Mountain Bike Vs Road Bike Speed Difference

Help save the planet and buy the best bike you can afford then add to your carbonless and frugal lifestyle with a second bike.

Mountain bike vs road bike speed difference. 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. The make and the use are the two main differences between a mountain bike and a road bike. Any comparison between a road bike and a mountain bike has to keep in mind that road bikes are meant for speeds and style whereas mountain bikes are meant for stability balance and sturdiness. 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.

Fyi over a 2 3 mile stretch of hilly curvy paved trail today an experienced road cyclist did it about 30 seconds faster than me on my mtb 26 2 2 tsali tires inflated to just under 40psi. Typically that s only a change of 2 3 mph. A general rule of thumb is that if you are switching from a mountain bike with knobbies to a road bike you will be between 15 20 faster at the same watts effort. This discrepancy in speed results from the weight of the bikes the position of the riders and other basic differences in construction.