Mountain Biking - Where does road biking end and mountain biking begin?

Is there a definite line that separates the two?

Is it the width of the trail? The amount/size of obstacles?

Can a jeep trail be a mountain bike trail?

I'm not a mountain biker. I've started riding around on some of the un-maintained dirt roads near me and it got me wondering.

Any time a trail is gnarly enough to necessitate an mtb is the short answer.

I've done plenty of road rides and even a few road races with off road sections, like fire roads and gravel.
Noting with drops tho obv.

I've never read any definition, but I regard any cycling on dirt as off road. Is riding a dirt or gravel MUP mountain biking? Not in my book. On all my posts I've listed road bikes, mountain bikes and MUP riders. I define mountain biking as riding on rough terrain, too rough to seriously ride a road bike (although I've seen some nut cases try it.). Also, there are the obsticles such as logs, jumps, rock gardens etc where a road bike is just not suitable.
I think of MUPs such as Rails to Trails, including MUPs that are not paved with plenty of bumps and uneven surfaces as roads, smooth enough for road bikes with a wider tire to ride on. So just because it's off road, doesn't make it rough enough to call it mountain biking in my book.
Just my opinion.

Any time a trail is gnarly enough to necessitate an mtb is the short answer.

I've done plenty of road rides and even a few road races with off road sections, like fire roads and gravel.
Noting with drops tho obv.
Meh, I've seen some really skilled cx guys on some of my mountain bike rides. Heil Valley Ranch into Picture Rock in Boulder, for example, is non-technical enough that I've seen cx guys on it, but it's a far cry from a road ride.

There's no clean line. You could try to separate it using the surface you're riding on, but then I'll give you the example of a guy on a road bike on a fire road versus a guy on a mountain bike riding urban assault. Don't worry about trying to label it, just do what you enjoy and don't overthink it.

Meh, I've seen some really skilled cx guys on some of my mountain bike rides. Heil Valley Ranch into Picture Rock in Boulder, for example, is non-technical enough that I've seen cx guys on it, but it's a far cry from a road ride.

There's no clean line. You could try to separate it using the surface you're riding on, but then I'll give you the example of a guy on a road bike on a fire road versus a guy on a mountain bike riding urban assault. Don't worry about trying to label it, just do what you enjoy and don't overthink it.

Oh no... I'm just out having fun and was curious as to what you folks thought on the matter.

if it's paved, it's road riding. if it's dirt, it's mountain biking. the type of bike, size of path, etc, is irrelevant.

road biking stops and mountain biking starts when the pavement turns to dirt.

of course, you can get a bit more specific or fine tune it, such as:

lycra and snobbishnes = road riding, baggies and getting high = mountain biking.

if it's paved, it's road riding. if it's dirt, it's mountain biking. the type of bike, size of path, etc, is irrelevant.

road biking stops and mountain biking starts when the pavement turns to dirt.

of course, you can get a bit more specific or fine tune it, such as:

lycra and snobbishnes = road riding, baggies and getting high = mountain biking.

What about dirt roads?

don't ask me; i smoke tobacco from a pipe and wear lycra under my baggies while i'm riding my cyclocross bike.

when you're having fun, you're mountain biking.

What about dirt roads?

when they hit pave in paris roubaix, they are mountain biking....

don't ask me; i smoke tobacco from a pipe and wear lycra under my baggies while i'm riding my cyclocross bike.

this is probably one of the best images ever. i shall go to sleep with this image comforting me and making me smile.

this is probably one of the best images ever. i shall go to sleep with this image comforting me and making me smile.

glad i could oblige. :D

i assume you are smoking tobacco from a pipe while you ride your cx bike. at least, that is the image i have that makes me so happy.

Why am I picturing the monopoly guy riding one of those trikes with the GIANT front wheel, smoking a pipe...

Why am I picturing the monopoly guy riding one of those trikes with the GIANT front wheel, smoking a pipe...

i dunno. i can't grow facial hair to save my life.

Meh, I've seen some really skilled cx guys on some of my mountain bike rides. Heil Valley Ranch into Picture Rock in Boulder, for example, is non-technical enough that I've seen cx guys on it, but it's a far cry from a road ride.
I can see CX riders hitting PR, but Heil?
Dang!!

don't ask me; i smoke tobacco from a pipe and wear lycra under my baggies while i'm riding my cyclocross bike.

Note to self: Don't ask Darth.

The great thing about cycling is you can do anything you want on a bike you own. Rentals, not so much.

Pete, if you are in the Phoenix area, you know about the Black Canyon and South Mt. and the Sonoran Loop. I can see taking a CX on the Sonoran Loop and any bike you want on the Sonoran Bike trail. BCT and dirt trails on South Mountain definitely MTB. Baseline, Dobbins and the pavement climbing to Dobbins lookout, outstanding skinny tire stuff.

BTW, Harley Davidson University used South MT Park to film their new promo commercial. It ends at the burned out shell of Scorpion Gulch. Kinda cool. I drank my first Mt Dew there in the 60's. A couple different beverages in the 70's.

If you are on a road bike you are road riding. If you are on a mountain bike you mountain biking. What you ride on or how you ride is all personal preferance.

What if I'm on a comfort bike?

And am riding on a washed out jeep trail?

Daspydyr, I'm in Sedona.

SEDONA! While it gets a tad chilly there from time to time, you live in a true biking mecca. With that slick rock you have around town you can ride skinnier tires where ever. But for a washed out jeep road, I would consider that Mountain Biking and prefer fatter tires for the potholes and gripping the washouts. But a comfort bike (single speed or 3speed?) should be fine. Post some pictures, love that area.

SEDONA?!?!?!?

SWEET!

Pete, while you are riding your bike on the dirt roads next to the pink jeeps filled with tourists, you are mountain biking.

Single speed? In Sedona??

Um... no.

I have a "21" speed Raleigh Venture 3.0 (Don't laugh, it works for me at the moment) with 2.1 inch wide tires. The bike shop has a Scott 29" rental bike that they are willing to sell me. I'm thinking about it.

And Pablo... I'm usually standing next to the road while the large motor vehicle passes by. If I tried to ride next to them, I would probably end up under them. I'm not that good yet, I still need a lot of space.

So far, it is a heck of a lot more fun then riding on the road. I'm not sure about those 20' jumps, but I sure am going to get out in the back country more.

if you need info on where to ride, stop by ote in sedona, right on hwy 89, where the old mountain bike heaven used to be. jason and mike are great guys and will help you out.

edit: only now did i see you replied to my "going to sedona" thread, you clearly know about ote, please disregard

As kids, we used to ride our ten-speeds and cruisers down the steep, tree-littered hills of Sowinski Park in Cleveland, Ohio. We encountered rocks, stumps, crevices, and sometimes trees.

How 'bout that?... MTN biking with english racers and cruisers!

Who'd ever imagine such a crazy idea?

At The Top.

236943

If your legs are shaved, you are road biking, regardless of bike or terrain.

If your legs are shaved, you are road biking, regardless of bike or terrain.
Hmm...guess I'll be sticking to road biking in that case.

Ex-boyfriend of mine used to shave his legs because he said it was easier to clean the dirt out of cuts when he fell. He did some road biking, but was a mountain biker at heart.

If your legs are shaved, you are road biking, regardless of bike or terrain.

Fail,

Shaved legs are easier to get bug spray on easier to clean up cuts and a lot easier to check for ticks.

How am I supposed to evenly apply body lotion with hairy legs??

Fail,

Shaved legs are easier to get bug spray on easier to clean up cuts and a lot easier to check for ticks.

Yes, obviously I was being completely serious.

in my opinion (FWIW), it's a mountain bike ride if you need to use offroad techniques to get where you're going... the bike you're on isn't important, but it can sure make it easier if you use the right tool for the job.

I ride this one on our extensive local network of fire roads.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a101/Noel3006/IMG_0844.jpg



And I use this one for single track and other situations where the narrow cyclocross tires and limited gearing become a problem. The 42mm tires and Rohloff hub are perfect for anything short of bombing down steep, rocky singletrack.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a101/Noel3006/singlerohloff2.jpg

It's copied from a French "muletisme" design of the 1930s, which was used for exploring the singletrack "mule paths" in the Alps and Pyrenees.

I don't know where to divide "mountain biking" from "road cycling". Maybe the Rough Riders (http://www.adventurecorps.com/way/anybike2010.html) have a pretty good handle on it.

I think there's a big gray area between in riding on smooth dirt roads/trails vs. letting loose with fat knobbies and suspension over roots, rocks, drops, jumps, etc.

Call it whatever you want, the most important part is that you're on a BIKE. Different strokes for different folks.

Where the blacktop ends?

Wow, all over the place with these answers... and I gotta say, shaving doesn't enter into it; other than that, it's pretty much covered, though -- defined by not being defined.

For ME, it's riding off-road in conditions a road bike can't handle without damage. THEN you are mountain biking. For CX people, I don't think there ARE limits, though I have yet to see a CX bike do Vancouver's North Shore. (Vid, anyone?)

I pretty much just RIDE; I can have ONE bike, too many other obligations to indulge further, and my ONE is MTB. I ride EVERYTHING, so I'm just riding a bike.

in my opinion (FWIW), it's a mountain bike ride if you need to use offroad techniques to get where you're going... the bike you're on isn't important,
Actually, I like this. It is about how you are riding to get where your going.

Then again, there are so many variations of "mountain biking" that even this assessment is an unsatisfactory over-generalization :) .

Shaving legs is ghey crap. (Zeph aside) If you're riding a MTB and your legs are shaved...you're still a roadie.;) (zeph aside)

I stop riding the road around 45degrees and hit the woods and I stay there till spring

It's weird how alot of roadies hit the trail when the weather gets bad...and alot of MTB'ers hit the road when the weather turns bad.

Irony, eh? :thumb:

Where the blacktop ends?Where it ends, you just untuck a bit and keep on shreddin'

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/dminorwa/Clip-Ons.jpg

Been a while since you broke that photo out, d.

^^ Call me at work and we'll talk about it.

I could get into a LOT of trouble on a bike like that... :D

I turned roadie over the weekend for the LV Chocolate Chase. Every stinking 8-10 miles we were stopping for Brownies of Chocolate shakes or cookies or donuts or eclairs. That's the difference between Roadie and Mountain biking. They have better snacks. I'm shaving my legs for this kinda stuff.

I could get into a LOT of trouble on a bike like that... :D

Pete seems you get in trouble a lot! Been buying anything new and really light?

I turned roadie over the weekend for the LV Chocolate Chase. Every stinking 8-10 miles we were stopping for Brownies of Chocolate shakes or cookies or donuts or eclairs. That's the difference between Roadie and Mountain biking. They have better snacks. I'm shaving my legs for this kinda stuff.

Really?? I bring sandwiches on my mountain bike rides. Road rides get like...Gu. So my mountain rides get better food. But your rides give you brownies and chocolate? I feel like I'm missing out!

Really?? I bring sandwiches on my mountain bike rides. Road rides get like...Gu. So my mountain rides get better food. But your rides give you brownies and chocolate? I feel like I'm missing out!

Maybe its the chocolate rush wearing off. I like packing my cooler with good bread, cheeses and hefty meats, pickles, lettuce and onions. A hearty sandwich is a great thing. So is a Negra Modelo mid ride.

I could get into a LOT of trouble on a bike like that... :D

so could your teeth.

Pete seems you get in trouble a lot! Been buying anything new and really light?

The only things I've bought recently are some cones, ball bearings, and a seven speed free wheel (yawn).
As soon as I get out on the back country roads a bit more, I may be in the market for a mountain bike. I've read the stickies up top and have started looking around.