Saturday, May 16, 2009

A Short Guide To Mountain Bike Types

By Alex Preston

Mountain biking is without a doubt one of the most exciting forms of recreation suitable for all ages, sizes and abilities. It's a wonderful way to exercise, explore outdoors, and have loads of fun. All that is needed is a fitting mountain bike, a bit of enthusiasm and, of course, the helmet.

In mountain biking, there are four main categories - downhill/freeride, cross country, all-mountain, and trials. You should know what kind of riding you will be doing before buying a mountain bike. I will try to explain what are the main differences between those categories.

There are actually more categories than four, but those are the main ones. Each offers a different experience. The style you choose will determine the type of your bike. So you should know where you're going to ride it and what kind of obstacles are you going to face.

If you want to venture in the extreme venues of mountain biking then consider Freeride/Downhill bikes. They are made for extreme and intense riding. These bikes are heavy, durable, with full suspension and large disc brakes to help them stop during high speeds. Heavy, tough and very expensive.

All-mountain bikes combine the advantages of cross country and downhill/freeride bike types. They are made to be a match for almost any situation and are suitable for both climbing and descending on a variety of different terrains.

If you're looking for light and all-round efficient mountain bike, consider Cross-Country. These bikes are most suitable for the average mountain biker, who doesn't go in the extremes. They are light, they offer full selection of gears (generally 27) and will do great for climbing up hills as going down.

Trial mountain bikes are no standard mountain bikes. They're not designed for comfortable touring, but rather for jumping over obstacles. Some don't even have a seat. Not for average riders.

To wrap it up, before you go and buy a mountain bike, you must decide what type is best suitable for your riding style. OK, but which brand should I choose? I personally like Iron Horse bikes, been with them for over a decade, but that's just me. You don't have to worry about brand names, instead focus on the quality of the components.

That's it. Now put on your helmet and enjoy the ride. - 22873

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