What Type Of Mountain Bike Is Best For Me?

Regardless of size, age and ability, mountain biking can be enjoyed by everyone, young and old. It's a great way to keep and stay fit, and certainly an excellent way to enjoy the countryside and nature. All that you need is a suitable mountain bike.

If you're going to do mountain biking, you should know what sort, so you can choose the appropriate bike. There are 4 main categories and they include cross country, downhill/freeride, all-mountain, and trials.

Each style of mountain biking has a corresponding type of mountain bike. Each type of mountain bike is designed for different kinds of terrain and obstacles and has its own pros and cons. So you should be clear about your riding preferences.

Freeride/Downhill bikes are, of course, bikes that you ride mainly down hill. They are equipped with front and rear suspension, large disc brakes, and use heavier frame than other mountain bikes. They also have a limited selection of gears. They don't do very well uphill, but smoke everything down.

All-mountain bikes are a blend between cross country and freeride/downhill bikes. They have full-suspension with medium travel, a full gear set and somewhat heavier frame than cross country bikes. They're suitable for climbing and descending on a variety of terrains.

Cross-Country bikes are the most popular and well-known mountain bikes. They have full selection of gears (usually 27), they are the lightest of mountain bikes and usually have only front suspension. Designed for all types of terrain they perform very good in both climing and descending.

Trial mountain bikes don't look anything like mountain bikes. They have smaller, lower frames and some types come without a saddle. They're set up specifically for bike trials.

After you decide what you wanna do with your bike, it's time to go buy it. But how to choose, there are so many brands? Well, brands are not that important. I myself am a fan of Iron Horse bicycles, but that's just me. When buying a mountain bike you should concentrate on the quality of the components.

So there you have it. Now jump on your bike and enjoy the ride. Don't forget a helmet!