Has road biking ruined my ability to mountain bike?
10-10-16, 03:30 PM
#1
Occam's Rotor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times
in
1,164 Posts
Has road biking ruined my ability to mountain bike?
I have a mountain bike and a (few) road bike(s). My most recent one is a gravel bike really, but has been my main ride since I got it a couple of years ago, both on paved roads and also some challenging fire-roads and trails. I've been riding those same trails for the last couple of days on my mountain bike, and my legs are in pain (like enough to keep me awake at night). I won't say riding these trails and fire-roads on the road/gravel bike is effortless, but I don't feel muscle fatigue, let alone pain.
WTF?
The road bike is a custom steel bike frame and has compact gearing.
The mountain bike is a 9 year old Trek Fuel EX 8 aluminum full squishy (with lockout) and there is nothing obviously wrong with it. I rehabbed from an ankle break on this thing 3 years ago and don't recall it being this hard, even with atrophied leg muscles...
WTF?
The road bike is a custom steel bike frame and has compact gearing.
The mountain bike is a 9 year old Trek Fuel EX 8 aluminum full squishy (with lockout) and there is nothing obviously wrong with it. I rehabbed from an ankle break on this thing 3 years ago and don't recall it being this hard, even with atrophied leg muscles...
10-10-16, 04:02 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 105
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I ride mostly Mtb but mix in a little road rides to break it up a bit. I will say that a strong Mtber will be strong at road rides too but not so much the other way around. Not because of fitness, but Mtb riding takes so many other skills that do not apply to road rides.
Also, the two styles are different to the body as well. Mtb rides are more HIIT type of riding, short duration's where road rides are constant mid level output, long duration. When I compare wattage output, road rides are always higher but I usually feel less tired from a road ride (compared to Mtb rides).
So, what do you do? Ride more Mtb if that is what you want to get faster at, or enjoy the road rides and pay no mind to anything but having fun. FYI, I like riding road bikes but still can not feel comfortable around those cars!
Also, the two styles are different to the body as well. Mtb rides are more HIIT type of riding, short duration's where road rides are constant mid level output, long duration. When I compare wattage output, road rides are always higher but I usually feel less tired from a road ride (compared to Mtb rides).
So, what do you do? Ride more Mtb if that is what you want to get faster at, or enjoy the road rides and pay no mind to anything but having fun. FYI, I like riding road bikes but still can not feel comfortable around those cars!
10-10-16, 05:13 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 105
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
@wgscott, So you're saying the the exact same trails are harder on a mountain bike than a gravel bike?
10-10-16, 05:38 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Richmond VA area
Posts: 2,618
Bikes: '00 Koga Miyata Full Pro Oval Road bike.
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 475 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
I trade back and forth between both types of bikes without any issue, personally. Not sure why there would be a problem.
10-10-16, 05:44 PM
#6
Erik the Inveigler
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: The California Alps
Posts: 2,303
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1310 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
I ride mostly Mtb but mix in a little road rides to break it up a bit. I will say that a strong Mtber will be strong at road rides too but not so much the other way around. Not because of fitness, but Mtb riding takes so many other skills that do not apply to road rides.
Also, the two styles are different to the body as well. Mtb rides are more HIIT type of riding, short duration's where road rides are constant mid level output, long duration. When I compare wattage output, road rides are always higher but I usually feel less tired from a road ride (compared to Mtb rides).
So, what do you do? Ride more Mtb if that is what you want to get faster at, or enjoy the road rides and pay no mind to anything but having fun. FYI, I like riding road bikes but still can not feel comfortable around those cars!
Also, the two styles are different to the body as well. Mtb rides are more HIIT type of riding, short duration's where road rides are constant mid level output, long duration. When I compare wattage output, road rides are always higher but I usually feel less tired from a road ride (compared to Mtb rides).
So, what do you do? Ride more Mtb if that is what you want to get faster at, or enjoy the road rides and pay no mind to anything but having fun. FYI, I like riding road bikes but still can not feel comfortable around those cars!
10-10-16, 07:19 PM
#7
Occam's Rotor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times
in
1,164 Posts
@wgscott, So you're saying the the exact same trails are harder on a mountain bike than a gravel bike?
If I was getting thrashed by technical single track, it wouldn't worry me. (In fact, the gravel riding seems to have improved my under-developed single track skills to some degree.) But this is just generic climbing (even noticed it on paved roads), which makes me wonder if my leg muscles have become locked into a very narrow range of motion or something.
It might be something as basic as bike fit. The road bike is custom (should be close to perfect fit), and the mountain bike is just something approximately the right size, off the shelf.
Last edited by Cyclist0108; 10-10-16 at 07:24 PM.
10-10-16, 07:26 PM
#8
Occam's Rotor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times
in
1,164 Posts
It does lock out. It still squishes a wee bit, but then so does my Brooks saddle on the road/gravel bike (not to mention what sits upon it).
10-10-16, 07:55 PM
#9
Jedi Master
sounds like you must be using different muscles. Fit could explain that. For/aft position of the saddle, crank arm length, pedals. Could be a lot of things. I'm sure if you rode the MTB more often you would get used to it.
10-10-16, 08:20 PM
#10
Occam's Rotor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times
in
1,164 Posts
I just discussed this with my wife and said it was prima facia evidence that I clearly needed a new custom-fit mountain bike, but she pointed out how much more expensive a divorce would be. (Getting busted for the new wheel-set a few days ago didn't help.)
10-10-16, 08:46 PM
#11
Senior Member
Have you eliminated simple causes like saddle height and setback?
10-10-16, 08:47 PM
#12
Occam's Rotor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times
in
1,164 Posts
No. (I did adjust it a few times.)
10-10-16, 10:45 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,489
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7652 Post(s)
Liked 3,473 Times
in
1,834 Posts
Geometry, weight, gearing ....
MTB does use different muscles and demands a different type of riding ... on trails. One a fire road where you normally ride a gravel bike, I'd say the differences are geometry, weight, and gearing .... different riding position, heavier bike, and possibly lower-ranged and wider-ranged gearing where you might not be as efficient. You might be spinning faster and pushing harder, trying to achieve the same speed you'd have with the gravel bike.
Peter Sagan doesn't seem to think that switching between the two is that hard.
MTB does use different muscles and demands a different type of riding ... on trails. One a fire road where you normally ride a gravel bike, I'd say the differences are geometry, weight, and gearing .... different riding position, heavier bike, and possibly lower-ranged and wider-ranged gearing where you might not be as efficient. You might be spinning faster and pushing harder, trying to achieve the same speed you'd have with the gravel bike.
Peter Sagan doesn't seem to think that switching between the two is that hard.
10-11-16, 06:44 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Richmond VA area
Posts: 2,618
Bikes: '00 Koga Miyata Full Pro Oval Road bike.
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 475 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
Unless the bike is a bad fit, 'off the shelf' vs custom fit isnt gonna make nearly the difference some people imagine it does. There's no reason you shouldnt be a decent rider on either syle of bike, off the shelf or not. I've noticed in these forums many times that people (not saying this is you, OP) blame their lack of ability on having a bike that's too heavy or not new enough, when in reality those two things have little to do with a rider's skill/strength. So don't place too much emphasis on the bike itself.
10-11-16, 06:59 AM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,489
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7652 Post(s)
Liked 3,473 Times
in
1,834 Posts
Except in a case like this where the only difference between the two experiences was the bike, and therefore the bike obviously was the Entire difference.
WHY the bike made such a difference can be explored, but the whole premise here is that riding two bikes gave two very different experiences.
By the way, the specific post yo quoted was entirely a joke ... you got that, I know.
WHY the bike made such a difference can be explored, but the whole premise here is that riding two bikes gave two very different experiences.
By the way, the specific post yo quoted was entirely a joke ... you got that, I know.
10-11-16, 07:10 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Richmond VA area
Posts: 2,618
Bikes: '00 Koga Miyata Full Pro Oval Road bike.
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 475 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
Post #7 did mention custom vs off the shelf fit. Or was that a joke?
10-11-16, 08:05 AM
#17
Occam's Rotor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times
in
1,164 Posts
Unless the bike is a bad fit, 'off the shelf' vs custom fit isnt gonna make nearly the difference some people imagine it does. There's no reason you shouldnt be a decent rider on either syle of bike, off the shelf or not. I've noticed in these forums many times that people (not saying this is you, OP) blame their lack of ability on having a bike that's too heavy or not new enough, when in reality those two things have little to do with a rider's skill/strength. So don't place too much emphasis on the bike itself.
10-11-16, 08:07 AM
#18
Occam's Rotor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times
in
1,164 Posts
I actually do have a custom-frame road/gravel bike, but the context was just to say the fit is optimized. (I have quite short legs for my height, so in my case this actually does help a bit, at least with stability and comfort.) I wasn't serious about needing a custom mountain bike, but I do think maybe I should pay more attention to its fit.
10-11-16, 10:35 AM
#19
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
10-11-16, 11:55 AM
#20
Occam's Rotor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times
in
1,164 Posts
10-11-16, 12:01 PM
#21
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
I guess I took your title too literally? Sounds like a fit issue now that I've re-read everything. Sometimes you get used to a badly-fit bike, and it takes riding a different bike for you to realize it.
10-11-16, 12:23 PM
#22
Occam's Rotor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times
in
1,164 Posts
What surprises me is I managed for so long on this when my leg muscles were atrophied (from being on crutches for 4 months). It sort of got me wondering whether I re-built my leg muscle strength very directionally (or anisotropically) since road/gravel biking on this thing has been my most significant source of exercise in the last couple of years.
In any case, I think I should try to optimize fit and ride the mountain bike more (or give up on it and try to develop my off-road roadbike skills).
In any case, I think I should try to optimize fit and ride the mountain bike more (or give up on it and try to develop my off-road roadbike skills).
10-12-16, 05:15 AM
#23
Senior Member
Could it be that the mountain bike has wider, less pressure heavier tires that makes it less efficient on gravel than the gravel bike?
I own a rigid mtb that I use on gravel and I'm wondering if cx tires would make a difference?
I own a rigid mtb that I use on gravel and I'm wondering if cx tires would make a difference?
10-12-16, 08:55 AM
#24
Jedi Master
I can understand why people like full suspension, but I have never found a need for it personally. For the type of off road riding I do full suspension would be massive overkill. Sounds like your situation is similar.
10-12-16, 09:19 AM
#25
Vain, But Lacking Talent
I would also recommend looking at the fit. Unless I just hammer really hard during a ride, my legs have never hurt the day after. But in one case, I had adjusted my saddle just a bit and it absolutely destroyed my quads in one ride. Just go to the bike with the good fit and measure saddle height and fore/aft in relation to the BB. Duplicate it on the MTB and try that. The full suspension will shift the geometry a little bit, but it's a good starting point.