Global Sports: The Different Types Of Mountain Bike

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

The Different Types Of Mountain Bike

By Phil Downing

Buying a mountain bike is a process that confuses newcomers. While over a decade ago, full suspension bikes were somewhat rare, it is now the non-suspension bikes that have taken that role. Bikes fulfill numerous roles from providing entertainment to simply being used as a means of travel. As such, they can be very versatile and provides many additional features, some of which are for comfort; others for safety. When you purchase a mountain bike, be sure you're getting one that suits all your needs, rather than one that may actually be detrimental to what you require. Here are a few of the types of mountain bike available for purchase.

Non-Suspension

Rather rare these days, the non-suspension variation comes without any bulky rear and forward suspension components, meaning less to maintain and less weight. This means they're good for travelling. They're also better for more simpler uses, though you'll definitely feel any bumps in the road.

Hardtail

These bikes provide no suspension in the rear, though the front can come with it. This kind of bike allows for a little more efficiency while pedaling due to the removal of the bounce effect every time you pedal hard. They also require less maintenance than a full suspension bike. If you wish to get into mountain biking, this is a good first one to try out.

Full-Suspension Mountain Bike

With both back and front suspension, these provide comfort when going over bumps. They absorb shocks to a decent degree and are brilliant when going off-road. For those going on trails, they will reduce the shock from a jump and fall. However, they are also the hardest to maintain and will dampen your pedaling to some degree. Additionally, the weight of the bike will be overall raised due to the additional components.

Final Words

So when purchasing a bike, you need to consider two things: your needs and your budget. If you want a traveling bike, a non-suspension, front suspension or even a bike that isn't a mountain bike variation. For going off-road, on trails and similar activities, a full-suspension would be great, but not so much if you need to carry it around by hand.

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