Road" riding with my MtnBike during the deer hunting season for a couple of years (back in the late 90's). It was OK, but I didn't like riding anywhere else except the Blue Ridge Parkway. Otherwise, all I smelled while riding was the exhaust's of all the vehicles on the road (no joke), and I rode near a 4 lane highway once (I-26) and I swear I could smell the pollution about ¼ mile away.... If I'm lying, I'm dying....

It's also not very safe to me to be riding about 2-3 feet away from trucks & other vehicles....

It's pretty much a "No Brainer" in my book. Maybe you people have another "book"....

Speed.

Be lucky you have body armor and padding. When you fly off the road at 40-50mph into the pavement and shrubs, the only thing between you and pain is 1 skimpy layer of tight spandex and skin...

Mtbers can't get their laptops balanced on their handlebars as well as roadies who have aerobars for added support.

I agree with the accessibility issue. Roads are right outside the front doors, whereas a lot of mtnbkrs have to travel to get to some decent trails.

I would add that AGE is an issue, and dissagree to a point as to the age of the sport. Generally mountain biking is considered riskier or (I hate this term) an Xtreme Sport. Therefore, the majority of riders are younger men (NOTE: I didn't say "all"). With road cycling there is a broader age group of riders. I've seen riders as young as 12 and well over 70 riding road bikes. I seldom (occasionaly, but seldom) see any 60 year old on the trail.

Just wondering. Usually the ratio of people viewing this forum and the roadie forum is 1:4. Also, in my town there are dozens of road cycling clubs, and only 2-3 mountain biking clubs. I thought there were a lot more people going from a mountain bike (or hybrid) to a road bike than vice versa. This was my transition.

Any thoughts?

Around here there would be way more mountain bikes than roadbikes, but most of them would see more pavement than dirt since it's not a great mountainbiking area.

As for the ratio of viewer of the respective forums, that could be perhaps because this forum can sometimes come across as a bit uptight compared to the roadie forum?

As for the ratio of viewer of the respective forums, that could be perhaps because this forum can sometimes come across as a bit uptight compared to the roadie forum?

Interesting observation. I think I know what you are refering to and ... I don't disagree. But really, I just think even over 50% of the 'mountain bikers' use them as commuters or road bikes before they would ever see a true single track. In this case stats are heavily deceiving.

Around here there would be way more mountain bikes than roadbikes, but most of them would see more pavement than dirt since it's not a great mountainbiking area.

As for the ratio of viewer of the respective forums, that could be perhaps because this forum can sometimes come across as a bit uptight compared to the roadie forum?

We'd also be more laid back if we weren't asked the same exact questions day in and day out.

... this forum can sometimes come across as a bit uptight compared to the roadie forum?

Really? You mean the Road Biking Forum? The one where there is constant bickering and snobbish attitudes are abundant and almost a prerequisite?

Hmmm, very very interesting.

I will have to look into this new non-uptightness. This is the first I've heard about this. Are you sure you're not confused with the Triathlon Forum? We all know that Triathletes are NEVER EVER uptight.

Around here there would be way more mountain bikes than roadbikes, but most of them would see more pavement than dirt since it's not a great mountainbiking area.

As for the ratio of viewer of the respective forums, that could be perhaps because this forum can sometimes come across as a bit uptight compared to the roadie forum?

Is this in direct reference to the poseurs, people who beat poseurs, or the people who beat bents going uphill? ;) :p..:D

I think the reason you see more people in the road forum has to do with age and social aspects. Road riding has been around since the beginning of the 20th century, while mountain biking has only been popular since the late 80's or early 90's. I would guess that a lot of the folks on the road forum are in their 30's, 40's, 50's - baby boomers. Road biking is a very social activity, where you can ride in a big group for hours, just chatting away. Even the races take place in big packs. That social scene extends out to the forums as well, and the boomers like to talk, so...

Mtn biking is less social overall, just due to the nature of the activity. It's hard to talk with a buddy while ripping some rock strewn singletrack or climbing some horribly steep hill. You can talk before and after the ride, but you probably need to drive home and repair your bike and/or yourself. Racing is more or less a solo thing as well.

In terms of popularity overall, mountain bikes outsell road bikes at 4:1. In the 90's, that was more like 9:1. Thank Lance for the increase in road bike sales. Still, only 10-20% of mountain bikes ever see dirt... What was the question?

I think you mean road bikes outsell mountain bikes 4:1, not the other way around. I agree with you on the social aspect though about riding in large groups and its more of a 'group' sport then a 'solo' sport in some ways.

Also, as everybody else has mentioned, the accessability to roads is FAR more greater then the accessability to trails etc. Decent XC trails from my house is about a 40min drive, although I have a secret, really small trail about 5min ride away :D.

I have a secret, really small trail about 5min ride away :D.
Yep. I think some people on these forums have seen what it looks like. I posted a video clip of it in a thead called "trail pics" i think.

We'd also be more laid back if we weren't asked the same exact questions day in and day out.

ya but im glad you guys do. On some of the other forums I use I'll do an extensive search in the forum and google my question. Only when i cannot find the answer will I ask a question, and after a year and a half of use I still get the "SEARCH THE FORUM." So it's really not that bad here.

Really? You mean the Road Biking Forum? The one where there is constant bickering and snobbish attitudes are abundant and almost a prerequisite?

Hmmm, very very interesting.

I will have to look into this new non-uptightness. This is the first I've heard about this. Are you sure you're not confused with the Triathlon Forum? We all know that Triathletes are NEVER EVER uptight.

Don't get me wrong. You guys do a fantastic job in here. You've got a lot more on your plate than Campy/Sh!tno/DuraAce/Record/105/Mirage, and I'm certainly learning more here than I do over there. And I appreciate that you have a few unique issues to deal with in here which you've got to keep on top of. But in the roadies forum, for a noob asking his first question that has been answered 6 times on the first page, they usually get a few answers before Sydney gets into them (and he's pretty easy to ignore since he seems to fall asleep before he can get out more than a sentence or two of bile). And they have to be pretty illiterate before anyone has a go at how they convey their meaning. ;) :p

Then again, I spend most of my time in the drug den known as the Aussie Thread over there, so wtf would I know. ;)

Im sure if lance raced DH or XC it would be more popular....that and road biking is easier televised, they dont have to huck all their cams and equip. into the sticks, where road is just pull over and shoot.....DH is where its at fools

I think you mean road bikes outsell mountain bikes 4:1, not the other way around.No, mountain bikes outsell road bikes. In fact, as of 1998, road bikes represented only 2% of total units sold, while mtn bikes were 54%. The rest is made up of kids bikes, BMX and hybrid/cross bikes. Road bikes have become more popular in the last few years, but not enough to reverse the trend. In terms of sales, mtn bikes represented 32% of independent shop sales, while road bikes only brought in 8.1% of shop revenue. Any way you slice it, mountain bikes outsell road bikes.

Source: http://www.bicycleretailer.com/bicycleretailer/images/pdf/statistics.pdf

I am 54 years old and have broken ribs on three occasions while riding off-road. LOML now restricts my off-road riding to double track.

The big reason I don't do nearly as much off-road (I am in Florida so I hesitate to call it mountain biking) is that I don't have the requisite tattoos, piercings, and facial hair.

If this were 1995, I'm sure there'd be more MTBers on the forums. MTBs used to be the only game in town for those in my generation. I think maybe Lance turned the tide back towards road bikes the last few years.

ok, pinkrobe beat me to it -- but yeah, mountain bikes way outsell road bikes...

anyway, this is very hard to define... what exactly is the qeustion?
1) do more people own road race (i.e. skinny tires and drop bars) or mountain bikes? answer: mountain bikes (i think)
2) do more people ride on the road of off-road? answer: on the road as it's more accessible and "everyone" does it - kids, commuters, "homeless guys"
3) are there more "hard-core" roadies or mountain bikers? answer: ?? probably roadies but is the college student with a mountain bike who rides once a year on the trails a "hard-core" mountain biker?
4) from perception does it seem that road biking or mountain biking is more popular? answer: depends on who and where you are (e.g. Moab, Whistler = MTB, San Diego Road)

aside: i find an interesting aspect the perception that mountain biking is "dangerous". even if you discount the "car" factor in on-road riding i STILL find off-road to be less "dangerous" than on-road or one "bike-path" as your speeds are lower, your equipment more "crash-proof" (i.e. fat tires, full suspension, upright sit position), higher chance of pad/protective gear use and fewer conflicts with other users (i.e. intersections, group riding, etc). among friends i see a higher rate of significant injuries among roadies (e.g. road-rash and broken collar bones/shoulders) than i do among mountain bikers (discounting the small/superficial cuts and scrapes that heal in a week or two) --- and yes, i DO do "extreme" mountain biking and i find riding super-steep super technical trails less dangerous, primarily since speed is lower and virtually no conflicts with other trail users. (in 10 years of hard-core mountain biking - >3000 miles/year - i have had one serious injury in '99 where i broke my nose and 2 teeth)

Well you know those mountain bikers are just a bunch of outlaws anyway. Plus when you say mountain bikers are you talking about xc, dh, freeride, trials, bmx? Also walk into Walmart, Target, K-mart - What kind of bikes are copied there? Yeah, you know the answer - MOUNTAIN BIKES!!! But those people don't post in here much and when they do we usually chase them away because we are soooooo snobbish. :p

One other thing, I ride both road and mountain bike but I only post over here cause you all are cool! I should check out the road section.

As a road commuter who mountain bikes on weekends, I think mountain biking is harder. Plus, everyone sees people on bikes on the street, but not many actually see bikes on trails. Plus, until some kind friends took me out and showed me the marked trails and how to ride them, I had no idea you could do that with a bike!

Why are there many more flatwater canoeists' than whitewater kayakers? Remember this-If it were easy or safe, everybody would be doing it.

I think you mean road bikes outsell mountain bikes 4:1, not the other way around. I agree with you on the social aspect though about riding in large groups and its more of a 'group' sport then a 'solo' sport in some ways.

Also, as everybody else has mentioned, the accessability to roads is FAR more greater then the accessability to trails etc. Decent XC trails from my house is about a 40min drive, although I have a secret, really small trail about 5min ride away :D.
What world are you from...oh, down under, sorry mate!

Your points are accurate in terms of road and paved trail usage, but "mountain bikes/cross bikes" and other bikes with beefier components, suspension, fancy disk breaks etc, are sold much more often than "road bikes" - I use drop bars for my criteria for this, so I include some touring bikes too.

This is the old SUV debate (no I'm not starting that). Many city dwellers buy SUVs but never have any intention to drive them off road. similarly, many perfectly genuine and sane people buy "mountain-style" bikes with no intention to go any more off road than perhaps an unpaved road or trail.

Mountain bikes look and, for the new rider, may feel more comfortable, easier to ride, and more rider friendly. We know real mtb is quite technical and no ride in the park.

Those of you (sorry, cyclocross is as close as I get to off road) who are more serious and have those amazing technical bikes, have a great thing going and share little with those "Sunday SUV" drivers who don't make use of the bikes to their full potential.

But as to bike sales, mtb style and now "cruiser" sales have outnumbers road bike sales for the past 15 or so years. Although road bikes are making a comeback as people realize they can go a lot faster on them. Unfortunately an entry level to middle of the road road bike is still much more expensive than a similarly outfitted mtb... Unless you go for the Walmart Denali! :eek:

All happens in cycles(pun intended). A lot of people road ride, like me because I used to ride every day rain or shine on the trails for close to 10 yrs. Recently, 4-5 yrs ago, got a road bike, then got a new ti road bike and just using that and getting riding time in. But people will eventually be rediscovering the MTB, I rediscovered it this summer . I even bought a DH frame and fork to build up for next year.

My guess is that the ATB crowd is younger and therefore less gainfully employed than the Roady crowd and therefore has less access to an office/computer at work.

Where I lived for a long time (Toronto), the number of mountain bikes on the streets (not even mentioning the trails) was (and is) much higher than the number of Road bikes.

THis topic is going to end in like a gang war or somethin The roadies versus the mtnbikers. What an outcome that would be.
It all just depends on what you prefer. Its not a matter of trying to be more cool or popular then the other guys, just to get out there and ride. On pave or dirt, doesnt matter.

i'd say that roadies are much more likely to try to optimize and therefore are more likely to seek out others to discuss that. mountain bikers are more likely to just go out and have fun doing it, and don't really have as much need for talking to others about it.

just my guess... :)

he, he, he

I just went over to the roadie board and made fun of their jerseys. Now see what you started? :D

I do both. Sort of. When I'm not on the trails I swap my knobbies for some Nimbus Ex Slicks. I like to be able to work on the endurance on the regular bike trails around my area. I have both. But, I will say, rarely do I come into a roadie who is as inclined to help when I have a breakdown of some kind. It's always fun chasing these guys on their 5k bikes and have them keep turning around as I keep up with them. It makes for a good workout. Other times, it's to commute to work. Now if these guys could just stop blowing their nose while I'm riding behind them... Anyways, mountain bikers are much more friendly and don't really worry about stories like " I just blew away another poser today". Seems like that's all they are concerned about. Just my 2 cents. Peace.

I have one of each kind of bicycle. I like road riding for the constant cardio workout, I like MTB for having fun and cardio/upper body workout, and I ride with my wife who has a MTB (starting out, no trails yet). I think the reason MTB's sell more is beacuse you can go where ever you want with them, and thats a good thing! Its the main reason why I steered my wife into getting a MTB, incase she wanted to ride trails, or on the road, its just more versitile.

Hopefully Ill be able to hit the trails this weekend and get a little dirty! :D

If this were 1995, I'm sure there'd be more MTBers on the forums. MTBs used to be the only game in town for those in my generation. I think maybe Lance turned the tide back towards road bikes the last few years.

I was thinking the same thing. A couple of years after LeMond's big years (early 90's), you'd go in a bike shop and they might have a couple of dusty road bikes, and racks of mtbs. This was helped somewhat by the fact that off-the-shelf mtbs were still kind of a new thing to the general public, enabling a whole different type of riding and access to different ride venues. The pendulum has swung the other way now, but will probably swing back.

One other reason could be that road bikes don't wear out like mtn bikes do. The components on mtn bikes are almost disposable until you get to the XT/XTR range. My wife killed her Deore shift pods after 10 rides. On the flip side, my buddy is road riding 20+ km a day on a bike from the mid-80's and he hasn't broken anything. My '95 road bike rides about as well today as it did when I bought it, despite crashing, abuse, racing, etc. I don't know anyone who rides mtn on anything older than a 2001, mush less from the 90's or earlier.