| Mountain bikes are the most rugged type of bicycle. | | | | components. They can weigh as less as 20 pounds |
| They were made to be cycled on mountains, steep | | | | with the heaviest you can buy weighing around 40 |
| inclines and the roughest of terrains. Very rarely will a | | | | pounds. Enduro mountain bikes tend to be heavier than |
| mountain bike rider cycle on a paved road. The | | | | their cross country counterparts weighing on average |
| majority of mountain bike riders love cycling on narrow | | | | between 30 and 35 pounds. They have better |
| and unpaved trails resulting in greater wear and tear | | | | suspensions that are great for steep inclines or |
| and forcing the manufacturers to have to design | | | | steering over hairpin bends. |
| sturdier bicycles. | | | | Free ride mountain bikes are built of heavier materials. |
| Mountain bike tyres are therefore fatter, bigger and | | | | Unlike most other downhill bikes they are designed for |
| made of a stronger type of rubber. This is great as it | | | | easy pedaling. You will find them easy to maneuver |
| gives the cyclist better traction and allows the bicycle | | | | around dangerous obstacles and steep turns. The flip |
| to run freely in both rough and smooth terrains. | | | | side being they are not as efficient as cross country |
| Another significant feature that all mountain bikes have | | | | bikes due to them being heavier, weighing between 40 |
| is a strong suspension system. It is now common for | | | | and 50 pounds. |
| manufacturers to make bikes with both front and rear | | | | Downhill Mountain bikes, while not as strong as free |
| suspensions to help the cyclist withstand heavier | | | | ride bicycles are most suitable for riding on downhill |
| bumps and thuds. | | | | tracks and for racing. A downhill mountain bike's |
| Depending on what type of suspension the bikes have, | | | | traction is better than most other types of mountain |
| they are classified as soft tails, hard tails, fully rigid and | | | | bike. |
| dual suspension bicycles. The hard tail types have a | | | | Trial bikes are meant for short distances and come |
| front suspension fork while the rigid types have a rigid | | | | without suspension. They do not have proper seat or |
| fork. The soft tail's rear suspension rests on the frame | | | | vestigial pad and weigh less than most other bikes at |
| rather than pivots, and dual and full types have a front | | | | around 15-20 pounds. |
| suspension fork and rear suspension. As well as this | | | | Urban and Street Mountain Bike's features vary in |
| they have a rear shock absorber and linkage. | | | | between the mountain bikes and trial bikes. They are |
| Mountain bikes made for cross country cycling are | | | | very strong and come with between one and nine |
| generally made of more lightweight and resilient | | | | gears and a chain guide for the front and rear gears. |