City/Urban Mountain Biking

City/urban mountain bikes are light-duty mountain bikes meant more for pavement use than off-road.  Bikes that can be considered "urban" are multi-use, utilitarian bikes.  Gary Fisher Bikes has a wonderful series of "Dual-Sport" bikes, offering models that are either road-oriented (with a rigid fork) or mountain-oriented (with a suspension fork).  These bikes are not considered dedicated mountain bikes because their components are more lightweight and less durable.  However, for light riders who ride carefully in rough terrain, they work just fine as off-road bikes!

These bikes (both the road and off-road versions) have 29" wheels for fast, comfortable rolling over both pavement and dirt.  The frame on a bike that is originally intended for use as an urban mountain bike is a little lighter than a mountain bike frame, but dedicated mountain bikes work just fine as urban bikes, they're just heavier.  If they are full suspension, it's a good idea to lock out the suspension for more efficiency.  Gearing on urban mountain bikes is the same as a regular mountain bike, but the tires of choice are narrower and with less tread - more like a cyclocross tire.

If you're riding strictly on pavement, you will find that a bike with a rigid fork is much lighter and more efficient.  If there will be some riding on gravel roads or on trails, then a suspension fork is best.  Which type of fork the rider chooses is based on personal preference.  If a rider wishes to convert a mountain bike into a city/urban bike, making the switch from suspension to rigid fork is a great way to decrease weight and increase speed.    To convert a mountain bike to an urban bike begins with the tires:  get either slick (no tread) or semi-slick (subtle tread), narrower, higher-pressure ties; a second conversion would be to a rigid fork; and a third might be a change in gearing to eliminate the smallest chainring (useless on flat roads).  A popular drivetrain choice among urban mountain bike riders is called a 1x9:  one chainring in front, with a 9-speed cassette.  This allows for higher gearing and lower gearing as necessary, but without the wide range of a trail bike.

If budget allows for one bike only, the city/urban mountain bike or dual-sport bike is an excellent choice.  They can handle just about any terrain except for very rocky technical trails; it's easy to mount fenders on them and make them into commuter bikes; and many come with braze-ons for attaching panniers, racks and baskets that make them into wonderful utility bikes.