In the previous article, we covered the differences in suspension systems between road bikes and mountain bikes. It appears that the mountain bike has much more precision in terms of suspension. But does this mean that road bikes are designed with carelessness? Absolutely not. In fact, road bikes are built without suspension systems such as shocks and hydraulics for a reason. When a bicycle is being ridden on a smooth surface such as a paved road, it doesn't need suspension to counteract any rough terrain, so it would be pointless to have any, if the bike is only used on smooth roads. A bike with no suspension would be lighter than a bike of the same design with suspension.And the lighter the bike, the faster it can be ridden. In professional bike racing, you want the lightest bike you can possibly have, while maintaining quality. A bike without suspension is also a lot easier to work on and maintain. And one more thing worth noting, is that road bikes perform better on pavement than mountain bikes, because the only moving parts that transfer energy make up the bike's chain system. It's more efficient and more aerodynamic that way. So, reflecting on what has been said so far, in these first two parts of this article, it is obvious that mountain bikes are faster on rough terrain, while road bikes are faster on smooth roads. In the third part we will discuss the small differences that separate a mountain bike from a road bike.