Mountain Biking - Mountain vs Road Miles???

I just started mountain biking today. I am a long time "Roadie" an typically do rides of up to 60 miles at a time with 107 being my longest ride. Now I know that alot depends on terrain but what twould be your best guess of MTB miles vs Road miles? I rode 4 miles today and it felt like about 20 on my road bike. Is 1:5 a fair ratio?

They're very difficult to compare. For example, if you're new to mountain biking, you'll be wearing yourself out working through the technical sections while an avid MTBer can float right through it without losing energy.

Personally, I'd consider myself an MTBer gone roadie. Riding 20 miles off-road feels like 40 on the road to me. For training purposes of comparing workouts, I'd say go by ride time rather than distance.

^^Yea he is definantly right. I remember when I first rode MTB. I only went 5 miles, but I was tired. Learning techniques through different sections deffinently helps.

I find I get more of an "all body" workout on the trail that fatigues me quicker than when I'm on the road. Therefore, the two are hard to compare. A more technical trail may tire you quicker (or vice versa) thus negating any ratio estimate you have come up with.

It all depends on the trail. I have ridden some that are fairly even (mountain still being just a tad more demanding) but then again I have ridden trails that just riding 200m feels like riding 2km on road.

For the dirt I go with quality of the ride against miles, on the road: Time Distance Average Speed.

The trails I ride, I tend to multiply by 2. For example my average on the road would be 20mph whereas my average on the trail is closer to 10. This isn't altogether perfect sense my average heart rate tends to be higher on the trail than on the road.

If I dirt, its uslay rocky uphill. But then I only have to ride for about 30 minutes.

the ratio is 2.7688:1

did you mean 2.71828?

I do faaaaaaaaaaaaaar more road than i do mountain...
Which sucks IMO.

But theres not much i can do about that. I like he way my bike is set up (I can only afford one bike, so it has to do it all), so im not too gutted about it.

Getting dirty more often would be good though.

did you mean 2.71828?

Depending on frame color.:rolleyes:

Depending on frame color.:rolleyes:


Tut tut, you guys it's 2.7688:1 if you use a wet lube and 2.71828:1 if you use a dry lube.

Noobs.... :rolleyes:

I go by time for the most part. Average speed on the road is typically 3x average speed on the dirt, but there's always variation in perceived effort.

why not just compare time in the saddle

Why not just not worry about it? Take that computer off your mountain bike and just have fun riding.

why not just compare time in the saddle

Because it isn't even..

Because it isn't even..

maybe youre not riding hard enough in one or the other

You could install a $1500 powertap on each bike and compare watt-hours.

Are those things even warrantied for off-road?

maybe youre not riding hard enough in one or the other

I guess I look at it as a full body workout vs a halfbody workout. Kind of like jogging. While its great for cardio you don't get that kick in the upper body (unless you don't have an upper body strength)

You could install a $1500 powertap on each bike and compare watt-hours.

Are those things even warrantied for off-road?

I would think there would be an offroad version. XC guys care about that kind of thing. But then again that measures one aspect of a "workout". Its missing the anaerobic and upper body part. Offroading when putting in equal effort can really put a lot of strain on the upperbody, especially shoulders, back and tris.