| Texas is a large wide-open state with a lot of | | | | drops of 10+ feet, and are generally rough and |
| exciting and beautiful spaces and places. There are a | | | | steep, top to bottom. To negotiate these obstacles |
| variety of terrains available, providing individuals who | | | | at race speed, racers must possess a unique |
| enjoy mountain biking numerous trails and roads to | | | | combination of total body strength, aerobic and |
| travel on for hundreds of miles. This variety also | | | | anaerobic fitness, and mental control. Minimum body |
| caters to the sport's five different categories: cross | | | | protection in a true downhill setting includes kneepads |
| country, downhill, freeride, dirt jump and trials/street | | | | and a full-face helmet with goggles, although riders |
| riding | | | | and racers commonly sport full-body suits to protect |
| Cross-Country (XC) is the most common form of | | | | themselves. |
| mountain biking. Participants ride point- to-point or in a | | | | Dirt jumping is the practice of riding bikes over |
| loop that includes climbs and descents on a variety of | | | | shaped mounds of dirt or soil. The idea is that, after |
| terrains. However, there is a difference between | | | | riding over the "take off," the rider will become |
| common XC and XC racing, which is much more | | | | momentarily airborne, and aim to land on the "landing." |
| physically demanding than leisure riding. Racers train | | | | A mountain bike built for dirt jumping tends to have a |
| for years to be able to compete at a national level. | | | | smaller frame than one used for other disciplines. |
| A typical XC bike weighs 22-28lbs, and has 0-4 inches | | | | Running single speed is very common, as is using only |
| of suspension travel front and rear. Freeride/Big Hit | | | | a rear brake. |
| Freeride is a "do anything" discipline which | | | | "Trials riding" consists of hopping and jumping bikes |
| encompasses everything from downhill racing without | | | | over obstacles. It can be performed either off-road |
| the clock, to jumping, riding "North Shore" style | | | | or in an urban environment, and requires an excellent |
| (elevated trails made of interconnecting bridges and | | | | sense of balance. As with Dirt Jumping and BMX-style |
| logs), and generally riding trails and/or stunts that | | | | riding, emphasis is placed on style, originality and |
| require more skill and aggressive riding than XC. | | | | technique. There are many stylistic similarities to |
| Freeride bikes are generally heavier and have beefier | | | | skateboarding. Trials bikes look almost nothing like |
| suspensions than XC, but usually retain much of their | | | | mountain bikes. They use either 20", 24" or 26" |
| climbing ability. The Freeride rider builds his or her bike | | | | wheels and have very small, low frames, some types |
| to lean more toward a preferred level of | | | | without a saddle. |
| aggressiveness. "Slopestyle" type riding is an | | | | Inherent to the sport of mountain biking is the risk of |
| increasingly popular style that combines big-air, | | | | injury. There are dozens of companies that |
| stunt-ridden freeride with BMX style tricks. Slopestyle | | | | manufacture protective gear, often referred to as |
| courses are usually constructed at already-established | | | | "armor," to protect against injury from crashes, and |
| mountain bike parks, and include jumps, large drops, | | | | mostly aimed at downhill, freeride and dirt jump |
| quarter-pipes, and other wooden obstacles. | | | | riders. Armor ranges from simple knee and elbow |
| Downhill biking is simple -- riding mountain bikes | | | | pads to full-body padding. Some companies market |
| downhill. While XC riding has a downhill component, | | | | full-body armor suits or jackets, that allow the rider |
| downhill (or DH for short) usually refers to | | | | to remove some of the padding and/or plastic plates |
| racing-oriented downhill riding. Downhill racing bikes are | | | | that protect the rider's arms. Most upper body |
| equipped with a front and rear suspension, large | | | | protectors also include a spine protector that is |
| brakes, and use heavier frame tubing than other | | | | comprised of plastic plates joined together, with |
| mountain bikes. Downhill bikes aren't meant to be | | | | foam padding underneath. Full-face helmets, often |
| pedaled uphill, so downhill riders and racers frequently | | | | resembling motocross helmets (but usually |
| employ trucks or ski lifts to be shuttled to the top of | | | | considerably lighter and with more ventilation), are |
| the hill. | | | | required by some bike parks, although advanced |
| Downhill courses are the most physically demanding | | | | riders often wear these helmets by choice, in order |
| and dangerous venues for mountain biking. They | | | | to better protect their heads. |
| include large jumps (up to and including 40 feet), | | | | |