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