Mountain Bike are definitely something that everyone should own.
Have you every wanted to explore nature using a small, light, easy to use method of transport? Well, this is post is about Mountain Bikes.
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What is it?
Mountain Bikes / Mountain bicycle is designed for off-road cycling.
Mountain bikes share some similarities with other bicycles, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain, which makes them heavier, more complex and less efficient on smooth surfaces.
These typically include a suspension fork, large knobby tires, more durable wheels, more powerful brakes, straight, extra wide handlebars to improve balance and comfort over rough terrain, and wide-ratio gearing optimized for topography and application.
Rear suspension is ubiquitous in heavier-duty bikes and now common even in lighter bikes.
Dropper posts can be installed to allow the rider to quickly adjust the seat height.
Elevated seat position is more effective for pedaling, but poses a hazard in aggressive maneuvers.
Characteristics of the Bike
Mountain bikes are generally specialized for use on mountain trails, single track, fire roads, and other unpaved surfaces. Mountain biking terrain commonly has rocks, roots, loose dirt, and steep grades.
Many trails have additional technical trail features (TTF) such as log piles, log rides, rock gardens, skinnies, gap jumps, and wall-rides. Mountain bikes are built to handle these terrains and features.
The heavy-duty construction combined with stronger rims and wider tires has also made this style of bicycle popular with urban riders and couriers who must navigate through potholes and over curbs.
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Bike Designs
Four broad categories based on suspension configuration:
- Rigid: Mountain bike with large, knobby tires and straight handlebars, with neither front nor rear suspension.
- Hard Tail: Mountain bike equipped with a suspension fork for the front wheel, otherwise a rigid frame.
- Soft Tail: Recent addition, a mountain bike with pivots in the frame but no rear shock.
- Flex of the frame absorbs some vibrations. These bikes are usually cross country bikes.
- Full suspension or dual suspension: Mountain bike equipped with both front and rear suspension. Front suspension is usually a telescopic fork similar to that of a motorcycle. Rear is suspended by a mechanical linkage with components for absorbing shock.
Discipline-oriented designs
There are several different styles of mountain biking, usually defined by the terrain, and therefore the type of bicycles employed. Styles have evolved rapidly. In the earliest days, all were somewhat custom, home-built machines, and were used for any number of stunts, tricks, racing or other activities.
The general design was similar. The sport grew, more specialized designs and equipment were introduced. The further market segmentation beyond simple front suspension XC bicycles began to occur in the mid-1990s, as large bicycle and equipment manufacturers were able to cater specifically to changing demands.
Today, there are a large variety of discipline oriented designs.
Mountain bikes can be multi-thousand dollar machines that are purpose built for the discipline they were designed for.
10 Health Benefits
- Improved Heart Health.
- Less Stress on the Joints.
- Decreased Risk of Diseases.
- Reduced Stress and Improved Mood.
- Increased Brain Power.
- Improved balance and coordination.
- Whole Body Workout.
- Sleep Better.
Short History
Original mountain bikes were modified heavy cruiser bicycles, used for freewheeling down mountain trails. The sport became popular in the 1970s in Northern California, USA, with riders using older, single-speed balloon tire bicycles to ride down rugged hillsides. These modified bikes were called “ballooners” in California, “klunkers” in Colorado, and “dirt bombers” in Oregon. Joe Breeze, a bicycle frame builder, used this idea and developed what is considered the first mountain bike.