Road BIking vs Mountain Biking

Is there really a big difference between road biking and mountain biking? Well, we’re glad you asked! At Mobile Bike Repair Boulder, there is hardly a distinction that is more stark for our staff and technicians. Whether you’re looking to get into road biking or mountain biking, we can help you out by teaching you the basics about each one. We can also help you pick out the most ideal bike for whichever one you decide. Road biking and mountain biking are vastly different, but both are a lot of fun. Our team can help you figure out which is best for you.
 
Why Make the Choice?
For a lot of serious riders out there, there’s no need to choose between road biking and mountain biking. Both are awesome and both have their time and place. For beginners, however, it is probably better to pick just one. If you only ride one bike and do so relatively casually, you have some things to consider. Unless you’re a serious rider, you’re likely to have only one bike. Bikes, of course, take up space and cost money. There’s also the issue of time. Do you really have time to enjoy both road biking and mountain biking? Let’s take a look at some of the key differences.
 
Road Bikes
Road bikes are typically better on more urban, flat terrain such as streets. Road bikes can be a great way to commute to work or school, particularly if you live in a beautiful place like Boulder, CO where there are a lot of bike lanes. Ultimately, road bikes serve a very practical use and are definitely worth the investment if you are relying on one in an urban setting for transportation. Road bikes are definitely a better pick for casual everyday city riding. If you’re not really into the hobbyist thing, ask our technicians about which road bike would be right for you.
 
Mountain Bikes
Because of the bikes’ suspension, mountain bikes don’t do so well on asphalt or other flat, urban surfaces the way road bikes do. That’s because mountain bikes are not made for paved roads, they’re made for mountains. Basically, if you are really into steep mountain trails, doing trick and being a hobbyist, choosing a mountain bike may be the right call. Plenty of our staff and technicians enjoy a good mountain bike trail, so you should definitely be sure to ask with them about which mountain bike would be right for you. All in all, mountain bikes are good for the hobby angle and not so much for commuting.
 
When to Have Both
Regardless of some of the seeming impracticalities, it does make sense for a certain type of person to have both a road bike and a mountain bike. Here in Boulder, CO a lot of people commute to work or go to class on bikes. These bikes tend to be road bikes for the more urban, flatter everyday commute. If your road bike is basically your car or your main mode of transport, it could make sense to get a mountain bike purely for the hobby aspect of it. Having both is often a better alternative than a hybrid bike. Ask our technicians about hybrids for more information.