Road Cycling - MTB Riding Compared To Road Riding???

Whoa. I've been doing the Central Park loop for years on my MTB/Freeride bike and the 6+ (or 12+ depending on laps) miles are no problem at all.

However, I just started riding my new road bike and what a difference. I do the loop in much faster time and get higher speeds but it seems so much harder.

Is it the riding position working more (or different) muscles or something? What's the main difference here between the two bikes that my body is noticing?

I've been riding MTBs for a few years and this is my first year on a roadbike and I noticed the opposite. I can ride for greater distances and much higher speeds on the roadbike. I do notice that the agressive riding position puts a lot more fatigue into my triceps, shoulders and neck though ...

Is it harder cardio wise or just fatigue in specific parts of your body?

I've been riding MTBs for a few years and this is my first year on a roadbike and I noticed the opposite. I can ride for greater distances and much higher speeds on the roadbike. I do notice that the agressive riding position puts a lot more fatigue into my triceps, shoulders and neck though ...

Is it harder cardio wise or just fatigue in specific parts of your body?

Cardio is about the same. It's basically the same as what you mentioned but certain muscles in my legs fatigue earler. I'm sure they just have to be conditioned for the new riding position. My upper body is unaffected, probably because I power lift and am used to stress on my upper body.

After switching from MTN biking to road biking, I too noticed a difference. I think that a mountain bike is easier to ride because of the suspension...especially in the rear. It goes up and down with your body, and makes the ride more comfortable. In general, you will have better performance on a roadie. It is just something you have to get used to. Also, the hills are what kill you. Definately practice riding them. Good luck.

It was harder for me too when I first started. It takes getting used to in the position. Hands went numb, neck hurt, back hurt, but it's getting better now.

I bet you love flying down that hill in the park tucked in aero.

It was harder for me too when I first started. It takes getting used to in the position. Hands went numb, neck hurt, back hurt, but it's getting better now.

I bet you love flying down that hill in the park tucked in aero.

Oh yeah... I like riding in with the cars and keeping up with them even better. I only get up to about 35mph on that hill but I get up to about the same on some of the others. I thought I'd be able to go a little faster. I think it seems a lot shorter now. I'm at the sag of the hill a lot faster than when I was on an MTB. :D

Hehe that's cool. One thing I like about the road bike is that instead of being on the side of the road, I'm in a lane keeping up with the traffic, cars don't even honk at me cause I'm up to speed with them. And the feeling's great when you get to draft behind minivans.

I notice the position on the road bike makes me "fall" forward with each pedal and push down with a lot more force plus you get to pull on the up stroke.

Hehe that's cool. One thing I like about the road bike is that instead of being on the side of the road, I'm in a lane keeping up with the traffic, cars don't even honk at me cause I'm up to speed with them. And the feeling's great when you get to draft behind minivans.

I notice the position on the road bike makes me "fall" forward with each pedal and push down with a lot more force plus you get to pull on the up stroke.

Exactly! I notice it's a lot easier to put power into the bike than on the mtb.

I'm going to go for a little night ride now.

When I swapped to a road bike I found it hit the muscles differently plus you have more upper body involvement, it doesn't take long to become adapted to it. Isn't the extra speed a blast?

Whoa. I've been doing the Central Park loop for years on my MTB/Freeride bike and the 6+ (or 12+ depending on laps) miles are no problem at all.

However, I just started riding my new road bike and what a difference. I do the loop in much faster time and get higher speeds but it seems so much harder.

Is it the riding position working more (or different) muscles or something? What's the main difference here between the two bikes that my body is noticing?

You are riding on tires with, probably, 120 pounds of pressure that are about 1/5 the width of a MTB tire with 40 or so pounds of pressure and fat tires...the rolling resistance alone on a road bike is significantly less...and, for example, my road bike weighs 15.5 pounds, my MTB weighs 27 pounds.

BTW, if you are having pain (I noted a couple of comments on this thread about pain) you have a fit issue of some type with the bike. Riding a road bike should not hurt...you'll get tired, but you should not experience pain...get it fixed.

I think that a mountain bike is easier to ride because of the suspension...

Suspension??? Suspension!!

Not on my 1998 Hardrock! :D

My only "suspension" is lifting my rear-end off of the seat when going over bumps! :roflmao: