Road Bike Vs Mountain Bike Speed Difference

A mountain bike comparison.

Road bike vs mountain bike speed difference.

One interesting thing to note is that a lot of the speed difference in the test seemed to come in the first 10 yards along the test track as the bikes accelerated up to speed. Mountain bikes are created for off road cycling in non paved rough environments. Mountain biking became a sport in 1970s and has since then diversified into cross country riding became an olympic sport in 1996. On any given day road bikes have greater speeds than mountain bikes.

Less popular as difficult to film and televise and is the only mountain biking event at the summer olympics. Mountain bikes can scramble over roots and rocks that would stop a road bike in its tracks but when it comes to pavement a road bike will take the lead every time. Road bikes can easily speed up to 50mph the frames of road bikes are thinner and more aerodynamic that help a biker achieve high speeds. So the road bike vs mountain bike debate can t be settled on cost alone.

They are not as well suited for operating off the road. This discrepancy in speed results from the weight of the bikes the position of the riders and other basic differences in construction. Mountain bikes are harder to pedal and slower on pavement. However if you put the mountain bike on the same touraine i e a smooth paved trail the difference in speeds between mtb and road bike should be closer.

Road bikes are fast and easy to pedal on pavement. Jim s numbers indicate about a 17 20 increase in mph for a road bike versus a mountain bike. In general it takes more energy to propel a heavy mountain bike than it does a road bike. Decent mountain bikes and road bikes will run upwards of 800.

As we mentioned before mountain bikes get pawned more so you might save on the used market. When it comes to speed you can t make a road bike vs. Based on the speed test i found the road bike rolled on average about 11 faster than the mountain bike. Road bikes are slender and more aerodynamic to achieve higher speeds.