| When it's time to get up close and personal with | | | | These bikes also have a rear shock absorber and a |
| Nature, grab a mountain bike, set the wheels in | | | | linkage. |
| motion and head for the hills. | | | | Cross-country mountain bikes are made of more |
| Mountain bikes are, without question, the most | | | | resilient material, and usually weigh less. These bikes |
| rugged bicycles on the market. These self-propelled | | | | can weigh as little as twenty pounds, with the |
| machines are built and designed to take anything you | | | | heaviest models weighing in at about forty pounds. |
| can throw their way; from dirt tracks and steep | | | | Enduro or all-mountain bikes are generally heavier |
| inclines to pebbled terrain and hairpin turns. Most | | | | than cross country bikes, weighing from thirty to |
| cyclists love to use their mountain bikes on narrow, | | | | fifty pounds. These bikes have better suspensions |
| unpaved trails, rarely spinning their wheels on asphalt. | | | | that work well while climbing hills or maneuvering |
| These types of terrain do take their toll, so cycle | | | | hairpin bends. |
| manufacturers have been forced to design sturdier | | | | Free ride mountain bikes are made with stronger, |
| bikes that keep performing under pressure. | | | | heavier materials. This style of bike is designed for |
| The tires on mountain bikes are fatter and made of | | | | easier pedaling than the other downhill models. Free |
| stronger rubber. This construction helps to prevent | | | | ride bikes are easily maneuvered around dangerous |
| the inevitable tears and punctures from sharp rocks | | | | obstacles and steep turns, but they are not as |
| and obstacles along the trail. Bigger tires also provide | | | | efficient as cross-country bikes due to their hefty |
| better traction, allowing the cyclist to enjoy a | | | | forty to fifty pound mass. |
| smoother ride as he or she rolls over obstacles and | | | | Downhill mountain bikes are not as resilient as free |
| crosses uneven terrain with ease. | | | | ride bikes, but they are better suited for riding on |
| Proper suspension is an equally important feature of | | | | downhill tracks and race courses. These models tend |
| a good mountain bike. Quality mountain bikes come | | | | to have better traction than other mountain bikes. |
| with strong suspension systems. In recent years, | | | | Trail bikes don't have suspension and are usually |
| manufacturers have begun to implement both front | | | | reserved for short distances. This style of mountain |
| and rear suspension to help cyclists withstand the | | | | bike lacks a proper seat or a vestigial pad and are |
| potential pitfalls of trail riding. There are variations in | | | | quite light, weighing a mere fifteen to twenty pounds. |
| the types of suspension, and mountain bikes can be | | | | Dirt jumping, urban and street styles fall somewhere |
| classified as soft tails, hard tails, and fully rigid or dual | | | | between trail bikes and mountain bikes. These |
| suspension bikes. | | | | bicycles are very strong and have one to nine gears, |
| Soft tail bikes feature a rear suspension system that | | | | with a chain guide for both front and rear gears. |
| pivots and rests on the frame. A hard tail models has | | | | If you love to have fun while you stay fit, you can't |
| a front suspension fork. Rigid types have a rigid | | | | beat mountain bike riding. Stop into your local cycle |
| suspension fork, while dual or full suspension bikes | | | | shop for professional advice to help you find the bike |
| have both front suspension fork and rear suspension. | | | | that best suits your personal cycling needs. |