Why road bikes are faster than mountain bikes
Pursuing speed competition on the road, pursuing unknown outdoor natural adventures, basic distinctions and selection suggestions between road bikes and mountain bikes.
Speaking of mountain bikes and road bikes, although they are both bicycles, their uses and attributes are very different. Perceptually speaking, road bikes are relatively fast, while mountain bikes are slower. For those who are planning to buy a bicycle for the first time, they may not know how to choose a product that suits them.
Then the following article will mainly explain the differences and characteristics of mountain bikes and road bikes. Friends who have read this article must know at a glance which one to choose while understanding the product background.
The difference between mountain bikes and road bikes
Speaking of mountain bikes and road bikes, as their names suggest, they are bicycles designed for riding on mountain trails and paved roads. There are many differences between these bicycles in terms of speed and performance, such as the thickness of the tires, the shape of the handlebars, the number of sprockets, the riding experience, price factors, etc. Here, its characteristics will be divided into five items and explained in detail.
1.Tire Thickness
The characteristics of mountain bike tires are thick and large tread patterns. These are designed to adapt to mountain trails and non-paved road riding, and are also designed to maximize friction. The tires are made thicker to increase the contact area and obtain greater friction. The undulations of the tire tread can also provide the necessary traction on mud, gravel and gravel roads.
On the other hand, road bike tires are very small and have almost no undulations in the tire tread. These are designed for high-speed riding on paved roads, because reducing rolling resistance is very important. The tires are made smaller and the contact area is reduced, which can effectively reduce rolling resistance. The tire pattern has almost no undulations, which will make the tire and the paved road more closely adhere to each other, making a smooth ride possible.
2.Handlebar Shape
The handlebar of a mountain bike is usually called a flatbar, and its shape is a straight line. Therefore, the riding state looks like the body is upright, and the riding line of sight is wide. These designs are also necessary to better identify terrain and obstacles while riding on non-paved roads or mountain trails.
On the other hand, the handlebars of road bikes are called dropbars and are curved downward in shape. In this way, the body will lean forward when riding, which can effectively reduce wind resistance. This design is also necessary to control wind resistance to a minimum and achieve faster speeds while riding at high speeds on paved roads.
3.Number of Sprocket Teeth
In order to cope with various terrains, mountain bikes have sprockets with a large number of teeth. This design makes it easy to ride on steep slopes. On the other hand, road cars are designed to highlight speed. The number of sprockets will be less, but they will have a high gear ratio.
4.The Feeling of Riding
Most mountain bikes have shock absorbers designed to absorb cushioning. This design can make riding on poor road conditions smoother. On the other hand, road bikes usually focus on lightweight and have no shock absorbers, making the riding feel very stiff.
5.Price
In terms of the price of mountain bikes and road bikes, although it is affected by the brand and performance, the price of road bikes is usually more expensive. These are also the result of investing in more lightweight and high-speed performance technologies.
| Compare items | Mountain bike | Road bike |
| Tire thickness | Thick, deep tread pattern | Small and almost no tread pattern |
| Handlebar shape | Straight handlebar (straight line) | Dropped handlebars (bend downwards) |
| Number of sprocket teeth | many | Less, larger gear ratio |
| Riding experience | Shock absorbers absorb impact from the ground | Ride feels firm |
| Price | Usually moderately priced | High price among similar products |
| Riding terrain | Mountain and unpaved roads | Paved roads only |
| Sight field | The body is in an established state and the vision is broad. | Leaning forward and having narrow vision |
| Wind resistance | Wind resistance factors are basically not considered | Maximum suppression can be scrolled |
Advantages and Disadvantages of Mountain Bike
Advantages of mountain bike
Mountain bikes have a lot of charms. Here are some of the features that are particularly noteworthy.
The biggest advantage of mountain bikes, as its name suggests, is that they are designed to handle smooth riding on mountains and non-paved roads. With thick tires and a strong frame, it can be very stable and easy to ride on very difficult terrain such as rocks and mud.
These mentioned performances are difficult to achieve on road bikes, but as a mountain bike designed specifically for this purpose, it can be integrated with nature and at the same time enjoy smooth walking on various terrains.
Mountain bikes were originally designed for riding on non-paved roads and are durable and high-strength. A solid frame that can withstand strong external impacts, thick tires that are not prone to punctures, etc. If you are looking for solidity and need to ride on non-paved roads, we recommend mountain bikes.
As long as there is regular maintenance, its performance can be maintained for a long time, which is also one of the biggest advantages of mountain bikes.
Disadvantages of mountain bike
On the other hand, mountain bikes also have the following shortcomings. At that time, you need to choose the most suitable bicycle based on your own purpose.
Since mountain bikes are made with durability in mind, their own weight is much heavier than road bikes. When riding long distances or in areas with many uphill roads, it cannot be used as briskly as a road bike.
This is something you should pay special attention to when choosing a bicycle for your own use. It is important to decide which type is suitable based on your physical ability and usage scenarios.
Mountain bikes have thick tires and deep tread patterns. With this configuration, it is more difficult to achieve speed when riding on paved roads than on road bikes. Because the wind resistance caused by the riding posture of the mountain bike itself is also very large, plus the weight of the body, if you are pursuing speed, it is more appropriate to choose a road bike.
Of course, mountain bikes themselves are designed for riding on non-paved roads, and the above characteristics are also inevitable products. In terms of product positioning, its design concept is that it can satisfy the spirit of outdoor adventure more than speed. Friends who like outdoor adventures certainly recommend mountain bikes.
Advantages and disadvantages of road bikes
A guide when choosing a bike, the pros and cons of road bikes.
Advantages of road bikes
Road bikes are a bit harder as described below.
• Can ride at high speed
• High fit to the rider
As the name suggests, a road bike is a bicycle designed for traveling at high speed on a highway (paved road). The tires are slim, lightweight and designed to keep drag factors to a minimum. Because of this, road cars can maximize speed and travel long distances efficiently.
Road bikes are designed to fit the rider's body shape and physique. The height and angle of the saddle and handlebar can be adjusted to perfectly fit the rider. With this design, you won't get tired easily after long-term riding, and you can ride easily and comfortably.
The history of road bikes began with the invention of bicycles in the late 19th century. The early bicycles were very bulky and had no riding experience to speak of. After entering the 20th century, with the pursuit of lightweight and speed, the prototype of the truly modern road bicycle was born.
After that, the adoption of new materials such as new aluminum alloys and carbon fiber, the evolution of sprocket systems, and the pursuit of fluid dynamics design, etc., made road cars continue to evolve.
The history of road bikes is the history of the pursuit of speed and lightweight, as well as the continuous perfection of riding experience. The result is now the most suitable road bicycle for long-distance and high-speed riding.
Disadvantages of road bikes
On the other side of the advantages, road cars also have disadvantages. The main points are listed below.
• Restrictions on riding surfaces
• The price is expensive
Since road bikes are designed for riding on paved roads, their riding performance on bad roads such as non-paved roads will drop significantly. And because the tires are very thin and have poor impact resistance like stones and platforms, they are prone to punctures, which is a disadvantage.
The high performance of road cars comes with its high price. Models that pursue both lightweight and durability are much more expensive than ordinary bicycles. It is also difficult for friends who are new to bicycles to buy one.
What has been mentioned above is about the advantages and disadvantages of road bikes. It is most important to choose the most suitable bicycle based on your budget and usage scenarios.
Characteristics and History of Mountain Biking
Characteristics of mountain bikes
Mountain bikes are bicycles designed for mountain and non-paved road riding. They are characterized by a strong frame, thick tires, and multi-speed transmission sprockets.
The mountain bike frame is made very strong to cope with complex terrain. This strong frame will be even more powerful after being given a shock absorber device that can absorb shocks. Because of this characteristic, it can be ridden stably and freely no matter what kind of terrain it is.
Mountain bike tires are generally much thicker than road bike tires and are characterized by high friction. This structure makes it possible to ride stably on slippery terrain. The thick tires also bring excellent stability when riding on urban streets, making it suitable for people who go to school and go to work.
Mountain bikes are usually equipped with multi-speed sprockets in order to adapt to smooth riding on steep slopes and other mountain trails or wasteland terrain. With the help of this multi-stage transmission, the rider can freely switch to the gear that suits him for riding based on his own physical strength and judgment of the terrain conditions.
The History of Mountain Biking
Summary of the differences between mountain bikes and road bikes
In this article, the differences between mountain bikes and road bikes are briefly explained. Friends need to understand what characteristics each bicycle has and what specific uses it is suitable for. Based on this understanding, friends need to refer to it when choosing a bicycle suitable for their own life purposes.
• Tires: Mountain bike tires are thick and have deep tread patterns. Road bikes, on the other hand, are slim and have little to no tread pattern, or very shallow tread patterns.
• Handlebars: Mountain bikes generally have straight handlebars, which provide a wide field of vision. Road bikes have sunken handlebars that can minimize the impact on wind resistance.
• Sprocket sprockets: Mountain bikes have more sprockets. Although there are fewer road bikes in comparison, they will have very high gear ratios.
• Riding experience: Mountain bikes are soft and have shock absorbers to absorb shock and vibration. Road bikes feel more direct and have a harder ride.
• Price: Generally, road cars are priced on the high side.
It is very important to combine the above differences and choose a bicycle that suits your lifestyle. There are many scenes of use on mountain roads, or friends who like off-roading can choose mountain bikes. Friends who like high-speed riding on the road, or friends who like long-distance riding, recommend choosing a road bike.
When choosing a bicycle, it is most important to choose the one that is most suitable based on your own interests and hobbies. After understanding the performance of each product, go find the one that suits you best.
