OutdoorImpulse.com Outdoor activities blog for water sports, hiking, running, biking, camping and more.
Mountain biking is a common sport and it is important for bikers to know how to choose the right mountain bike. Choice of the perfect bike largely depends on the riders’ riding preferences. For instance, a cross country rider needs a different bike from a downhill rider. The reason is that mountain bikes are designed differently for different riding styles. When it comes to the question of how to choose the right mountain bike, a rider needs to understand the special features of different types of mountain bikes that make them adapt to their specific riding style. Different types of mountain bikes include the free ride bikes, downhill bikes, full suspension bikes, dirt jump bikes, hard tail bikes, cross country bikes etc.
The cross country bikes are the simplest because they are not designed with any special features. They are quite light and best for competitive pedaling; good for speeding and tight turning. They are not suitable for high jumps and stunts since they cannot bear such impact. The downhill bikes are designed for downhill descent. They are special bikes armed with large brake discs, front and rear suspensions and their frame tubing is much heavier. Their design is made to tackle tough and steep descent terrains.
Free ride bikes are hard to define because they are designed to do a little bit of everything. From less steep descends to stunts and normal pedaling. They can ride well through different terrains and they are a bit heavier than the cross country bike. Full suspension bikes have both wheels suspended unlike the hard tail bikes which have only the front wheel suspended. The advantage of full suspension bikes is that they give a smooth ride, thus they are easier on the rider’s joints and allow more control of the bike at high speeds in rough terrain. On the other hand, they are heavier and more expensive. Lastly, the dirt jump bikes, as the name suggests, are designed to perform awing stunts. Their wheels probably touch the ground fewer times than they are in the air. They are built from sturdy materials and they are light thus easy to maneuver.
As a rider, when it comes to how to choose the right mountain bike; make your choice primarily based on your riding style and ensure that you test your bike before you take it out to the biking track.
