steaktaco

I'm really trying to do proper base miles this season—about 13 hours a week, 60-70%hrm, ~100rpm.

thing is, we just moved to philly next to lots of awesome trails in wissahickon park, and my girl was like "we can't live next to these trails and not mountain bike", so I took that as a cue to get one (she already has a 7-year-old litespeed that I just overhauled).

I got to ride it once before the snow hit and boy was that weird, and FUN. first off, it's a mile to the trail but that was ONE SLOW MILE. I was freaked by all the rocks and the shocks at first—I usually cringe at the sight of gravel, let alone serious rocks jutting from trail.

being a river/valley/woods type park there's a whole bunch of minor climbs, enough to keep your hr up. that's what I'm worried about. how do you guys think 3 hours of this a week will affect the benefits of base milage? is there a good way to incorporate mountain biking into a pre-season (and in season) regimen if it is not my focus?

my girl thinks once the season starts we're barely going to hit the trails but I dunno, it's so close, and so fun, and there are no cars.

thanks all,
-c

Grasschopper

I dont' know about impact on race training is that is what you are refering to but when I got my MTB and started doing once a week group MTB rides I found it to be very beneficial to my road riding. The change up helped my push myself I believe and it added a new fun sort of pain (the good kind) to my riding.

slowandsteady

You gotta love Valley Green! They are the best MTB trails and easy to get to. There are so many trails you never have to have the same ride. Just make sure you wear a helmet. Those serious rocks don't feel too good hitting one's head. I have cracked a helmet doing an endo and bouncing my head off a rock on one downhill section.

I don't race, but MTBing does wonders for handling skills that definitely translates to road biking. Because those trails are so sandy and gravelly I find it impossible to stand on hills without losing traction. It would help with spinning up hills.

Also the fact that it is so different from road biking should help you keep focused on training the other days of the week and not get burned out.

San Rensho 

I would say that any time in saddle on any bike is going to be good for your road riding.

Rutnick

MTB riding IS my base miles.

DXchulo

When you're doing base miles they say you can throw 1 hard day in there. Let the MTB be your hard day. Sounds good to me. Why miss out on the fun?

Besides, like Grasschopper was saying, the MTB is going to benefit you in other ways as well.

Psydotek

MTB riding is great for climbing and handling for sure. I wish i could do it but that would mean buying another bike this year... However i rode a BMX bike alot when i was younger so that probably helped with my confidence and handling nowdays.

urbanknight

Miles are miles, just make sure you are using the same intensity (use a heartrate monitor) and also understanding that your average speed will be lower on a mtb for the same intensity.

steaktaco

yay! come to think of it I think I heard that as well, specifically if you're trying to build up from last season and not just start at square one.

that's the thing—I can't. I max out. some of these climbs, though short, are ridiculous.

slowandsteady

You aren't kidding. Those hills are almost straight up.