Mountain - Recreational

Let's Go Mountain Biking!

If you like to hike and be outside and don't mind doing some work, mountain biking is great fun. Chances are you'll get dirty too, but that can be as fun as well.

Just like any specialty bicycle, mountain bikes come in different types for different kinds of riders and terrain.

We classify them simply as follows:
Mountain Style Bikes
Hardtail Mountain Bikes (the real deal!)
Full Suspension Mountain Bikes

Mountain Style Bikes
Looks like an off-road bike, with a suspension fork, non suspended rear end, knobby tires and upright riding position, but these bikes are most at home on the pavement or rough terrain that isn't particularly hilly. Mountain style bikes just don't have true, low off road gearing that allows the mountain bike rider to spin up steep climbs. Mountain style bikes are usually heavier, have lower quality, non adjustable suspension forks that aren't designed to handle steep drop-offs. So what are mountain style bikes good for? Well, easy off road or dirt road riding. They are also great for kids, come in a variety of sizes, and are affordable. Mountain style bikes are also great for the neighborhood, cutting across lawns or riding on easy trails in some parks (where its OK to do so!) and generally just having a good time.

Fully Suspended?
Yes, there are fully suspended mountain bikes that fall into the Recreational Mountain Bike classification. A couple of thoughts about full suspension. Full suspension bicycles are fairly complex, there is a lot going on to keep the rear suspension's natural movement to absorb big bumps in terrain working adequately for the rider's weight. Issues like brake jack, where the input from hard braking causes the rear end to lock out and become rigid, and pedal bob, where the rear of the bike moves with every pedal stroke, are complicated. There are no inexpensive solutions for either of these problems. Generally, a cheap full suspension mountain bike is very heavy and isn't very effective. Some of what is sold at department stores isn't going to be safe for any kind of off road use.

If you are on a limited budget and dreaming of full suspension, you'd be best to buy an adequate hard tail and save your money. Used full suspension bikes are generally not covered by a manufacturers original warranty and replacement parts may not be available or prohibitively expensive.

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