Mountain bikes can easily be broken down into two categories: cross-country and downhill. The categories are completely different from each other; understand the differences before you purchase a mountain bike. The type of riding you'll be doing will determine the kind of bike you will need.
Cross-Country Mountain Bike Overview
If your intention is to stick to trails with minimal obstacles, then you want a cross-country bike, or XC bike as they often referred. An XC bike is normally lightweight – ranging from 20 to 30 pounds. XC bikes fall into two sub-categories: hardtail and full-suspension.
Hardtail Mountain Bike
Many beginner riders start with hardtail bikes, which contain only front air suspension. They are much more rigid than full-suspension bikes but what they lack in suspension they make up for in weight. The benefit of a hardtail XC bike is that their light weight allows a rider to move quickly through the trails. They are often popular with casual mountain bikers, but will also be used by competitive racers. Just about every major mountain bike manufacturer makes a line of hardtail bikes. They are great for beginners because they are affordable and require less maintenance.
Full-Suspension Mountain Bikes
There are a wide range of full-suspension bikes on the market, each one built to handle different terrains and degrees of stress and impact. Full-suspension XC bikes are often the lightest of full-suspension mountain bikes and can range in price from $1,000 to $5,000 as of time of publication. The suspension provides the rider with more comfort on more technically challenging trails, but the added suspension travel requires the rider to pedal harder than he would have to on a hardtail.
For riders serious about entering cross-country competitions, weight and durability are major factors in choosing a full-suspension mountain bike. The added suspension unit often requires more maintenance and adds weight to the bike. When purchasing a full-suspension bike, research not only the bike, but the suspension units that come with it. A full-suspension XC bike can be a costly investment.
Downhill Mountain Bike
The purpose of downhill riding is to travel down steep, technical terrain as fast as possible. A downhill rider uses gravity more often than pedaling during a downhill course. These bikes are heavy, sometimes weighing up to 45 pounds. They are normally built with hydraulic disk brakes in order to stop the bike at high speeds and they have more suspension travel than any other mountain bike, making them very difficult to ride up hill.
When purchasing a downhill bike, spend plenty of time researching them before making a decision. Large department stores often sell downhill bikes at very affordable prices, but they are made with weak, inexpensive parts that cannot handle the stress of downhill trails. Be sure the bike is strong enough to handle the stress you plan to exert on it.
References
- Mountain Bike Magazine's Complete Guide to Mountain Biking Skills; 1996
- ABC-of-Mountain Biking: Mountain Bike Types
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