MBR Types

A full shock system is critical on a mountain bike. It is important because it helps absorb the shock when going over rugged terrain and helps to provide a smoother ride. You will find that full suspension bikes have both a front and back suspension. If a mountain bike has a solid rear fork and a suspension at the front they are often called hard tailed. If the bike is a lower end bike and relatively inexpensive it probably will not have a suspension at all.

Mountain bikes with both descending and climbing ability are usually ideal for cross country riders. The movement in the rear suspension system is only about 4 inches so that it does not cause a problem when trying to climb hills. A cross country mountain bike would usually come with 28 gears so that it is easier to cope with different types of land.

Trial bikes are a little more robust from your standard mountain bike and they are intended for use by more technical mountain bike riders. 4 to 7 inches is the typical type of movement you can expect from the suspension on a trial bike. Uphill pedalling will be more difficult but you will in general get a much smoother ride. A decision will need to be made as to which way you want to go, a smoother ride with an uphill struggle or not. All terrain cycles is a great place on the web to look for Trek Track Bikes.

If you will mainly be using your bike for going downhill you can expect up to 8 inches in suspension movement. These type of bikes are generally design for downhill racing. With more travel in the suspension they are easier to control over harsh terrain at high speeds but are more difficult for pedalling uphill.

A dirt jump bike is another version of a mountain bike. A dirt jump bike are used for jumping and only have a front suspension. As they come with 16 gears it helps the rider to build up speed quickly.