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How’s Your MTB Fitness Compared to This Time Last Year? [Survey]

Everyone has been forced to make life adjustments big and small over the past year. So where does that leave our mountain bike fitness?

By Jeff Barber
February 28, 2021

23 comments

Singletracks may receive compensation for purchases made through any affiliate links in this article.

Saying coronavirus has been disruptive is an understatement. Everyone has been forced to make life adjustments big and small over the past year. So where does that leave us?

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Jeff Barber

Jeff Barber has been mountain biking since 1992 and has tested hundreds of mountain bikes and components. He is the co-founder of Singletracks and serves as Editor in Chief. Contact him at [email protected].

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23 Comments

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jcole 2017
Feb 28, 2021

A lot of fun on the Fat Bike this year!

1 reply

mattyhawk California // 2017
Mar 1, 2021

Covid and zwift, more time and used it to ride more on zwift

0 reply

roxtar New Mexico // 2020
Mar 5, 2021

Didn't even buy a pass this year.
100% backcountry skiing. Earned every turn.

0 reply

Mtbbasher Georgia // 2021
Mar 4, 2021

Even with pandemic I was amble to get out and ride. But once the winter and wet came I hardly rode at all. I just did my first enduro race on February 28 and thanks to a weekly workout routine I was able to finish without too much fatigue.

0 reply

LouD California // 2012
Mar 4, 2021

Finally after total knee replacement in 2018 I began riding once again in earnest last year (July). Actually bought two new bikes as well been riding every other day for one to two hours. Feeling great!

0 reply

Travis_Man Massachusetts // 2010
Mar 4, 2021

For various reasons, my mtb mileage was way low thru most of last year. But, starting around November, I was able to re-engage with my regional posse (plus, I just started getting more psyched) and have been doing much more riding. Also, this winter I've truly realized how much I hate riding in my basement on the smart trainer - in fact, I'm thinking that I wasted lots of $$ on that thing! Outdoors is just so much better, and its been great to get back into mtb condition.

0 reply

Indyshred11 Indiana // 2015
Mar 1, 2021

Hard to guage due to no mountain biking yet. But I feel it will be a banner year do to more fatbikes rides (finally had snow in Central IN!) and the addition of more Trainer Road workouts on my new smart trainer.

0 reply

Oldandrolling South Carolina // 2018
Feb 28, 2021

I logged 1800 miles this last year. That's about a 20% increase. This was a goal I set at the beginning of the year. Did not have much to do with COVID.

0 reply

vapidoscar Ohio // 2018
Feb 28, 2021

If you would have asked a month ago, I think I was the worst in 3 years but one suffering ride convinced me to hit the trainer hard to the point where I can confidently say I am a little better than last year but on my way to best in a couple years if I can keep it up.

0 reply

Hap Proctor Florida // 2014
Mar 1, 2021

I’m afraid my fitness will drop off this year as I have cracked the frame on my Fuel Ex 8 and a replacement can’t be found until November!!!!! How is that possible? Feeling betrayed by TREK.

0 reply

mongwolf Mongolia // 2011
Mar 2, 2021

Wow Hap. That is terrible. Sooooo sorry.

1 reply

Hap Proctor Florida // 2014
Mar 2, 2021

It's really annoying. Riding an XXL bike doesn't help the situation, but I feel the American bike companies have really dropped the ball. They've had record sales during the pandemic and made little or no adjustments to their production. Little foresight on their part..... just blame it on China.

0 reply

the.bler Washington // 2020
Mar 5, 2021

https://marker.medium.com/inside-the-company-trying-to-solve-the-global-bicycle-shortage-eae6849a9f3b

0 reply

Hap Proctor Florida // 2014
Mar 5, 2021

Yeah, they crushed it. Even their recently “released” ebike isn’t available until mid-October....... maybe.

0 reply

Mick-e 2017
Feb 28, 2021

I’ve been mostly unemployed since March so I rode a lot. I had a span during the late spring between Zwift, and dirt riding 6 days a week.

0 reply

brumasterj New Mexico // 2014
Mar 4, 2021

Last year by this time I had 75 miles with 7 rides
This year I’m at 385 miles with 36 rides
Some of the reason for more rides is they built a new trail system 1/2 mile from my house that is actually very rideable the whole year, the other trail system gets supper slushy and muddy during rain.
Plus I’m riding a fat bike 4.6 this year compared to my Skinny 2.3

0 reply

rmap01 Maryland // 2013
Mar 3, 2021

Learned last year that doing structured training programs on Zwift really pays off in terms of strength, fitness & stamina on the trail. Doing the same this year + more strength training. As spring arrives I'll be ready.

0 reply

Charles Walla Arizona // 2020
Mar 4, 2021

My aerobic fitness is down, no doubt. Without Epic Rides and similar events or even long group rides for motivation, I haven't done many long, hard rides with a lot of climbing. On the other hand, my mtb-specific muscular fitness has improved a lot from sessioning technical climbs, and doing more of my technical climbs in the standing position, which has opened up a lot of punchy climbs that were unrideable for me before.

0 reply

Entrenador California // 2015
Mar 1, 2021

My day job usually entails walking, running and lifting stuff, and that off-bike activity equates to about 12lbs worth of calories being burned. WFH means just Zoom stuff for now. Need to ride harder & longer when I get out to make up the difference, but time is still tight.

0 reply

killer climb Pennsylvania // 2019
Feb 28, 2021

Trying to stay above water with some neighborhood rides but not much climbing. Still getting one ride a week in which will have to suffice until the snow melts enough to get on the trails. A fat bike will be in the works for next season. The plus hardtail can ride frozen snowmobile tracks but not much fun. A fatty will get me afloat to ride endless snowmobile tracks next season if we get the big snow again and if we don't I'll ride the heck out of a jeep bike anyway. Crawling around through anything at 2mph is still great fitness.

0 reply

amiller118 Kansas // 2020
Mar 4, 2021

Who ever said "much better" sits on a throne of lies!

0 reply

swanker New York // 2020
Mar 4, 2021

Working from home due to COVID and I have a 4.5 mile loop within a minute ride of my house, so that's been helpful. Bought a fat bike to ride in the snow. So, have been riding a ton already and it's still winter!! :)

0 reply

Chin Gao New Mexico // 2016
Mar 4, 2021

fitness levels continue to elevate mainly due to mind set including riding nearly every day either on roadie, gravel, MTB or fat. Fortunately I am able to have bikes for most riding terrain and weather conditions. Living in the Great Southwest Land of Enchantment at 6700 foot elevation allows for continuous year round riding. Throughout my riding career I have mastered diet, rest and daily exercising to achieve my increase in fitness level and personal physical abilities for a 64 year old. Weight stabilization ample sleep proper diet to include carbohydrates and protein is key. The most important part of my achievements is owed to my partner who totally supports me on riding whenever I want with no strings attached.... HAPPY PEDALING....

0 reply

Tagged: covid-19, fitness, survey, training, community

First published February 28, 2021 @ 2:24:01