Mountain Bike Guide

Downhill mountain (DH) biking is pure, gravity-assisted fun.  Held at ski areas worldwide, DH races are individual time-trials (racing against the clock, riders go one at a time down the course).  The terrain is mostly very steep and often extremely technical.  There are many impossible-looking obstacles and drops that the riders jump, and the entire course is designed for high-speed descending.  DH bikes are not designed for climbing! [...]

Cross-country mountain biking is what most mountain bikers do:  riding singletrack, doubletrack, dirt roads and pavement; technical and non-technical terrain; uphill, flat and downhill.  Cross-country (XC) opportunities are found everywhere, even in urban areas.  Because of the versatility of cross-country bikes, they can be ridden practically anywhere a bicycle can go.  Any rider can find great places to ride, no matter their skill level. [...]

There are many different types of mountain bikes – some “do it all” and some are very specialized. With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to decide exactly what type of bike is right for you. [...]

All-Mountain bikes are full-suspension bikes built for epic adventure riding and rough, technical trail riding.  With long-travel suspension (5-7” of travel) they are plush enough to make multi-day backcountry rides pleasurable...

Freeride bikes are designed to ride the most extreme types of terrain. Steep chutes, large rocks and roots, big jumps and drop-offs, and just about anything else, natural or man-made, that you can imagine. [...]

Hardtail XC bikes have a suspension fork and rigid frame, making for lightweight, efficient climbers (power is transferred directly to the bike, with no efficiency loss due to rear suspension); the downside is that descents can be rough...

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Often called all-purpose, XC Trail bikes are what most people think of when they hear the term “mountain bike”...

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The sky’s the limit on race bikes – with each ounce shaved, the cost goes up significantly. A good pro-level XC race bike can be extremely lightweight, coming in sub-20 lbs for a hardtail – but... [...]