Road bike vs Mountain bike. Which is better for exercise?

You have been sitting at home for quite a long time. You have gained a little bit of weight. So, you have decided to buy a bike and do a little exercise. But you can’t decide which bike to buy, road bike or mountain bike?

Well, as an experienced biker, I am here to tell you that both of these bikes are great for exercising. Heck! Even a spinning bike is great for cardio exercise and spin bikes don’t even move.

Your decision to buy a mountain bike or a road bike will depend on a few things. First of all the area you live in, because what’s the point of buying a mountain bike if you are living in a city. Second is your experience. If you are a beginner, well just buy a normal road bike. Switching to a mountain bike will take more time.

Almost all newbies stress about this road bike vs mountain bike for exercise thing on the internet. When in reality it shouldn’t be a big deal.

What if you go with road bikes for exercise?

Riding any bike will improve your lower body parts and muscle endurance. The most interesting fact is that you will burn about 400-500 calories per hour.

Now, we all know that biking is a better cardio than just running or jogging. Biking enhances stamina much more effectively than running. Riding a bike also increases the strength of the quadriceps muscle along with the three parts of glutes and calves muscles.

Road bikes have been used by professional riders for marathon races for over 50 years. Unlike mountain bikes, road bikes do not have complex gears and components.

Road bikes are more ideal for long and intense training because you can ride them anywhere. You don’t need to take them up on the mountains like mountain bikes. With road bikes, you can ride for a long time with comparatively less muscle power. This will give you a better chance to burn more calories.

Since road bikes are great for flat roads and there is no end for flat roads, they are the ideal choice for exercising. Most city people buy a normal road bike for just roaming around the streets. Also road bikes are a lot cheaper than mountain bikes in general.

Now I am not saying that there is no expensive version of road bikes. Road bikes with high quality materials are obviously expensive, but on average road bikes cost less than mountain bikes.

So if I was in your place, I would definitely choose a road bike. That’s not the case if I were to live near a mountain.

Are mountain bikes any good for burning calories?

We have talked about road bikes now let’s talk about mountain bikes. Mountain bikes also provide ways for both cardio and strength exercise. As a matter of fact, mountain biking burns serious amounts of calories compared to road bikes.

Mountain bikes are designed to ride on bumpy terrains like on the mountains. With powerful suspensions and gears, mountain bikes provide an excellent way of both transportation and exercise.

Now, for this reason mountain bikes burn a lot of calories. It’s not the bike it’s the road, the terrain. Since you ride mountain bikes on mountains, you will have to work extra hard to climb the mountain.

You are not just carrying the bike’s weight but also your own weight. Not to mention the bumpy uneven path.

The rougher the surface is, the harder it gets for the rider to ride. 

However, mountain bikes can be effective on road trips, too. You can use a mountain bike on roads too and burn an insane amount of calories.

But if just burning calories is your main goal, then what’s the point of buying a mountain bike? Why spend all this money on something this expensive? Why even face this dilemma in the first place? Just buy a spin bike.

Let’s be real here. It is no fun for a guy or girl who just wants to exercise to climb a mountain with a freaking mountain bike. Things like that require preparation and planning.

If you want to climb a mountain with your bike then do only that. Don’t buy a mountain bike with the expectation of burning calories and achieving a ripped physique. 

Which bike is easier to ride uphill with?

Well the answer is obvious, a mountain bike. A low geared mountain bike to be precise. A mountain bike with a low gear set can easily ride uphill without effort. 

Mountain bikes are made for climbing mountains or hills. Road bikes can ride uphill too, but they are not as effective as mountain bikes.

A standard gear setup is no doubt essential along the whole ride. With the correct setup, your main concern should be strength. Without proper practice or power, Uphill riding may become hard for some of the new road bikers.

With proper gear and training anyone will be able to ride uphill. The only disadvantage is that not all hills are the same. Some hills are more difficult to ride than others. Also you are putting yourself at another big disadvantage if you are using a road bike to climb a hill. Road bikes are not meant to be ridden uphill.

Personally speaking the main concern on your mind should be your pedaling strength. As the ride gets higher, gravity will become stronger. So, why not ride a cycle that is easy and meant to be ridden uphill. 

So, to answer the question, I will say that mountain bikes should be the first choice for riding uphill.

Which bike is easier to lose weight on?

Losing weight depends on the intensity and duration of your bike riding. Although advanced bikers love mountain biking, it is best if you start with road bikes on plain land first. It really doesn’t matter which bike you ride, what matters is how you ride it.

Road bikes are simple yet durable with strong bike frames. These bikes are traditionally gearless bikes. Losing weight by road bikes is for sure a good start.

On the other hand, mountain bikes are designed to ride on bumpy terrain. However, as you ride uphill your effort will be increased thus making it a lot harder. Losing weight by mountain bike is of course more efficient.

But riding uphill may be hard for beginners. So if you want to burn fat by cycling, I recommend not to start with a mountain bike.

So among mountain bikes and road bikes my opinion is to start with road bikes. You can travel at a fast speed and cover great distances.  As a matter of fact, you can burn up to 600 calories per hour by riding a road bike and also it’s great for travelling.

F.A.Q.s

Which is better mountain bike or road bike?

Both mountain bikes and road bikes are great. They both have better, high quality versions. The real question should be, “which bike is better for you”. Your bike choice depends on your purpose of riding it.

Are road bikes good for exercise?

Any kind of bike is good for exercise, even spin bikes. Cardio exercise through cycling depends on the intensity and duration of the exercise.

Is it ok to ride a mountain bike on the road?

Yes it is ok to ride a mountain bike on the road. It’s not like you will be legally charged for riding a mountain bike on the road.

What happens if you bike every day?

If you ride a bike every day, you will vastly improve your cardiovascular system and endurance.

Conclusion

Alright, so to conclude this blog I am going to say that just buy a cycle based on your needs. If you want to travel and you are living in a city, then just get a road bike. If you live near hills or a mountain, just buy a mountain bike.

If your demand right now is just to exercise, then just buy a spin bike or a regular bike. You don’t need to confuse yourself with all the choices in the bike store.

Spend your money wisely. Don’t buy something you are not going to use and just leave it in the garage.

However, if you are really serious about cycling and want to invest a big amount, then you can put your eyes on Hybrid bikes.Hopefully this blog concluded the burning debate on road bikes vs. mountain bikes for exercise. Leave a comment to let me know your opinion.