There are nine different kinds of mountain biking, each offering its own unique type of thrill or enjoyment. BMX biking is on small, nimble bikes with 20 inch wheels. These bikes are used for jumping and are usually used at a skate park, or in an area that has dirt mounds to jump off. Their small size and and short wheel base makes them perfect for performing biking stunts and tricks.



A cross country mountain bike is perfect for riding on hills and through uneven terrain. It's an easier sport than BMX biking, but most cross country bikers like to travel long distances, as a cross country runner would do. This keeps these bikers as fit as cross country runners as well.

Cyclo cross biking is a combination of road biking and mountain biking. The sport involves a course that covers both on and off road sections. The course may contain water crossings and other obstacles as well.

Dirt jumping is a kind of mountain biking that is done on large man made mounds of dirt. While they are aerial in the middle of the jump, the biker will attempt to perform tricks and spins in the air. The mounds are placed relatively close together, so the biker builds up more speed and height on each subsequent jump.

Downhill mountain biking is just that: a race to bike down a hill as fast as possible. This is a a very strenuous but thrilling sport, since travelling downhill on mountain bikes at high speeds over uneven terrain is very difficult and dangerous.

Free mountain biking means the biker hugs the contours of the mountain to find the best route to the bottom. This is a very popular sport since each biker has his own style to express and it is fun to watch the various ways they do so.

Single speed mountain biking uses the simplistic approach to mountain biking. The bikes are designed with only one speed and very few moving parts, yielding an ultra light bike that relies solely on the strength of the biker, rather than a mechanical advantage. Street or urban mountain bikes are used in the city, almost like a skateboard. Urban mountain bikers use railings, ledges and other features of the urban landscape to perform their tricks such as "stalls" and "grinds". is something everyone would like to know about. Trail mountain biking uses a very low framed bike with small wheels. This allows the biker to jump the bike over obstacles. This is a difficult mountain biking sport, requiring a good sense of balance and a high degree of concentration.