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See the Country on a Mountain Bike

By: Abbott Tearce

The next time you're ready to answer the call of the wild, hop on your mountain bike and head for the hills.

There is no doubt that mountain bikes are the most rugged bicycles on the market. Designed and built to take anything nature can put in their path, mountain bikes can tackle dirt tracks, steep inclines, pebbled surfaces and hairpin bends with ease. Most of these rugged cyclists thumb their noses at paved roads, and choose to take the less-traveled unpaved trails instead. The obvious wear and tear that these bikes face on a daily basis has brought about sturdier models that will keep performing under all types of pressure.

Mountain bikes have fatter tires made of stronger rubber, to avoid tears and punctures from sharp rocks and obstacles along the trail. These bigger tires provide better traction, so the cyclist can enjoy a smoother ride as he or she rolls over obstacles and crosses uneven terrain.

The type of suspension is an equally important feature of every mountain bike. All good quality mountain bikes are built with strong suspension systems. Mountain bike builders have begun to implement both front and rear suspension systems to help cyclists withstand the pitfalls of trail riding. Mountain bikes can be classified as soft tails, hard tails, fully rigid and dual suspension bikes, depending on the type of suspension that's in place.

Soft tail bikes feature a rear suspension system that pivots and rests on the frame. A hard tail models has a front suspension fork. Rigid types have a rigid suspension fork, while dual or full suspension bikes have both front suspension fork and rear suspension. These bikes also have a rear shock absorber and a linkage.

Cross-country mountain bikes are made of more resilient material, so they usually weigh less. These bikes can weigh as little as twenty pounds or as many as forty pounds. All-mountain or Enduro bikes are generally heavier than cross-country bikes, weighing anywhere from thirty to fifty pounds. With better suspensions, these bikes are better for climbing hills and maneuvering hairpin bends.

Free-ride mountain bikes are built of stronger, heavier materials. These models are easier to pedal than other downhill bike models. They are easily maneuvered around dangerous obstacles and steep turns but they weigh as much as forty to fifty pounds, so they're not as efficient as cross-country bikes.

Downhill mountain bikes are not as strong as free ride bikes, but are the best choices for riding on race courses and downhill tracks. Downhill mountain bikes have better traction than most other styles.

Trail bikes don't have suspension and are usually reserved for short distances. This style of mountain bike lacks a proper seat or a vestigial pad and are quite light, weighing a mere fifteen to twenty pounds. Dirt jumping, urban and street styles fall somewhere between trail bikes and mountain bikes. These bicycles are very strong and have one to nine gears, with a chain guide for both front and rear gears.

Riding mountain bikes is a popular way to have fun and get fit. Visit your local cycle shop for professional advice on finding the bike to best suit your cycling needs.

Article Source: http://www.articlebankonline.com

Columnist Abbott Tearce is an essayist for a variety of web magazines, on recreation area and outdoor recreation issues.

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