Between road riding and offroad riding, offroad is endurance! Roadies are into speed and the peak performance. One can only get used to only one training. So, you cannot equate 45km offroad to 45km on road. On road riding, one only needs to concentrate more on peaking your performance as the roads are even where else on off road riding, a lot of other skills are needed. You have to concentrate on the line of ride, avoiding ruts, rocks and roots. This itself is sometimes too consuming for riders. Then the balancing skills and getting into tight spaces and finally the hilly terrain which needs a lot of low gear cranking and grinding.

It is not to say road riding is easier either because road riding is stressful, really stressful. Many roadies are competitive and it gets even more stressful. Off course one can say, I will just ride slow but riding in a group sometimes
drives your adrenaline high because of your peers and many try to be equal or catch up and this is disaster for those not used to it.

Most important I think is the clique you are riding with, even with foldies. Sometimes you get riders who makes a nuisance of themselves. We used to have one who always gets lost and don't want to stay with the pack and the leader and sweeper have to go all around hunting him. He could have seen something nice and sat a while reminiscing his grandmother because he saw a chicken by the roadside and that to him is why he rides, so all the others have to wait for him. While we appreciate his sentimentality, he was not thinking of others. At the same note, we also have people who organize but not taking care of their charge and sometimes just leave early. Yes, I have seen that, honestly. Hahahaaa.

My point is, riding 45 km offroad is actually very tough. I can ride Kampar to Sitiawan and ride 12 hours and still can sit down for a beer but after doing 35 km with the KLMBH here, I really wanted to take their chicken loop and go home earlier. Hahahaa. I am in the midst of organizing a ride into the jungles, from Kuala Tembeling to Kuala Lipis area. All done in the jungles. Maybe you want to join me?  We ride for a day then set camp (organizers will be in 4WD and set camp and prepare food) and then ride another day and return by long boats along Sungai Jelai. This is not a jamboree or race. More of a fellowship off road ride , enjoying nature at it's best. Slow, doesn't matter if the slowest is slower than a sloth. Hahahaha.