Mountain bikes are among the strongest and most rugged bicycles that you can find. The reason that these bikes are so strong is that they are ridden on some very tough terrain, including steep inclines, dirt tracks, and pebbles. In most cases, mountain bikers do not ride on smoothly paved roads, rather they ride on hilly and uneven terrain that can be quite rough on a bicycle. Mountain bikers get a big thrill in riding on unpaved, rough terrain, even though this is hard on a bicycle. That is why many manufacturers have made sturdier bikes for this purpose.
The tires on a mountain bike are thicker and fatter than normal bike tires. They are also made of more durable rubber that gives the rider added traction and control on uneven surfaces.
Suspension is another very essential feature of a mountain bike. A strong suspension system is essential for a mountain bike so that the rider can better handle the ups and downs that occur when riding on uneven terrain.
Mountain bikes can be separated into several different categories that are founded upon the type of suspension that they have. The classifications are dual suspension, hard tails, soft tails, and fully rigid bikes. Rigid bikes feature a rigid fork. Soft-tailed bikes have a rear suspension that pivots on the frame. Hard-tailed bikes feature a front suspension fork. Suspension bikes have either front, rear, or dual suspension systems. These bikes also feature a shock absorber in the rear, in addition to a linkage.
Lighter weight material and materials that are more resilient are the norm for a cross-country mountain bike. You can find a cross-country bike that can weight anywhere from 20-40 pounds, depending upon your needs. An all-mountain or Enduro bike will usually be heavier than a cross-country bike. These bikes range in weight from 30-35 pounds. These bikes feature a suspension that will enable you to maneuver around hairpin turns and climb up hills much easier.
Heavier and stronger materials are used to build a free ride mountain bike. They are made to help make pedaling easier, so that you can easily move around anything that is in your way and you can make sharp turns. They weigh in at around 45 pounds, which decreases their efficiency over other cross-country bikes.
For downhill tracks or race courses, you will want to choose a downhill mountain bike. They offer you better traction than the other varieties of mountain bikes for maximum control and speed.
If short distance riding is your game, then a trial bike is probably the one for you. They lack suspension and do not have a seat or vestigial pad. They are also much lighter than other bikes for maximum speed. They weigh in at about 20 pounds.
Between mountain and trial bikes, you will find Street Mountain, Dirt Jumping, and Urban Bikes. These bikes are extremely touch and feature anywhere from one to nine gears with a chain guide for the front and rear gears.
The North Shore area in British Columbia is considered one of the true hotspots of mountain biking and from all over the world avid mountain bikers arrive to traverse the hills of the Burrard Inlet and the trails of Mt. Fromme, Cypress Mountain, and Mt. Seymour. Also in the general area, you'll find amazing riding in Coquitlam's Eagle Mountain and Burke Mountain. Together, these numerous mountain ranges comprise one of the best places in Canada and possibly the world to mountain bike.
The Trails
The mountain areas in British Columbia as listed above are some of the most difficult and subsequently dangerous mountain terrain trails around. Merely through the standard machinations of nature there are dozens of obstacles like fallen trees, rock slides, ravines and ditches to jump and much more.
Man has added his own little touch to the trails with bridges, twisting "ladders" and mountain biking ramps. This hybrid style of mixing natural obstacles with man-made jumps and ladders is often referred to as "North Shore" style trail riding. If you're looking for the most popular of these trails, the CBC is considered by many to be the pinnacle of North Shore style trail riding.
Controversy
Like any massive sport related tourist attractions, the trails of North Shore have reigned in a great deal of controversy with local residents complaining of off trail bikers disturbing their property. In some of the nearby mountain trail areas, new developments threaten existing trails on Eagle and Burke Mountains.
Because of the influx of new residential growth and mountain biking tourists, the area has formed a North Shore Mountain Biking Association to help mediate between bikers and residents and try to preserve trails. Also responsible for more fun activities like races and annual events, the NSMBA is one of the premier mountain biking associations in Canada.
Whistler
For those familiar with the world class skiing and boarding of Whistler-Blackcomb resort in British Columbia, it's no surprise that the mountain offers world class mountain biking as soon as the snow starts to melt.
Usually starting in April, the mountain biking season carries through until the end of the summer, utilizing the numerous ski lifts and wide open space to hold numerous mountain biking events. In years when the snow lingers a little longer, mountain biking season might run a little short at the top of the mountain, though usually the lower lifts are open by the end of April.
British Columbia for Mountain Biking
As one of the largest developed spaces, complete with the convenience of modern society and the joy of the great outdoors, British Columbia offers some of the best Mountain Biking trails in the world. You can find something almost anywhere there is a mountain and often enough when you leave the mountain trails, you'll find simple back wood trails that are ten times better than anything you'll have back home.
They take their mountain biking seriously in the mountains of BC, Canada and any mountain biker should take the time and energy to make a visit and traverse the expansive, exciting trails.
Both Alastair Hamilton & Tony B are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Alastair Hamilton has sinced written about articles on various topics from Recreation and Sports, mountain bike and Recreation and Sports. Alastair Hamilton is the author of many resources on bicycles related topics published at http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com . A website with tips on. Alastair Hamilton's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.
Tony B has sinced written about articles on various topics from Recreation and Sports, mountain bike and Guns. Tony Brian is a freelance writer for outdoor sports magazines and a contributing writer for Body Sport Paintball, specializing in Mountain Biking, mountain biking ramps, and. Tony B's top article generates over 2900 views. to your Favourites.