There are only 5 different types of mountain bikes, and those are dirt jump, freeride, downhill, trail and cross country mountain bikes. Each of the types of mountain bikes is designed to accommodate different types of obstacles and terrains. Each of them also has their own advantages and disadvantages.
In choosing the perfect mountain bike, it would be best for you to know first the terrain that you are going to ride on and the obstacles that you are going to face. Basically, you should know what you need and what you want.
The Different Types of Mountain Bikes
Cross Country Mountain Bikes They are also called as XC bicycles. Cross country mountain bikes are specifically designed to work on off-road trails that have minimal to moderate obstacles. XC bikes are also ideal for descents and climbs. They are made out of the lightest types of materials weighing between 20 to 30 pounds. This is to allow the XC bikes to run at a very high speed in all natural conditions. XC bikes are normally more rigid than other types of mountain bikes and they are also divided into two different sub-types according to their suspension.
oHardtail Mountain Bikes Hardtail bikes does not have any rear suspension that is integrated into its frames. But if you are looking for a comfortable bike, then you can add suspension fork to the bike as an upgrade. Nowadays, most mountain bikes have preinstalled suspension porks. Hardtail Mountain bikes normally weighs 2 to 3 pounds less than the lightest mountain bikes with full suspension. A notable advantage of a hardtail mountain bike over full-supension mountain bikes is that you do not have to waste a lot of energy during sprints.
oFull-suspension Mountain Bikes This type of mountain bikes comes with both rear and front fork suspension in its frame. Full-suspension mountain bikes are said to resemble a motorcycle and offer more comfort in riding but weighs more than hardtail mountain bikes.
Trail Mountain Bikes Trail mountain bikes are somewhat upgraded versions of cross country mountain bikes but with a lot softer suspension systems to accommodate more technical and harder obstacles. The only problem with this type of mountain bike is that pedaling would need more effort from the cyclist because of its increases suspension travel.
Downhill Mountain Bikes They are types of bikes that are specifically designed to be good in race courses and downhill trails with steep drops. They have the most suspension travel than any other mountain bike types. Downhill mountain bikes tend to be heavier weighing around 40 pounds but are still good for racing. Though they are great for fast downhill trails, they are very difficult to use in climbs. Often they are equipped with hydraulic disk brakes so that riders can stop during high-speed runs.
Freeride Mountain Bikes This type of mountain bike is similar to downhill mountain bikes and may also weigh almost the same but is designed to be pedaled much easier. Freeride mountain bikes are designed to perform like a downhill mountain bike and a cross country mountain bike, but it may not perform as well as both of them when it comes to their own distinct features.
Dirt Jump Mountain Bikes these types of bikes are ideal to use for slalom races, street riding and hitting jumps as well. Some people would refer to them as giant BMX bicycles with front suspension. Dirt jump mountain bikes are made out of strong materials which can absorb and take strong impacts of jumps. Their suspension systems also are also a bit softer than cross country mountain bikes.
An Overview Of The Exciting Sport Of Downhill Mountain Biking
One of the major categories of mountain biking is downhill mountain biking. As connoted, downhill mountain biking involves driving a bike downhill. Among all types of mountain biking, downhill biking is the riskiest and most dangerous. This type of mountain-bike curtails daredevil jumps of up to twelve meters and drops of some three meters. Rough and dangerous trails all throughout is typical of this sport. In general competitions, a trail is typically finished in two to five minutes.
The pioneering feat of downhill mountain biking occurred on October 22, 1976 in Repack Road, Fairfax, California. Involving ten riders, the beginnings of this sport involved covering the distance of 1,300 feet within five minutes. Clunkers, also called paperboy bikes were what mountain bikes were called then. In some countries, downhill mountain biking became popular in the place of skiing during summertime. It was only during the 1900s that the official mountain bike was born. Made up of custom suspension forks, ornate frame layout, and disc break, they slowly became in vogue. Upgrades to the suspension were made during 2006, updating it to its current 203 mm or 8 inches. It was so made to better meet the rigors of sudden drops and jumps common to downhill mountain biking.They were designed for high-speed stability and control.
Full body armor, namely neck braces, full-helmets, and full body pads must be worn by all downhill mountain biking enthusiasts to protect against injury. They must have a unique combination of total body strength. They must also possess aerobic and anaerobic fitness as well as mental control. The optimal weight of a mountain bike must be around 16-20 kilos to be considered good for the sport.
A gravity assisted sport, downhill mountain biking events are largely time-trial feats. The riders are racing against the time that normally begins at an interval of 30 seconds. It is normally completed in five minutes or less. Ratings are meted out by downhill skiing apparatuses. High speed descents, avoiding obstacles, and daredevil jumps are common fare for this extreme sport. Downhill mountain biking is truly exciting yet fraught with some physical hazards.
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