The Ouzo Posted February 8, 2018 Share you cant judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree (or something like that) I watched one of Seths bike hacks videos the other day. They took 3 guys from different disciplines and pitted them on an offroad course.The roadie was better at the longer less technical stuff, the unfit guy with skills was better at the shorter technical stuff and the 3rd guy I cant remember, I think he had less tech skills than the 2nd guy but didnt have the endurance of the roadie, so where the roadie lost out on the long course through the technical bits the 3rd guy was able to make up time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porqui Posted February 8, 2018 Share I am a very green cyclist. I only ride on the road, and participate in triathlons. I watch the MTBers in the Cradle, and they have some pretty decent skills. I am sure being on trails will up handling and technical skills way faster. I am considering picking up a MTB to learn to ride my bike better, and maybe look at the Xterra type triathlon races. Don't consider it - just do it. A whole new world will open up for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsw Posted February 8, 2018 Share . Is there a cross over point were it does not matter what you ride you have all the above attributes . I agree with most of the sentiments posted so far. Training is very specific... at the lower levels of racing (riding) there are perhaps riders who are evenly good at both disciplines but at the top level it is impossible imo. The best all round cyclist over the last 20 years or so at the absolute top level was arguably Bradley Wiggins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slowbee Posted February 8, 2018 Share so are trail runners fitter than road runners or open water swimmers better than Olympic swimmers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcza Posted February 8, 2018 Share I agree with most of the sentiments posted so far. Training is very specific... at the lower levels of racing (riding) there are perhaps riders who are evenly good at both disciplines but at the top level it is impossible imo. The best all round cyclist over the last 20 years or so at the absolute top level was arguably Bradley Wiggins. I see your Wiggo and raise you Cadel Evans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Dale Posted February 8, 2018 Share The professionals of the cycling world have more or less the same engine capabilities.It depends where they wanna apply themselves. So, not a great question. The cream of the crop at the moment: Peter SaganEl NinoFroome DawgMatt vd Poel Wout Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chingy182 Posted February 8, 2018 Share Let's consider what Sauser and co did at the CTCT in 2016.Gave the pro roadies some serious gas. My thoughts (personally speaking) is that anyone can ride on the road, but the mountains require a lot more skill.But that doesn't quite answer who is the stronger rider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeubok Posted February 8, 2018 Share Road surface has a big influence. The same route (same distance and same elevation profile) will be easiest on a tar road, a bit more difficult on gravel roads, and most difficult on really rocky/muddy/sandy tracks. So my reasoning is that okes who train more on the difficult stuff should be fitter. You need to do a lot more mileage on a road bike to get the same training out of a ride than a mtbiker. The professionals are just specialists in their different disciplines. No-one will beat Nino in a one hour flat out ride, and no-one will beat someone like Froom over a several hours constant pace ride. Or something like that. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcza Posted February 8, 2018 Share Let's consider what Sauser and co did at the CTCT in 2016.Gave the pro roadies some serious gas. My thoughts (personally speaking) is that anyone can ride on the road, but the mountains require a lot more skill.But that doesn't quite answer who is the stronger rider. Or consider that an unknown domestique from roadracing nearly won the Epic. See Rabon, Frantisek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jewbacca Posted February 8, 2018 Share No If you incorporate intervals, low cadence and other structured training sessions you will probably get a lot more positive actual cycling results and progress as opposed to riding the MTB. Skills etc on the MTB are essential in saving energy and being smooth so you don't expend energy trying to stay upright while you get tossed around on the saddle like a bag of cement in the back of a bakkie. The skills to conserve energy and ride in the bunch on the tarmac are also lost to MTBers... I think there is no answer. This is a piece of string thread and admin should shut it down immediately before people get angry about other people sprouting absolute nonsense as fact, call each other names, start a wheel size debate, ask whether tubeless is better than tubes and discuss doping vs clean riders, resulting in Godwin's Law and the eventual capitulation of modern society as a whole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldron Posted February 8, 2018 Share I see your Wiggo and raise you Cadel EvansMarianne Vos - the female Merckx ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevief Posted February 8, 2018 Share My take is Road is beneficial for long stretches of high intensity vs MTb that requires a lot of short explosive bursts . They are different types of fitness. Skills is another dicsipline on its own. Being fit will not give you skills, eg: all the Epic dudes going OTB on plum pudding at the epic prologue last few years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skubarra Posted February 8, 2018 Share Being fit will not give you skills, eg: all the Epic dudes going OTB on plum pudding at the epic prologue last few years Fitness might not give you skills but I find being unfit certainly makes my (already limited) skills disappear on a long, hot day on the mtb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristand Posted February 8, 2018 Share Strongly competitive MTBers do a great deal of road training including things like interval training which I am going to lump with road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pista Posted February 8, 2018 Share The professionals of the cycling world have more or less the same engine capabilities.It depends where they wanna apply themselves. So, not a great question. The cream of the crop at the moment: Peter SaganEl NinoFroome DawgMatt vd Poel Wout Stybar was a MTB rider that went over to CX and went on to become World Champ.He now races Pro Road for Quick Step. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pista Posted February 8, 2018 Share Im sure this debate happens around many coffee tables /lunches /braais or at races .Which rider has the best of form in being fitter ,having more stamina or being stronger because of the discipline the ride in .Im and old school roadie but started Mtb 8 months ago after 20 years off my bike and i now train purely for my Mtb experience on the weekend . Is there a cross over point were it does not matter what you ride you have all the above attributes . .I have some of my own observations but would like to hear others that have ridden both on and off road . What about triathletes? Are they fitter than roadies and mtb'ers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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