Highway bikes vs mountain bikes: Understanding the variations

Highway bikes and mountain bikes are among the many hottest forms of bikes you should buy. 

However they’re very totally different. Their frames look utterly totally different, one has fats tyres whereas the opposite has skinny ones, the handlebars are vastly totally different shapes, and… is that suspension?

On this article, we’re going to dive into the similarities and variations between highway bikes and mountain bikes, the rationale for these variations and why you would possibly select one over the opposite.

You do not have to decide on to journey both a highway bike or a mountain bike completely. Many riders cross over and journey each (not on the similar time), and there are even skilled riders who compete efficiently in explosive cross-country mountain biking and six-hour highway races, together with 2023 world highway race champion Mathieu van der Poel and 2024 Olympic cross-country mountain bike champion Tom Pidcock. 

There’s much more to it than the shapes and parts themselves, however let’s begin with essentially the most fundamental query: when would you journey a highway bike versus a mountain bike?

Function of highway bikes and mountain bikes

Highway bikes are designed for all kinds of paved-surface driving. Meaning metropolis streets, nation lanes, cycle paths, mountain passes, and extra. These bikes are light-weight and aerodynamic, designed to be quick in a straight line but in addition quick uphill. Their body geometry, parts, and handlebar form lend them to being quick – and also you’ll in all probability not need to take your highway bike off-road.

Mountain bikes are designed for off-road driving, nearly the other of highway bikes. The thick tyres and treads on mountain bikes make them extraordinarily gradual on tarmac as if the heavy body wasn’t slowing you down sufficient, although they’re completely suited to serving to you keep upright on rocky, muddy singletrack trails. The flat handlebars and suspension programs on mountain bikes are supposed to enhance dealing with and luxury off-road, particularly on steep and technical singletrack. A mountain bike’s body geometry is designed to assist cushion blows and enhance stability over bumpy sections and works with highly effective disc brakes and big gearing ranges for all kinds of off-road terrain.

Body geometry

Starting with the body itself, the very best highway bikes are designed to be compact and aerodynamic in comparison with mountain bikes that are designed to be secure over tough floor. A highway bike could have a comparatively lengthy attain and prime tube in comparison with a mountain bike, which helps the highway rider stretch out into an aerodynamic place whereas driving.

Mountain bikes have a shorter attain and prime tube than highway bikes, which retains the handlebars nearer to the rider for improved dealing with. This additionally creates a extra upright – and fewer aerodynamic – place on a mountain bike, however one that’s higher for tight corners, off-road dealing with, and protecting your centre of gravity low and central and pushing it rearwards on steep descents.

Additionally, you will discover differing fork offsets (often known as the fork ‘rake’) between highway and mountain bikes, which is the space between a straight line by the fork’s steerer tube and a vertical line by the entrance hub. Highway bikes have a brief rake, which ends up in a steep fork and snappy dealing with, whereas a mountain bike will often have a bigger fork rake and a slacker head tube angle which retains the rider’s centre of gravity balanced on steep descents. This facet successfully strikes the entrance wheel additional out in entrance of the body, enhancing leverage and management on a mountain bike.

Lastly, we’ve path, which is an advanced measurement combining the top tube angle with the fork rake, ensuing within the distinction in distance between the tyre contact level and the steering axis. All you should know is that this: a highway bike will sometimes have a steep head tube and bigger fork offset to decrease path and quicken dealing with. Endurance mountain bikes sometimes have bigger trails which enhance stability and are higher for high-speed dealing with on tough terrain.

Gearing and brakes

Most mountain bikes as of late include a 1x set-up, which implies that there’s only one entrance chainring. This decreases the probabilities of the chain coming off and eliminates the necessity for a heavy, costly, and finicky entrance derailleur. With just one entrance chainring and very steep terrain to deal with, mountain bikes want a large rear cassette with a large gearing vary. Some cassettes have earned the identify ‘dinner plate’ for his or her large dimension, typically going all the best way as much as a 50t rear cog. Producers are actually making 11-speed and 12-speed mountain bike cassettes from a 10t cog to a 50t and bigger, so even with a 1x set-up, you may obtain an enormous vary of gearing for steep singletrack climbs and quick descents.

There are much more choices with regards to highway bike gearing, together with compact and race-ready set-ups. Most highway bikes are 2x set-ups, which implies they’ve two entrance chainrings and a entrance derailleur, with the traditional setups being a 53/39, 52/36 or 50/34. Most highway cassettes are 11-speed with a spread from 11 to twenty-eight or 30-tooth sprockets, though many riders are choosing even greater choices to assist over steep climbs.

Many highway cyclists, particularly leisure, go along with a compact chainring set-up which makes use of smaller entrance chainrings and bigger rear cogs. This limits you on the higher finish (at excessive speeds), but it surely means that you can maintain pedalling at a snug cadence on ultra-steep climbs. With a compact chainring setup, you would nonetheless be pedalling at 80rpm up a nine-per-cent grade.

After we begin fascinated with brakes, there is just one reply for mountain bikes: disc brakes. Huge, highly effective, and high-performing within the moist, disc brakes are merely the very best for off-road driving. Disc brakes additionally enable for extra tyre clearance, which is finest for mountain bikes which have large and knobbly tyres. For downhill driving and excessive mountain biking, riders use disc brake callipers and rotors which are bigger than regular, which assist enhance stopping energy and efficiency and excessive speeds.

After many years of being outfitted with rim brakes, most highway bike producers have acknowledged the advantages of disc brakes on highway bikes, and have begun together with them on all of their highway fashions. Whereas many had been sceptical due to the burden, aerodynamics, and security, expertise appears to have caught up with the issues, and disc brakes are actually a mainstay on highway bikes.

You’ll be able to nonetheless discover highway bikes with rim brakes, that are sometimes lighter than disc brakes, however they wrestle to carry out as properly in moist climate. There may be additionally much less modulation to rim brakes, and they’re much less highly effective total. Many riders who go along with rim brakes select them for his or her comfort and affordability. They’re additionally simpler to arrange and repair in comparison with disc brakes. A lot bike expertise (trainers, automobile racks, bike stands) continues to be designed for rim brake bikes too.

Wheels and tyres

Mountain bike tyres are wider and bigger than these discovered on highway bikes, which makes them stronger and extra sturdy on tough terrain. Designed to deal with rocks, roots, and ruts, mountain bike wheels and tyres are made to be sturdy and grippy on uneven floor. Mountain bike tyres are additionally puncture-resistant, with puncture-protected sidewalls and thick tread patterns.

Tread patterns on mountain bikes are thick and ponderous and designs differ relying on the precise kind of mountain bike driving. Race tyres will probably be a lot totally different to massive mud tyres, whereas downhill tyres will probably be totally different to cross-country mountain biking tyres. These variations don’t actually exist in highway tyres, a minimum of with regards to the tread patterns. Highway tyres are primarily slicks, with little or no tread other than shallow grooves across the tyre, though winter highway bike tyres could have a extra aggressive tread sample.

The most effective highway bike tyres are considerably narrower than mountain bike tyres and measured in millimetres (mm) fairly than in inches (in) used for mountain bike tyres. Beginning at 21mm large, you could find highway tyres all the best way as much as 38mm large, however that’s nonetheless considerably narrower than the narrowest mountain bike tyres, which begin at round two inches (50mm). 

Highway bike tyres are additionally designed to be run at a lot greater tyre pressures, often between 50 and 100PSI. The bigger dimension of mountain bike tyres makes them in a position to run at low pressures (15-35psi) which additionally means higher efficiency on tough and moist terrain.

Suspension

Suspension is among the most unusual elements of a mountain bike and one which you’ll not often discover on a highway bike. There are two sorts of mountain bikes, designated by their suspension programs: hardtail and full suspension. Hardtail mountain bikes embody solely entrance suspension, which is often within the fork. These programs often have 100-170mm of journey. Hardtail mountain bikes are a lot lighter than full-suspension bikes too, which makes them superb for cross-country and short-track mountain bike racing.

Full-suspension mountain bikes have each entrance and rear suspension, which improves total consolation and dealing with over tough and technical terrain. These bikes are considerably heavier and dearer than hardtail mountain bikes, however they carry out significantly better on tough trails. Full-suspension mountain bikes can have anyplace from 100-200mm of journey, making them superb for all kinds of path driving, downhill mountain biking and racing.

Handlebars

One of many greatest variations between a highway bike and a mountain bike is its handlebars. Highway bikes have drop bars, that are curved units of handlebars that provide three totally different hand positions for driving: the hoods, drops, and tops. The brake and shift levers are situated on the hoods, which is the commonest hand place for highway biking. Riders use the drops for descending, sprinting and racing, whereas the tops are used for climbing and informal driving.

Mountain bikes use flat handlebars that reach near horizontally from left to proper throughout the entrance of the bike. There is just one driving place on flat mountain bike handlebars, and that’s together with your fingers on both aspect of the flat bar. The shift and brake levers are situated on the finish of every aspect of the bar, making them straightforward to succeed in with only a finger or a thumb.

Flat bars are a lot wider than drop bars, which – together with their model – helps enhance leverage and dealing with in tight corners. For steep and tight single-track corners, flat bars are far superior to drop bars.

Driving place

The variations between a highway biking place and a mountain biking place are large. On a highway bike, you’ll be stretched out with an extended attain, closed hip angle and forward-leaning place. Whereas on a mountain bike, you’ll be seated in a way more upright place because of a brief attain, slacker head tube angle, and flat handlebars. The large tyres and suspension will maintain you extra comfy on tough terrain, and also you received’t have to fret a lot in regards to the aerodynamics on a slower mountain bike journey.

Endurance highway bikes have a extra relaxed geometry that’s much less aerodynamic than a race bike however extra comfy for the lengthy haul. These are the bikes designed for all-day adventures, utilizing a extra upright place to save lots of your again and your arms, whereas additionally protecting most of the similar highway bike options that make them quick and enjoyable.

How to decide on

This one is straightforward: are you driving on-road or off-road? Highway bikes are meant for the highway, whereas mountain bikes will not be. If you happen to’re driving on blended terrain, then the most effective gravel bikes might be the best choice. When purchasing for a brand new bike, take into account the differing body geometry and your wants as a rider.

Comfy body geometry often means slower, and the identical goes for off-road options of mountain bikes together with large and knobbly tyres, suspension, and flat bars. Each bikes have their place in biking, and also you’ll be capable of discover the right match regardless of your choice.