dremspider

I currently own a Specialized road bike and a Gary Fisher Rumblefish one. Obviously I do different things on each bike. I currently can easily do 50 miles in a single shot and have done a 75 miler before with a bit of pain. On the mountain bike though, I cant do nearly as much. I need to rest more and I can only do maybe 20 miles comfortably. I also have problems getting enough speed up hills to be able to get things over rocks, trees, etc.

I spend most of my time on the road bike due to it being more convenient as I don't have to drive my bike somewhere. Does my time on the road make me better at mountain biking and vice versa? How can I train this summer to get better specifically at mountain biking?

santiago

Any seat time is good, but mountain biking is more anaerobic whereas road riding is aerobic.

cryptid01

Sounds like your fitness is fine from roadwork but I suspect you could use some improvement on your bike handling skills. You don't have to drive to a trail to do this, just ride out your door. Learn to wheelie and hop, see how long you can ride a curb, berm off banks, ride down stairs, whatever. Get comfortable on your bike. Have fun with it.

This should help your road performance by showing you how incredibly boring road riding is and making you push yourself harder to go faster to finish sooner so you can go ride your mountain bike.

pablosnazzy

riding road will make you strong and give you the legs and lungs you need, so yes, it makes you better at mountainbiking, in one aspect.

the only way to get specifically better at mountain biking is to mountain bike. climbing hills, descending, riding over, up, down, and around obstacles takes certain skills that are different than road handling. more weight distribution, balance, hip movement, etc. lots more upper body as well.

next time you go to a trail, make the most of the time, don't just ride it and get it over with, but "session" it. when you get to an area that gives you problems, keep trying it over and over and see what works and learn. if you get a chance to ride with others or watch others, ask them as well and learn from them.

road riding you sit and hammer. mountain biking is sort of like dancing, you are up and moving all over.

20 mountain bike miles is physically more difficult than 20 road miles.

have fun and enjoy it. that is all that matters.

ed 

Also depends on the trail.

NCMTBIKER

I'm sure doing both will make you better at both...

ed 

Indeed