6 Reasons Why Mountain Biking is Better Than Road Biking

Don’t get us wrong, we’re big fans of road cycling but there’s nothing quite like spending an entire ride with no one else around, no cars, no distractions, just you and nature.

That’s not to say that road cyclists don’t experience the same picturesque views and peacefulness as mountain bike riders, but we’re all well aware of the safety issues cyclists face when sharing a road with cars and other transport vehicles.

While both sports are great forms of fitness, another reason why we love mountain bike riding is that it helps to reduce your stress levels. Even when facing challenging terrain, it allows the mind to focus heavily on one thing – bringing people into the present moment.

Being a total body workout often means that you’ll sleep through the night better as well as you’ve exerted most of your energy on the trail allowing you to relax, reduce stress and increase your serotonin levels.

We know we’ve touched on this before, but we want to reiterate how incredibly rewarding it is to spend the day connecting with nature. Unless you make a point of being outdoors, it’s pretty rare that people find time in their day to appreciate the world around them.

That’s why a hobby, such as mountain bike riding is a great way to get you excited about spending more time outside, where there’s less stress and noise to deal with – especially for someone that lives in the city.

While stacking is never the ideal outcome, it hurts much less to fall over onto a dirt trail than it does hitting the gravel at high speeds with nothing to protect you but a thin piece of lycra.

Like all sports, there are techniques that can help you brace for impact and support your fall. Although at the end of the day mistakes happen, which is why we’d much prefer to fall on dirt then gravel. With enough training, skill, practice and technique falling will be the last of your worries – especially if you’ve come prepared, and chosen quality clothing suited for mountain bike riding.

Mountain bike riding is a total body workout that focuses on strengthening more muscles than a long-distance cycle would. Mountain bike riders face more obstacles that require bursts of energy over a longer time period. Not to mention the bikes are much heavier, which means you need the strength to be able to maneuver the bike around at your will.

If you’re an adrenaline junkie then mountain bike riding is the perfect sport for you. Mountain bike riders face a bigger adrenaline rush than road cyclists. For mountain bikers the terrain is constantly changing, which means they’re constantly surprised by what’s around the corner. This is where the excitement and energy levels kick on, the unknowing of what you’re about to face but prepared and ready for any obstacle or sharp corner that comes there way.

While road cyclists still face many surprising elements along the way and pick up some serious speed, it’s not quite as adrenaline pumping when you can see the path laid out in front of you.

No matter what you choose, both sports have their benefits and will surely be a lot of fun. However, if you’re keen on a challenge, we highly recommend taking a look at our trails. No matter what skill level you’re at, there’s a trail for everyone at Lake Mountain, as well as a bus shuttle service to take you back to your destination and the opportunity to hire a mountain bike for the day if you don’t have your own.