How Hard Can It Be?

"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion) 10/14/2020 at 11:09 • Filed to: mountain biking

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So a few weeks back my sister did a running race near where we live (this year it was self-timed, honor system only) . While it’s far from a marathon, it’s also no Saturday morning 5k Fun Run; I’ll let the description speak for itself:

The Squam Ridge Race is a 12.2 mile race that traverses a majority of the Squam Range crossing three summits [actually it’s four] with amazing views of Squam Lake and the surrounding watershed with about 3000 feet of elevation gain. The race is mostly single track with 1.8 miles of pavement, 0.5 miles of dirt road, 1.3 miles of double track, and 8.6 miles of single track trail. The path up to the top of Mount Percival is a challenge to runners with its many stone steps and rugged terrain, averaging a 15% grade for 1.8 miles.

Indeed, “the path to the top of Mount Percival” consists of many stone steps and probably a dozen ledges where you really ought to be using your hands, too. That’s hard with a bike on your shoulders. In fact, just short of the summit there’s a sign: Summit via caves 0.1 mi / Summit via cliffs 0.1 mi with arrows pointing opposite directions in front of a 30' rock face.

So why not see how fast I can do it on my bike? “How hard can it be?” I said.

Well, I was able to ride the first ~3 miles pretty easily, including the dirt and paved road portions of course, as well as the first ~mile of singletrack, until it started to get steeper. And honestly, even on the “easy” stuff I felt like I was slower than a decent runner, or even just me hiking without a bike. So I knew intuitively I’d be slower than a fast runner. But by how much? And would I be faster than my 41-year-old sister who, while a decent athlete, is not a competitive trail runner?

Well here’s a hint:

I took that picture - one of only a few - at the top of Percival, which is not even halfway, at 1:08 on my watch (elapsed time). The fastest runner ever on the course was 1:37 to the finish. I regularly ride a large section of the course on my bike and I know it takes me 20+ minutes down from the top of three peaks over on the ridge from Percival. Ah, well. I had fun doing it and only had one minor crash where I ground my shins into a rock just a little. Okay honestly, it’s because I walked back to do a fun rock challenge a second time, and didn’t have the speed to make the move I wanted to. I bled for my mistake.

I never stopped for a break, but I came to a stop lots of time getting on and off the bike, or carefully walking it down a 6' drop or something. It might have taken me 30 seconds to get up or down something that a runner would have hopped over in two strides. It was an interesting demonstration of what I already thought to be true: that a bike can’t beat a runner on anything approaching rugged or technical terrain. Even on the “fast” downhill parts, I’m probably not going more than 20mph, which is pretty darn fast on a singletrack hiking trail with trees very close on both sides. But for every minute I’m going twice as fast as a runner, there are 20 minutes on the way up where it’s the other way around. And I’m a fast climber on my bike. Now the question is, how fast could I run it? BAAHAHAHAHA who am I kidding, I hate running.

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tl/dr: It took me about 2:28 to ride (and carry) my bike over a rugged running race course that a very fit man ran in 1:37. My sister was closer to 3h so I got her, but not by as much as I thought.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > functionoverfashion 10/14/2020 at 11:16

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There are a few fast trail runners around these parts and I easily pass them on flat ground or a down hill section on my mountain bike but one guy in particular passed me back on an uphill section. To be fair he is also a beast on a bike and does those crazy 50 and 100 mile ultra runs. It was still very hilarious to say “hi Doug!” pass him and then have him go “Hi Highlander” and pass me back.

Beefchips > functionoverfashion 10/14/2020 at 11:40

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Wow I ’m kind of surprised by that, I would’ ve figured a cyclist could kick a runners arse. You would definitely beat me, I’m working to get faster but only running about a 9:30 pace over any distance greater than 5k.

functionoverfashion > Beefchips 10/14/2020 at 11:57

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For sure on smooth surfaces, a bike would be faster overall. Especially a road bike. But a mountain bike on a hiking trail with a LOT of technical terrain and lots of places where you just cannot ride and have to carry the bike... it adds up. Apparently.

Put it this way: a friend who is a very good trail runner did the same race and was in the 1:40's for time - nearly as fast as the record holder. He and I are similar in bike skill and if riding together, we’d be neck and neck on bikes, up or down. But on foot, he’d crush me on this course. Even on a regular ride with technical terrain, he said he and his wife used to run and ride (one each) quite a bit, and the runner is faster unless it’s very smooth, or if the downhill sections are not too steep and the bike can carry a lot of speed for a long time, easily. On this trail, many of the downs are short and steep. 

functionoverfashion > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 10/14/2020 at 12:00

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Oh for sure, on flat or smooth or even gentle downs, bikes are faster. This route has nothing I’d describe as flat. Not even 100 feet at any point, honestly. And a lot of the downs have switchbacks so you have to dump speed on your bike to make the corners... a friend who is at a very similar ability level on his bike is one of the fastest runners on this course in the 1:40's. But on a bike, we’d be neck and neck. 

newnamesameme > functionoverfashion 10/14/2020 at 12:59

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Jebus, your friend is fast as hell and your sister is quite fit as well. Id do this in a little under 3h id guess given i do similar trails out here in CO in about that time for that distance/gain.

Im frankly amazed at how fast both runners and bikers are on all sorts of terrain. Its humbling. Bikers bike stuff that i would find literally impossible for me and my mediocre bike skills to handle. Its like magic to me and tehre are ppl that move through the desert or mountains w/incredible speed. 

functionoverfashion > newnamesameme 10/14/2020 at 16:43

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My friend is super fast, yeah. The only way I keep up with him on my bike is my technical skill - if you can just keep riding on technical trails, you’ll crush anyone who gets on and off their bike even occasionally. But he’s faster on the long climbs when it’s not technical.

Mostly I’ve just only ever ridden technical trails, so that’s what I know and what I do best. I can ride the smooth flowy stuff of course, but that’s easier once you can do the really hard stuff. And yet, there are people who can absolutely crush me, too.