Mountain Biking:

If your ideal riding is on the trails, then you get to choose from the wide range of highly evolved modern mountain bikes which have evolved so far, so fast. The technology has trickled down so quickly that today’s entry level bikes can be loaded with features that were once only found on top-end machines.

At the same time, though, there are many kinds of bikes to choose from as the sport has become more and more specialized as it grows in different directions. Depending upon how far you want to ride, what technical challenges your favourite trails contain, and even whether or not you want to ride up the hills, there’s a mountain bike that’s built for your type of riding.

We’ve listed the most common categories of mountain bike below, starting with the ones that are lightest and best for pedalling to the heaviest, burliest ones which are built exclusively for the downhills.

Cross Country
The modern XC bike has evolved significantly in the last few years as full-suspension systems have become lighter and more efficient when pedalling. At the same time, the powerful stopping offered by disc brakes has become lighter and cheaper.

Mountain bikes with front suspension only and rim brakes still offer the lightest, fastest option for short rides and pro racers but they have become more and more a specialized tool for racers. Whether it features dual or front suspension, the modern Cross-Country bike has three to four inches travel per wheel, with the emphasis on systems which are efficient enough to transfer all the power through to the wheels.

All Mountain
The All-Mountain bike is now the classic all-around full-suspension mountain bike. It’s efficient enough to do a couple of races a year, but at the same time it’s tough enough to handle the occasional day of shuttling or life accessed park riding. It’s perfect for long days in the saddle with big climbs and ripping descents.

Most all mountain bikes have roughly five inches of front and rear travel with disc brakes. They often have some sort of lock-out on the forks and shock to help smooth out the ride when pedalling on the flats or up hills.

FreeRide
The FreeRide bike is basically set up for the downhills but offers enough gears and pedalling to get you to the top of the next ripping descent. Built burly enough for all but the most extreme jumps and drops, it’s got relaxed angles for high speeds and steep drops. Most FreeRide bikes have double crown front forks for improved stiffness with more travel.

You are not going to get to the top of the hill in record time, but not requiring a chairlift or pickup truck opens up a whole extra world of riding options. Normally, with roughly seven inches of front and rear travel big brakes and a plush ride, the fun you’ll have on the way back down will make up for the grind up.

DownHill
The big kids of the mountain bike family--DH rigs make no compromises to pedalling or climbing efficiency--they are all about the ride down and the big hits along the way. DownHill bikes normally feature at least 8 inches of suspension travel front and rear, disc brakes with large rotors for maximum braking, a single chain ring with guide to prevent it from being bounced off in rough terrain. They can easily weigh over 50lbs and they are made from the burliest materials to absorb all the punishment that gravity-powered riding delivers.