Global Sports: Getting Started Cross Country Mountain Biking

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Getting Started Cross Country Mountain Biking

By Marcus Liberty


While free riders and downhill riders may use a lift or other "easy" way to get to the top of the mountain, cross country bikers use only their own legs. Cross country mountain biking is mountain biking at it's simplest. You have to use your own strength to get up to the top of the hill and over any obstacle you come upon.

Cross country mountain biking is different from the other styles, so it is fitting that the bike involved is different as well. A cross country bike is different in several ways from the other kinds of mountain bikes. Since cross country bikers tend to want to get from point A to point B as fast as they can, they use bikes that are built more for speed.

There are a few different styles of cross country mountain bikes to choose from. There's full suspension which has shocks on both wheels, hardtail (shocks on just the front wheel), or a fully rigid frame (no shocks on either wheels). Full suspension bikes are often more expensive than the others. Many are choosing full suspension bikes because of shock absorb-ability.

The weight of your bike when you are cross country riding makes all the difference. A heavier bike only makes it harder to get up a steep hill. It is for this reason that a cross country mountain bike is usually under 24 lbs. It is much lighter than a free ride bike, which can weight nearly 40 lbs.

This recreational activity is also an Olympic sport. It offers an excellent, fun way to get exercise, and it can be as challenging, or as easy as you want, as there are trails of all sorts. There are also competitions that may take anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours to finish.

Many people regularly enjoy this activity. It isn't as intense as downhill or free riding as the terrain ranges from easy to moderate. It is a great hobby to take up as it provides a fun way to get exercise and challenge yourself.




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