As time passes by, biking slowly became known to people all over the world. You can see a lot of people along the roads who are riding a bike. Biking usually serves as an exercise, pastime, and sometimes as a mode of transportation. It also became a sport composed of professional and amateur races usually held in mountain trails and biking tracks. One type of mountain bike ideal for off roads is the mountain bike. There are different types of mountain bikes that come in various weight, tire sizes, suspension, geometry, rigidity, and many other parts. When buying a mountain bike, you must choose the right type, depending on how you want to use it. Below is the list of mountain bikes and the guide on how to select your desired type of mountain bike.
GUIDES ON HOW TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT MOUNTAIN BIKE FOR YOU
- Know the amount you are willing to spend on a bike.
- Determine how and where you will ride this bike.
- Know what season you want to use your bike.
- Know the mountain bike specs that you want.
- Make sure that you will choose the size that fits you the best.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF MOUNTAIN BIKES
1. Cross Country (XC) Mountain Bikes
This type of mountain bike is for bikers who like riding fast. Cross Country mountain bikes are lightweight and have an excellent pedaling performance that is essential for climbing and longer rides faster on trails. This bike has endurance and has the efficiency to uphill trails rather than downhill. Cross Country mountain bikes have a wheel size of 29 inches, weight not more than 24 pounds, suspension travel of 80 to 100 millimeters, 69° to 71° steep head angles, which is essential for faster turning and better climbing, and tires that support lesser weight, efficiency, and quicker rolling resistance. A good quality Cross Country mountain bike would most likely cost at least 900 dollars.
2. Trail Mountain Bikes
Trail bikes are probably the most common type of mountain bike. It is frequently bought because it can be used in any type of racing. Unlike the Cross Country mountain bikes, Trail mountain bikes are great in both uphill and downhill trails. They offer a comfortable ride over pure performance. Trail mountain bikes have a wheel size of 27.5 inches to 29 inches, suspension travel of 120 to 140 millimeters, an approximate 67° to 69° head-tube angle, and a decreased weight. Tires of trail mountain bikes are durable, efficient, and have excellent traction. The average price of a high-quality mountain bike ranges from 2000 dollars to 12,000 dollars.
3. Downhill and Park Mountain Bikes
This type of mountain bike is ideal for steep and challenging terrains and a speedy bicycle ride with many big drops and jumps. Downhill mountain bikes are huge and robust, wherein riders must wear biking gears like a full-face helmet and body armor since they are riding along a tough and bumpy trail. This type of bike requires hiking or shuttling when you want to go to the top because downhill mountain bikes, from its name, is only ideal for downhill trails. Downhill mountain bikes have rear suspension travel of 6.7 inches to 10 inches and front suspension travel of 7 inches to 8 inches. These bikes have a head angle not less than 65°, a pretty slack angle, which means that these bikes are stable at high speeds but can’t go uphill. Their tires are very big and are designed for traction and durability.
4. All-Mountain or Enduro Mountain Bikes
The name “Enduro” came from a race format also called “Enduro,” wherein climbing uphill is necessary, but downhill parts are the only ones timed and scored. All-Mountain bikes are perfectly designed for both challenging uphill and technical downhill trails. These bikes come with 27.5- or 29-inches wheels, suspension travel ranging from 140 millimeters to 180 millimeters, head angle of 65 to 67°, which strongly supports descents rather than ascending. They have tires that have aggressive knobs that are designed for traction and cornering.
5. Fat-tire Mountain Bikes
Fat-tire mountain bikes are designed for snowy and sandy areas or any places that require bikes with big tires. This type of mountain bike has tires with a width that measures between 3.7 inches to 5 inches. Their tires provide excellent grip to the road because of their size. Fat-tire bikes are beginner-friendly since their fat tires are reassuringly safe to deal with even through rough terrains.