A mountain bike is designed for off-road excursions. It is made up of gears and parts that must withstand rough wear and tear, sand, dirt and/or rocky terrain as well as other rugged conditions. Each gear and part provides a particular function to help navigate as well as make your ride as comfortable as possible.
Frame
Compared with other bicycles, the frame of a mountain bike must be thick and sturdy enough to tackle rough riding conditions. Available in different materials, the majority of mountain bike frames are built to be lightweight yet durable. Steel alloys, although heavy, provide excellent shock absorption, are easy to repair and consist of an impressive strength-to-weight ratio. Other types of mountain bike frames include aluminum alloys and composites material such as Kevlar and/or carbon-fiber.
Wheels
Mountain bike wheels are available in different sizes, with diameters generally between 26 and 29 inches. The size of the mountain bicycle tires depends on the intended purpose of the bike, whether for extreme rugged conditions or for a simple bike path. Characteristics of mountain bike wheels include a wide base, strong and sturdy material, and available with or without an inner tube. A tubeless mountain bike wheel provides better shock absorption and traction.
Gear Shifter
Similar to the gear shift on a manual transmission car, the shifter on a mountain bike helps shift the speed either up or down a gear as well as control the derailleur. Each bike comes with a specific number of available gears or speeds --- for example, a 10-speed bike. This means there are 10 options of speed gears on the bike. There are three types of shifters --- thumb, rapid fire and grip. The most common mountain bike shifter is the thumb shifter. The thumb shifter is located on the handlebar of the bike and requires either a push or a pull of the shifter to switch gears. Rapid fire shifters are typically located at the bottom of the handlebars and feature a push-and-pull lever. The grip shifter is a lot like the throttle found on a motorcycle. To switch gears, simply rotate the grip shifter either forward or backward.
Brakes
In addition to helping you stop your bike, the brakes also help your bike maintain its balance through rocky terrain and keep the bike from losing its direction. There are three types of mountain bike brakes --- disc, rim and V-brakes. Disc brakes are a popular choice because they perform well no matter what the riding conditions. One drawback is that disc brakes tend to be expensive as well as heavier than the other kinds of brakes. Rim brakes weigh less than disc brakes but do not work well in wet or muddy conditions. V-brakes are commonly found on most mountain bikes, however, they also do not work well in wet or muddy conditions, rust easily and must be greased regularly.
Bike Crank and Derailleur
Also known as the pedals, the bike crank is the device that, when pushed with the rider's feet, provides movement for the bicycle chain, which helps move the bike. The bike crank also contributes to the function of the derailleur. The derailleur assists the bike chain as well as helps increase or decrease the speed of the bike through the use of the gear shifter. For an optimal and smooth shifting experience, it is important to have a good quality derailleur.
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