Mountain Bikes - Types
Written by: ljpasion
Basically, there are five different types of Mountain Bikes: cross country, trail, downhill, freeride, and dirt jump. Each type is designed to tackle different kinds of terrain and obstacles and it has its own advantages and disadvantages. In choosing the right Mountain Bike, it is best to know first where you are going to ride and what kinds of obstacles you are going to face while riding. It all boils down to what you want and need.
- Cross Country Mountain Bikes - Also referred to as XC bikes, Cross Country Mountain Bikes are designed for off-road trails with minimal to moderate obstacles. They can also be used for climbs and descents. XC bikes are made of the most lightweight materials (they weigh between 20-30 pounds) in order to go as fast as possible in all natural conditions. Suspension often comes in the form of air shocks. These bikes are usually more rigid than those of other Mountain Bikes. XC bikes are divided into two sub-types (according to suspension):
Hardtail Mountain Bikes
These are bikes without rear suspension integrated into the frame. However, to improve comfort, bike suspension forks may be added as an upgrade. Most Mountain Bikes nowadays come standard with a suspension fork. Hardtail bikes weigh 2-3 pounds less than the lightest full-suspension Mountain Bikes. An advantage that a hardtail has over a full-suspension Mountain Bike is that during sprints, you don't waste energy. With full-suspension bikes, you will get this bouncing feeling when you get off the bike saddle. Hardtail frames do have an amount of shock-absorbing characteristic due to the improved materials used for the seatstay and chainstay. Starting out with a hardtail Mountain Bike is not a bad move. You will save on a lot of extra weight and you will be able to have good pedaling technique without the bouncing feeling. Lastly, hardtails are more durable than full-suspension bikes and require less maintenance.
Full-suspension Mountain Bikes
These come with both front fork suspension and rear suspension integrated in the bike frame. These bikes somewhat resemble a motorcycle. They offer much more riding comfort than hardtail but weighs more than the mid-weight hardtails. Due to advances in technology, full-suspension maintenance has become easier. Some bike suspension companies have come out with suspension lock-out. This gives a full-suspension bike a stiff rear similar to that of a hardtail. This is advantageous during off the saddle climbs and sprints to the finish.
- Trail Mountain Bikes - These are basically a modification to Cross Country Mountain Bikes, with softer suspension systems to handle harder and more technical obstacles. The only downside to this type is that pedaling may require more effort from the rider because of the increased suspension travel.
- Downhill Mountain Bikes - As the name suggests, Downhill Mountain Bikes are designed for downhill trails and race courses with steep drops. They have more suspension travel than any other type of Mountain Bike. These tend to be heavier (over 40 pounds), but are made as light as possible to make them suitable for racing. Since they are built for fast downhill runs, they are very hard to use for climbs. They are often equipped with hydraulic disc brakes to help them stop during high speeds.
- Freeride Mountain Bikes - These look somewhat like Downhill Mountain Bikes, can weigh almost as much, but are designed to be easier to pedal. Freeride Mountain Bikes are made to function both as a Cross Country and a Downhill Mountain Bike, but may not perform as efficiently as the two when it comes to their respective features.
- Dirt Jump Mountain Bikes - These bikes are used for hitting jumps as well as for street riding and slalom races. Some people refer to Dirt Jump Mountain Bikes as oversized BMX bikes that have front suspension. They are typically made of very strong materials to be able to take the impact of jumps and their suspension systems are just a tad softer than those of Cross Country Mountain Bikes.
To wrap it all up, the different types of Mountain Bikes are Cross Country or XC, Trail, Downhill, Freeride, and Dirt jump. If you are a beginner in this sport, it is advisable to go with a hardtail XC bike, since this type can do almost all things that mountain bikes are made to do, and it comes at a lower price. However, it is also wise to consider the specific type of riding you want to do. If you want to go for fast downhill races, then by all means get a downhill type. If street riding and jumps are your thing, then the dirt jump is the one for you. Just take note of each type’s advantages and disadvantages when buying a Mountain Bike.
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