what do you think is a better workout? mountain or road biking?

what do you all think?

 

Better workout for what? Building muscle? Burning calories?

 

If biking the same distance, mountain biking hands down. Much more rolling resistance and lower gearing. If you want the same workout from a road bike, you gotta go further.

 

what if the road is up hill!

 

^^^X2

 

i kinda feel the same way as PUGGA. i ride everyday after work. i used to road ride with a cyclocross bike. rolling hills that ends in a grind of a climb. i dusted off a mountain bike and i ride offroad. my heart sometimes feels like it is coming out of my chest. i ride every inch, but i admit..i sometimes have to stop, or slow way down.

here is the rub..i only have about 2 hours max to ride. darkness, dinner and sleep (i get up fucking early) limits my time.

thanks. sadly, i dont think offroading is making me a better hill climber on the road. not last week at least.

 

Agreed, it also depends on the terrain...

When I was training full time almost we would do both for different kinds of muscle and workouts. I used to ride my hardtail mountain bike with the roadbikes. Best thing I could have done for a workout on the street (although my rear deep lugged tire didn't like it...) when I switched to my cheapo road bike I could beat them easily.


But as for a generic answer I am going to say mountain biking is a harder workout. Simply because you can't coast as far on a mountain bike as a road bike.

The most important thing for me now (no longer training all the time)

is Which is more fun?

Definitely mountain biking...
Last night I went for a 90 minute ride
1. Rode on asphalt for 45 minutes on a bike path
2. Gravel for 10 minutes
3. Snow for 10 minutes
4. Dirt for 20 minutes (Iditarod Trail )
5. Snow for 5 minutes


And meanwhile hitting all the jumps I could see...

On a road bike, its really boring for me if I know the road/trail as you can't go off trail or go off a curb or anything really without risking breaking the bike. My mom just fell over on hers causing $450 of damage!

 

Fixie ftw!!!