Road vs. Mountain bike: which is better for climbs?

Ever wondered just how slower a mountain bike is on asphalt climbs compared to a road bike? We tested and compared them, including the ride feel.

Let's have some fun and try to compare something that might sound a little strange at first, in the sense of... "Who benefits from this?" 🙂

Honestly, something like this has been on my mind for a long time. Not that I absolutely needed to know, but a similar question often crossed my mind when I was climbing a hill. And the last few days gave me several impulses.

Probably the biggest impulse was a recent time trial where, apart from age, there were no separate categories for road and MTB bikes, and a diverse mix was visible. Although it was an asphalt climb, it was definitely not a smooth road, and the beginning especially consisted of severely broken asphalt with lots of pebbles and potholes. I ultimately chose the "road bike". 🙂

Many only have a mountain bike and wonder how much they would gain if they rode that particular hill on a road bike.

As well as a recent trip to Slovenia, where I took both a road bike and an MTB, and wondered what I'd choose if I could only have one. Especially the descent from the legendary Vršič, where almost every hairpin turn is made of cobblestones, and I'm constantly braking on the way down. If I had an MTB, I'd fly over those cobblestones and even lean into the turns; similarly, much greater possibilities for trips open up.


Going uphill, some "terrain" can be managed even on a road bike, but riding downhill is much worse and often not very fun, rather a gentle suffering. As a result, you might actually be faster on a mountain bike (if we count the descent), which is not bad, especially in cold conditions. It's not just about time; safety also plays a big role, a factor that is quite important, especially in winter.


And then there are many of you who only have a mountain bike and wonder how much they would gain if they rode that particular hill on a road bike. Especially if you're a bit competitive and occasionally want to compare your times on a favourite climb, for example, using Strava segments.

So, there were several reasons for this experiment, and in essence, there's nothing simpler than trying such a comparison. If nothing else, at least it's a good workout, right?

A million possible outcomes

Before we get to the numbers themselves, I must reiterate a very important point. Please don't make a science out of this, because it's clear to me that there's no exact answer.

Every single difference in components and setup (tires, pressure, total weight) will affect the result, and everyone who tries something similar will get something different. Moreover, different hills will again yield different results, and so on.

On the other hand, I think that a rough estimate can be made based on this "measurement" to create at least a blurred overall picture. 🙂

Our test track

We had several options nearby. Basically, you start climbing slowly from the beginning, which is 9.8 km with an elevation gain of 445 meters, so about 4.5 % on average.

But everything gets tougher towards the end; the main part starts right after the official end of the village, and that's where we did our comparison – specifically 4.4 km, an elevation gain of 342 m, and an average gradient of about 7.6 %. The hill takes you up to an altitude of approximately 1,000 m above sea level.

So, what did we find out?

Let's move on to the results themselves - what pleases me is that I managed to hit the watts precisely again. Of course, also consider that there are deviations even among power meters.

First, I rode the Ghost (10.95 kg), and that section took me 21 minutes and 9 seconds at an average power of 303 watts, with an average heart rate of 165 beats per minute. Then it was the turn of the road Giant (8.4 kg, including saddle bag, CO2 cartridges, inner tube, etc.), where with the same average power, I achieved a time of 18 minutes and 44 seconds with an average heart rate of 168 beats per minute.

So, the resulting difference is 2 minutes and 25 seconds in favour of the road bike under the given conditions. We have the numbers, and now for some feelings...


Essentially, I've never directly switched from one bike to another and ridden the same hill at the same power. While the MTB was slower, what surprised me most was how much more comfortable it felt on the steep sections.

First and foremost, the riding position, where modern mountain bikes, following the latest trends, are adapted for steeper climbs, where they feel right at home. The long frame and short stem of the Ghost also play their part, making me feel like I'm on rails, and I just need to "simply" pedal. I don't have to fidget in the saddle, and the grip on the 760 mm handlebars offers me greater comfort.

What I'm writing now is largely about feelings and also due to the fact that I spend most of my time on an MTB. But there's one thing you can't ignore... gearing.

But cycling isn't just about practicality; a large part is the passion for the sport and everything around it... simply, heart.

The combination of a 34T chainring in the front and a 10-50T cassette in the back offers me enough reserve for virtually every climb and gradient on "asphalt" here. Thanks to this, especially on steep sections, a comfortable cadence can be maintained, and muscles don't tire as quickly.

On the Giant, I actually have very light gearing, a compact (50/34) combined with an 11-30T cassette, and I think I have some fitness. 🙂 But even so, I feel that on steep sections around 12 % and higher, I'm already pushing through with brute force and more often have to get out of the saddle, which leads to greater fatigue towards the end.


So, if you're tempted to conquer hills on a road bike, really focus on lighter gearing; moreover, modern systems can handle 11-32T or even 11-34T cassettes. Don't worry, you'll still have plenty of reserve for flats.

In similar cases, I appreciate the characteristics of oval chainrings. I ride an Absolute Black oval on all my bikes...

Furthermore, the worse the surface, the smaller the resulting difference will be.

Now we rode essentially purely on smooth asphalt. Just a few proper gravel "sectors" or a larger pile of gravel where you'll be shaking on a road bike, and the difference is elsewhere again. The descent is a chapter in itself; there, stability and safety are explicitly on the side of the MTB – I think that's a relatively important factor for beginner riders and also why a mountain bike is still ideal for my wife, even though she often rides on asphalt.

After all, I think nothing more versatile than a lightweight hardtail has been invented yet if you only want one bike. If you're thinking of a gravel bike, know that most of the forest roads around here, or climbs to mountain huts, are far from the "gravel paths" you see in advertisements. 🙂

Why a road bike?

So far, it might seem that the road bike is getting "beaten" emotionally, yet it won by a significant margin. From a logical point of view, one could say that for an average cyclist, it doesn't really matter that much, especially if gravel is also thrown into the mix. But cycling isn't just about practicality; a large part is the passion for the sport and everything around it... simply, heart.

Climbing on a road bike has its own special charm, largely associated with its beautiful history. The ride flows, hills and gradients are a challenge, the bike flies on the flats. Headwind? Tuck in nicely, grab the levers, and push into the pedals. And if you really get "hooked" on watching famous races (Tour, classics, etc.), everything just multiplies. I think many of you understand what I mean. 🙂


What I've said many times before and recommend again: don't be afraid of slightly wider tires (e.g., 28 mm) with reasonable pressure.

Just as an example – I use about 4.5 bar on 30 mm Continental GP 5000s. The reward will be a good dose of comfort, especially if the road is worse, with added gravel, or even loose chippings. Similarly, overall grip and safety significantly increase, and you lose virtually nothing in speed... maybe we'll try to compare that sometime too.

And finally, just one thing. If this comparison didn't bring you anything interesting, try it yourself sometime. 🙂