Skiing vs Mountain Biking

skirick

While mountain biking yesterday I was thinking about how it compares to skiing and for me how it’s a substitute in the summer. The movement, speed, control, outdoor element, cardio exercise are just some of the similarities of the two.

Biking in the woods on single track trails is like glade skiing. The feeling of winding through and coming close to trees at speed but staying in control, looking ahead to pick a line and anticipating obstacles, jumping the occasional stump, log or rock all give you that little adrenalin jolt just like skiing the glades. Conversely, wide double track trails could be compared to intermediate groomers and paved bike paths would be like beginner trails/slopes. Also, the leaves were all down on the trail this weekend creating the powder skiing feel.

The big difference would be that with mtn biking uphill would be the cardio workout whereas skiing you’d be on the lift resting. The opposite is true for both going downhill.

Does anyone else feel this way or if not, what is your summer substitute for skiing?

NewEnglandSkier13

Mountain biking is my summer substitute for skiing as well. I work at Freeman Ridge Bike Park and ride a variety of trail systems in the region. I agree that many similarities can be drawn to skiing. Even the trail rating system is the same.

ceo

I haven't done real mountain biking in years, but I definitely saw the parallels. Of course, it's even more similar if you go to a ski area that has lift-served mountain biking in the summer.

Cannonball

Same. Mountain biking is my substitute for skiing. The major difference being that it's not hard to find year-round MTB in New England. In the past few years I've actually somewhat transitioned to considering MTB to be my preferred/primary sport.

skirick

I've also done it year-round, many times with snow on the ground, provided there's no boiler plate underneath.

NewEnglandSkier13

It's definitely not year-round around here, unless you have a fat bike. MTB season is coming to a close here.

Cannonball

NewEnglandSkier13;c-44005 wroteIt's definitely not year-round around here, unless you have a fat bike. MTB season is coming to a close here.

Most New england skiers regularly drive 2-4+ hours for skiing. In that same 2-4 hours you can usually find snowfree MTB trails all winter long. So while New England skiing is only possible when there is snow in the mountains, New England MTB is possible pretty much all year. The past two winters have been a good example. At the same that there was great snow in Northern NE there were clear, dry trails in Southern NE. The past 2 winters I did as much biking as skiing.

(I do also have a fat bike, but everything said above is about non-fat biking)

marcski

For me, there is no substitute for skiing. And, I ride my bikes about 3-5x/week when not in ski season. Depending on the ski season, I also mountain bike into winter. For me, nothing compares to the feeling of the forces of physics and gravity and that amazing feeling of weightlessness when crossing the fall-line.