Mountain Bikes
In past times and current times when a kid wants to go some where, he uses his bike. As times change, so do the things we use and who uses them. There are a few types of bikes, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. The best of those bikes, for riding along rough roads, is the mountain bike. Each one is specialized for the activity you need to do. One may be for just casual riding, while another for rough terrain. Depending on your habits, you may need one type, or possibly more then one. The most common among the minds of people is the mountain bike. The mountain bike is designed for unpaved roads and dirt trails. They have been know to be ridden on roads and such, but do not perform particularly well in that area. They are designed with lots of grips, which gives extra traction, wide handlebars, and lots of gears. The wheels on these bikes typically range from 26" to 29". 26" is the standard wheel size for most mountain bikes. 29" have been used on some models, it is said that they roll over obstacles much better than than a normal wheel, at the cost of maneuverability. There are quite a number of different styles of mountain bikes and riding them. Most people who have ridden one of these bikes have usually been involved in 2 of these styles, even if you don't own that type of bike. The most well known is probably the enduro style. You may tell yourself it is not well known to you, but it is. Enduro is "all mountain" riding, so odds are you know of it if you have a mountain bike. Enduro bikes are specifically made for mountains, being able to ascend and descend mountains with relative ease, compared to other bikes that is. Downhill mountain bikes are best for, as the name suggests, riding downhill. They typically have front and rear suspension, made of very strong parts, and quite heavy compared to others. Freeride bikes are more versatile than any other bike. They are designed to do a multitude of tasks. They can be ridden uphill, and also just as capable on downhill trails. Each mountain bike can be place into a category based on its suspension system. There are 4 different suspension systems. -Hardtail: frame with no rear suspension, often has a front suspension fork -Soft Tail: frame with small amount of rear suspension, but activated by flex of the frame instead of pivots. -Fully Rigid: sub-type of hardtail, with a rigid fork -Dual or Full suspension: front suspension fork and rear suspension with a rear shock and linkage that makes the rear wheel move on pivots. Mountain bikes are a great way to explore your surroundings and get some exercise at the same time. After you have decided to buy a mountain bike, you should look over all the different aspects of each type. The bike you want to buy, will depend on the activity you will be doing. Once you know what type you are buying, the next thing is finding who to buy it from. Do you want to go with a name brand company or a private business? What ever the choice may be, take your time and get to know your bike. A list of Mountain Bike Manufacturers is below
