See The Country On A Mountain Bike

See The Country On A Mountain Bike

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The next time you're ready to answer the call of the wild, hop on your mountain bike and head for the hills.

Mountain bikes are, without question, the most rugged bicycles on the market. These self-propelled machines are built and designed to take anything you can throw their way; from dirt tracks and steep inclines to pebbled terrain and hairpin turns. Most cyclists love to use their mountain bikes on narrow, unpaved trails, rarely spinning their wheels on asphalt. These types of terrain do take their toll, so cycle manufacturers have been forced to design sturdier bikes that keep performing under pressure.

Mountain bikes are equipped with fatter tires made of stronger rubber to avoid the tears and punctures made by sharp rocks and obstacles on the trail. Bigger tires provide better traction, so the cyclist enjoys a smoother ride as he or she rolls over obstacles and crosses uneven terrain.

The suspension is an equally important feature of mountain bikes. All good mountain bikes come with strong suspension systems. Recently, builders have begun to implement both front and rear suspension to help cyclists withstand the pitfalls of trail riding. Based on the kind of suspension they have, mountain bikes can be classified as soft tails, hard tails, fully rigid, and dual suspension bikes.

A soft tail bike has rear suspension that rests on the frame and is able to pivot. Hard tail models feature front suspension forks. Rigid types have a rigid fork, while dual or full suspension bikes feature both a rear suspension and a front suspension fork. These also have a linkage and a rear shock absorber.

Cross-country mountain bikes are made of more resilient material, so they usually weigh less. These bikes can weigh as little as twenty pounds or as many as forty pounds. All-mountain or Enduro bikes are generally heavier than cross-country bikes, weighing anywhere from thirty to fifty pounds. With better suspensions, these bikes are better for climbing hills and maneuvering hairpin bends.

Free ride mountain bikes are made with stronger, heavier materials. This style of bike is designed for easier pedaling than the other downhill models. Free ride bikes are easily maneuvered around dangerous obstacles and steep turns, but they are not as efficient as cross-country bikes due to their hefty forty to fifty pound mass.

Downhill mountain bikes are not as resilient as free ride bikes, but they are better suited for riding on downhill tracks and race courses. These models tend to have better traction than other mountain bikes.

A trail bike has no suspension and is usually reserved for short distances. This type of mountain bike is quite light, weighing a mere fifteen to twenty pounds, and lacks a proper seat or vestigial pad. Dirt jumping, urban and street bikes all fall in classes somewhere between trail bikes and mountain bikes. These styles of bikes are quite strong and have one to nine gears, plus a chain guide for both front and rear gears.

Riding a mountain bike is one of the best ways to have fun and stay fit. Wheel in to your local cycle shop for professional advice on finding the bike that best suits your cycling needs.

About the Author:
Abbott Tearce provides material for several popular web magazines, on sports recreation and creative recreation themes. Don't reprint this exact article. Instead, reprint a free unique content version of this same article.



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