There Is More Than One Way to Ride a Mountain Bike
by Alison Addy
Discusses the nine kinds of mountain biking and the types of
mountain bikes used for each kind.
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 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 very strenuous but
thrilling sport, since traveling 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".
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.
About the author:
Alison Addy contributes editing long articles on mountain bikes
for http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com .A focused website that
offers the best articles on <a
href="http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/faq/What_s_the_Best_TT_Po
sition_.html">time trial position and cycling</a>.