| This article describes the basics of mountain biking. | | | | rear, in addition to a linkage. |
| Learning more about the sport will help you to | | | | Lighter weight material and materials that are |
| enjoy it even more. | | | | more resilient are the norm for a cross-country |
| Mountain bikes are among the strongest and | | | | mountain bike. You can find a cross-country bike |
| most rugged bicycles that you can find. The | | | | that can weight anywhere from 20-40 pounds, |
| reason that these bikes are so strong is that they | | | | depending upon your needs. An all-mountain or |
| are ridden on some very tough terrain, including | | | | Enduro bike will usually be heavier than a |
| steep inclines, dirt tracks, and pebbles. In most | | | | cross-country bike. These bikes range in weight |
| cases, mountain bikers do not ride on smoothly | | | | from 30-35 pounds. These bikes feature a |
| paved roads, rather they ride on hilly and uneven | | | | suspension that will enable you to maneuver |
| terrain that can be quite rough on a bicycle. | | | | around hairpin turns and climb up hills much easier. |
| Mountain bikers get a big thrill in riding on unpaved, | | | | Heavier and stronger materials are used to build a |
| rough terrain, even though this is hard on a | | | | free ride mountain bike. They are made to help |
| bicycle. That is why many manufacturers have | | | | make pedaling easier, so that you can easily |
| made sturdier bikes for this purpose. | | | | move around anything that is in your way and |
| The tires on a mountain bike are thicker and | | | | you can make sharp turns. They weigh in at |
| fatter than normal bike tires. They are also made | | | | around 45 pounds, which decreases their |
| of more durable rubber that gives the rider added | | | | efficiency over other cross-country bikes. |
| traction and control on uneven surfaces. | | | | For downhill tracks or race courses, you will want |
| Suspension is another very essential feature of a | | | | to choose a downhill mountain bike. They offer |
| mountain bike. A strong suspension system is | | | | you better traction than the other varieties of |
| essential for a mountain bike so that the rider can | | | | mountain bikes for maximum control and speed. |
| better handle the ups and downs that occur when | | | | If short distance riding is your game, then a trial |
| riding on uneven terrain. | | | | bike is probably the one for you. They lack |
| Mountain bikes can be separated into several | | | | suspension and do not have a seat or vestigial |
| different categories that are founded upon the | | | | pad. They are also much lighter than other bikes |
| type of suspension that they have. The | | | | for maximum speed. They weigh in at about 20 |
| classifications are dual suspension, hard tails, soft | | | | pounds. |
| tails, and fully rigid bikes. Rigid bikes feature a rigid | | | | Between mountain and trial bikes, you will find |
| fork. Soft-tailed bikes have a rear suspension that | | | | Street Mountain, Dirt Jumping, and Urban Bikes. |
| pivots on the frame. Hard-tailed bikes feature a | | | | These bikes are extremely touch and feature |
| front suspension fork. Suspension bikes have | | | | anywhere from one to nine gears with a chain |
| either front, rear, or dual suspension systems. | | | | guide for the front and rear gears. |
| These bikes also feature a shock absorber in the | | | | |