Mountain Biking - Comparing Road vs Trail

In all pcad's threads it has become apparent that quite a few of us ride both road and trail.

The question is, Based on perceived effort what do you consider the "average" ratio of road miles to trail miles?

I personally find 3 road miles = about same amount of effort as 1 average trail mile i feel like it fluctuates from an easy path type is about 1:1 with really technical being about 5:1. Anyway do you guys have similar thoughts where a 10 mile trail ride feels like abotu the same workout as a 30 mile road ride?

This is in south jersey so no major hills on the roads, but I travel for some trails that are more technical

I guess 3 to 1 sounds about right, assuming off-road means XC singletrack type stuff.

Just to throw another muddling variable in there, it depends a bit on the bike, off road. Using my cyclocross bike for XC makes it mor elike 4:1 since it takes so much effort to muscle it up steep hills, and the lack of suspension or really fat tires beats me up. I'd imagine a rigid singlespeed would feel similar, though my rigid geared mountain bikes were never as harsh as the crosser. Also on really technical trails you'll make it harder on yourself by taking a hardtail, say rather than a full suspension.

Add to that all the riding styles that aren't XC and the whole equation just sort of goes through the window.

All in all I don't really worry about it, because there's also easy and hard road miles. I've done 40 mile rides that were way tougher than some centuries I've done, mainly due to hills.

I did mean XC type trails. :) but i have never done any type of FR/DH those courses go fast but i imagine there must be alot of effort

Last weekend I rode 67 road kilometers. I was fine after that. If i do one of my typical mountain bike rides of 20km, I am wiped. I think if I started hitting closer to 100km I'd feel the same level of exhaustion. So for my type of XC riding I'd say 5:1.

i wonder what the comments would be in the road forum...:)

I feel like I definitely hit the "wow i am gonna be sore tomorrow" at about 15-20 miles on a trail on the road it would take 70+ to get there. Some of the PA trails are 5:1 for me they involve rocks wile going up hill and downhill that you can't just bomb (well i can't).

On the road, boredom occurs long before fatigue.. so I don't know.

I feel a ride the next day if it's over 80 on the road, and over 25 or so on the trail.

On the road, boredom occurs long before fatigue.. so I don't know.

I don't get bored with either one. Both have positives. Sometimes I want to cruise fast and free on the road, and sometimes I want to be in the woods w/ nature and more of a technical challenge. Depends on mood and weather. As for the original question. Probably 3:1.

Apples and oranges. Too many variables, in my opinion.

Apples and oranges. Too many variables, in my opinion.

+1