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