this is so funny. roadie first, here. when we first started doing mtn bike rides with the club, the ride leader would post her reports: 7 miles, 6 miles, 10 miles. I kept thinking "why not just skip the ride and go straight to the burgers & beer?" what I didn't realize was the significant pace differential between road and mountain.

I remember my first mountain bike race: 15 miles -- I thought I would die! it was the longest mtn bike ride I'd ever done.