Mountain Bike Or Road Bike – Which Is Better?
Mountain bikes and road bikes are two of the most popular types of bikes on the market. They both have their pros and cons, mountain bike or road bike – which is better? and which one is better for you?
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In recent years, bicycles are not only a new trend that young people love, but they are must-have products for bicycle enthusiasts. From the current hobby, the market has emerged. Two extremely important vehicles are mountain bikes and road bikes. So should you choose a mountain bike or a road bike?
Mountain bikes are a great choice for adventure enthusiasts who like to conquer and travel in the mountains. As for those passionate about speed and who enjoy riding long distances, road bike speed warriors are a must. To help beginners get the most realistic overview, we have compared dirt and road bikes in great detail below.
Each type of bike has its advantages and disadvantages, in addition to the studies and reviews, we have described below. Also, remember to choose according to your needs, the characteristics of the terrain, the budget, and your preferences; also, choose reputable brands and spare parts that are easy to find and replace.
Design
In terms of appearance:
The bonus mountain bike (MTB) has an extremely aggressive design that isn’t as sleek and compact as road bikes. But with such a design, it is impossible to assess the bike’s characteristics and rely on the whole with a harmonious combination of parts that make up the bike’s power.
A bike is appreciated for its comfort and practicality, allowing users to be fully satisfied when climbing. Terrain players regard them as bikes that help provide a sense of security when climbing due to their stability and performance when traversing difficult terrain. Meanwhile, road bikes bring lightness and higher speed.
The road bike can achieve the desired high speed because it is designed for optimum speed. When detail is kept to a minimum, reduce contact area with the road surface and maximum wind protection.
Road bikes are picky on the road, only suitable for traveling on good quality roads without potholes and elephant holes. But braking is not as sure as the terrain. If the road surface is slippery or sandy, it is easy to slip due to less flexibility than a mountain bike.
The first reason for the big difference is the tire structure specific to each type of vehicle to better adapt to the terrain. ATV off-road vehicles normally pass through places with steep slopes, rough terrain, and bad roads such as trails and mountain roads with more friction.
Road bikes are designed with thinner tires that reduce the portion in contact with the road surface to create maximum glide. Road tires are larger, which makes wheel rotation larger than mountain bikes, so their speed is significantly different.
Because mountain bikes must operate in complex terrain, often subjected to strong shocks and shocks, designs are largely weight and pedal-focused. These parts are designed with durable materials, high hardness, and impact resistance.
Frame:
As for the frames of the road bike, on the contrary, due to the beautiful terrain of the road, these bikes are designed with a lighter and more slender frame to achieve the fastest speed. Road frame materials are very high-strength lightweight materials.
Spare Parts And Accessories
Tire:
Road bikes prioritize speed, so use larger tires than mountain bike tires, see U.S road tire symbol 700C for 28″ tire diameter; max-width is 23mm. Tires Mountain bikes have a maximum width of 23 mm. 26″ in diameter and with a common width of 1.9 or more, especially with narrow tires less than or equal to 1.5″ to improve off-road vehicles.
Steering Wheel and Pendulum:
The handlebar of a mountain bike due to use on bad roads or mountain roads, the handlebar of a mountain bike should have a larger handlebar width to maintain balance and control the vehicle with various techniques. The road handlebar should be due to love. The speed demand should narrow the wheel direction as much as possible to avoid “wind resistance.”
Due to traveling on dangerous roads, in many cases on a mountainside, the mountain bike needs a brake with a large braking force, which can immediately lock the wheel; in the early stages of this vehicle using the brake.
Due to the higher dynamic requirements, it has become a mechanical disc brake, and the most advanced is an oil pressure brake.
Road brakes are still only heavily geared towards speed and lightness, which is not unusual because when the vehicle is being driven at high speeds, the driver in rough mode will damage the tires, road, and loss of braking effect.
Front fork:
The front fork of the off-road bike is an important part of the off-road vehicle. For those with experience in bike performance rating, this part will accurately rate up to 80% of the bike’s real value.
The mountain bike fork contains a lot of high technology and engineering, which is a combination of strong impact, reducing shock to handlebar and saddle while being lightweight. In contrast, in road bikes, this front is simply a part of the vehicle, and many chassis types also go together with the front fork.
Weight:
Both mountain bike and tutor weight are extremely important in competition; mountain bikes can weigh up to 12.5kg, but road bikes never exceed 10.5kg, even gear, accessories, and even the body weight of the biker are also compressed to make it lighter. Because the heavier the bike, the more the cyclist loses strength, consumes more energy, and decelerates faster.
Characteristics And Purposes Of Use
Mountain bikes are used in complex environments such as high mountains, off-road and bad roads with many obstacles and potholes, do not focus on high speed, withstand extreme weather and environmental conditions, and even resist shocks and even incidents during movement.
Road bikes are suitable only in the right environment, focusing on high-speed travel and long distances, which is why people call this type of bike a road bike.
Global mark
These two types of bikes are also different in terms of wind resistance and riding posture. The higher the speed, the more the cyclist expends force; this loss is not much related to the friction between the wheel and the road surface, nor to the friction between the parts, the shafts, and the bearings, which has a lot to do with wind resistance, the higher the speed, the greater the wind resistance, mountain bikes are not designed for speed, so there is no need to argue unless you want to improve your bike.
The mountain becomes a road bike with a pair of 1.5″ narrow bare tires and an extra set of road-side handlebars. As for the road bike, the higher the speed, the more reasonable the wind resistance due to the rider’s posture and the combined design of the vehicle; athletes can maintain movement on the road at a speed of 60 km. /h, it is important to carefully assess the route because even a small mistake or an encounter with a stone or sand can cause a dangerous accident.
In addition, there is an absolute difference between the number of gears of the front disc and the cassette and the chain, and the road bike tire has fewer teeth than the mountain bike cassette to utilize better the force of the pedal converted into gear; this combination calculated by manufacturers to combine neatly and synchronously to achieve high efficiency and performance, while the number of sprocket teeth of a mountain bike has a greater number of teeth to increase the climbing force, all-terrain vehicle chain is also thicker to better withstand the pull.
Determining the Right Bike Size
Whether you choose a mountain bike or road bike, choosing the right size bike for your height will help you ride comfortably. Currently, in general, bike sizes are measured in centimeters.
The best way to be sure is to visit the manufacturer’s website for the specifications of each bike model. In addition, you can come directly to the store to admire and listen to the advice of a team of experts, ensuring that you find the best size bike for you.
Currently, the most basic calculation for measuring the correct bike size involves 3 steps:
- Take off your shoes and stand with your feet 15-20cm apart; measure your height from floor to hips.
- Choose the type of bike you want
- Use the formula to calculate the frame: leg height (cm) x 0.70 = bike frame size.
Road bikes: Best for Riding Fast on Tarmac
Road bikes mostly ride paved roads, often as fast as possible. You can achieve maximum speed with their lightweight frames and skinny tires.
Their dropped handlebars (which have loops that extend downward and backward) enable you to sit up in a more aerodynamic and efficient riding position and have gears that allow you to travel at maximum speed.
While posing as less aggressive ‘endurance bikes,’ they’re perfect for long-distance rides with friends but also very useful for commuting, thanks to their ability to cover ground quickly.
However, the speed-focused riding position can be uncomfortable for some riders, and curbs and potholes can damage the lightweight wheels and tires.
Many road bikes, especially those at the racier end of the scale, cannot carry luggage, so a road bike might not be the best choice if you are planning to carry a heavy load.
Advantages of Road Bikes: Quick, efficient, and fun
Disadvantages of Road Bikes: Easier to damage, less comfortable for casual riders
Mountain Bikes: Best for Rough Terrain
Mountain bikes are tough with aggressive knobbly tires so that they can handle any terrain.
In addition to powerful brakes, they use discs like a car or motorcycle, and the more expensive ones have suspension at both ends so they can go over rough terrain better. There’s a wide range of gearing to handle the varying gradients, so you’ll be able to go up and down steep terrain.
Despite their more relaxed riding position, mountain bikes are a great choice, even if you don’t want to tackle mountains.
It’s great for off-road riding, but it’s heavy, costs more, and isn’t as efficient on the road, so it’s best avoided.
If you want to explore the backcountry, push your limits, and take the less-traveled road, check out our buyer’s guide to the best mountain bikes.
Advantages of Road Bikes: Great brakes, upright position, tough, versatile
Disadvantages of Road Bikes: Heavy, slow on tarmac
Conclusion
So mountain bike or road bike, which is better? If you are a mountain biker or prefer a more “tight” sized bike, then a mountain bike will be the choice for you. Also, it would help if you chose the Hardtail (1-fork) off-road vehicle, which will help bring more comfort and convenience to carry than the 2-fork (Full-suspension) line. However, mountain bikes are generally heavier, so pedaling requires more effort.
Unlike the mountain bike range, Road bikes generally focus on speed, suiting those who like the feeling of “hiding from the wind” and surfing at speed. However, most road cars have quite “fragile” wheels, so cases of wear and tear or punctures are easy to happen, so if you are planning to choose a road bike for cycling, you must bring a car cover and spare tripe. Also, you must be very careful while riding your bike on the road as they are easy to slip when the surface conditions are wet.
