| As a sport or a hobby, mountain biking can be | | | | and extreme, offering riders the chance for |
| split into 9 different categories. | | | | ultimate thrills and excitement. |
| These categories are very versed in what they | | | | 6. Freeride |
| offer. They are: | | | | Free riding involves finding the perfect line down |
| 1. BMX | | | | the mountain using all of the terrain to express |
| BMX is a style where the bikes offer 20 inch | | | | yourself. These competitions are very popular, as |
| wheels. These bikes are commonly used at skate | | | | riders can express themselves any way they see |
| parks or with dirt jumps. Because of their smaller | | | | fit. |
| wheels and shorter wheel bases, BMX bikes are | | | | 7. Single speed |
| much easier to perform tricks and stunts with. | | | | Not to be confused with fixed gears, this is a |
| 2. Cross country | | | | form of cross country biking that's done using a |
| This type of mountain biking involves riding your | | | | bike with only one gear and fewer components. |
| bike up and down hills. Although it's the least | | | | The idea with single speed is simplicity. The |
| extreme form of mountain biking, most cross | | | | straight chain line will provide efficient pedaling, and |
| country riders are very fit and go on long rides. | | | | the lack of components mean less mechanical |
| 3. Cyclo cross | | | | problems and a lighter bike. |
| This is a cross between road and mountain biking. | | | | 8. Street and urban |
| These riders have to go over obstacles, cross | | | | This type of riding involves riding in urban areas, |
| through rivers, and race on and off the course. | | | | ledges, and other types of man made obstacles. |
| 4. Dirt jumping | | | | Riders of street and urban biking will do tricks as |
| Dirt jumping involves jumping the bike over large | | | | well, such as stalls and grinds. |
| man made dirt jumps then doing tricks while they | | | | 9. Trails |
| are in the air. These jumps are normally close | | | | Trials are considered an aspect of mountain biking, |
| together so riders can go over six or more | | | | although the bikes used look nothing like mountain |
| jumps in one run, gaining a flow to give them | | | | bikes. They use 20 or 26 inch wheels and sport |
| more speed for bigger jumps. | | | | small, low frames. Trail riders will hop and jump |
| 5. Downhill | | | | their bikes over obstacles, which requires an |
| Downhill mountain biking involves racing downhill as | | | | extreme amount of balance and concentration. |
| fast as possible. This type of riding is very intense | | | | |