GettinOld

I'm just getting into mountain biking. I am more of a runner. Actually a sprinter with more fast twitch muscles than slow. I am in decent shape (run 4 miles with lots of hills in 30 min) ... but I can't climb hills on my mountain bike without my quads killing me! I would have expected my calves, gluts, and hamstrings to also get a workout.
I am hopeful I am just doing something wrong: seat not high enough, seat position not right, not peddling properly. Any help would be appreciated.

Zephyr11

Muscles used are different. When I'm in great running shape, I have the cardio to ride a bike, but I don't have cycling muscles. And vice versa. As you ride more, your muscles will adapt.

ColinL

^^ yep. cycling is very quad-heavy compared to running, which uses the leg muscles more evenly.

you can pedal more smoothly, attempting to apply power in a circle instead of straight up and down, but it still uses a lot of quad muscle, then glutes, then calves, and finally hamstrings do very little. All that is in comparison to running.

.. actually, I'm kind of surprised that you didn't complain about your butt hurting. that is what I always hear from new cyclists, whether they were runners or not.

phoebeisis

Are you spinning enough?
maybe 90 rpms or more-less torque more RPMs-same power
I'm oldish- 62-and I ride up and down the river levee-suburb NOLA- for my workout
I geared waaaaay down- 22 32 then 22 34 then 20 34 now 20 41

You don't take statins,right-I seem to notice more soreness on my low dose at night statin day-who knows
Yeah gear down-spin 90 rpms or so

Mountain Mitch

You don't say how old you are - I'm just shy of 60. You've got some good advice here:
1) Muscles used are different (even between road and mtn biking);
2) Spin don't mash;
3) Hydrate;
4) try and get the glutes involved in the fun;
5) join the lineup of people wanting a nice light cross-country bike (maybe even carbon);
6) try various seat heights;
7) MAIN POINT - don't give in, just get out there and do it. Practice is the main thing.

GettinOld

I've got a pretty meaty butt for a white guy. Runs in the family. That is another reason I was the thinking I might be pretty quick to pick up the hill climbing. I am in my 40's. This was a tough ride called bulldog in the Santa Monica mountains. I'm all the way down in the lowest gear.
I could likely try to pedal more smoothly. I try too apply power in a circle, but when it gets tough I seem to switch back to the up/down motion. I was on low-dose statins for a while. Now I am off. Statins did cause me some muscle pain.
Thanks all for the quick notes. I'll try to pedal more smoothly and just build up the muscles over time.

GettinOld

no way I am going cross-country. I love the MTB action, speed, potential crashes (and actual ones), and of course the outdoors. great stuff.

Daspydyr 

My quads and lungs area always what hurts. Turkish Squats seem to help build up quads after actually riding. Probably any kind of squats work. I remember jumping rope used to be popular as well. When my quads start screaming I just picture all the muscles in my legs yelling at each other to put some more effort into it.

Muscles are used differently. If I've been riding roadie stuff like I have been lately, I know that it will take a couple weeks to get my legs back into MTB condition.

dminor 

I thought this was going to be a tale about getting run over by a four-wheeled ATV.

GettinOld

I'm really surprised about the pain while climbing and I'm also breathing so stinking hard. MTB is nothing like running where I get a nice pace going and constant breathing.

Daspydyr 

The Interval bursts required when MTBing make for unique and optimal exercise. The terrain forces sudden bursts from time to time. Then the day comes when you realize you just did a climb that didn't wipe you out. Then you look for something you would have never considered, that is when it gets fun!

Mountain Mitch

Favourite bumper sticker: "USE THE QUADS GOD GAVE YOU!"

ColinL

so, you've seen this? https://youtu.be/pKMg18N4gx4

if not... odd coincidence as that just happened last weekend and a friend was there watching the race. he usually runs the race, but didn't get in the lottery this year.

okcorral

I would check the seat height, I had the same problem when I first started. I thought I had the seat high enough, until another rider pointed it out to me. World of difference.