Mountain Bike Parts Information For First Time Buyers

Mountain Bike Parts Information For First Time Buyers

Information On Mountain Bike Parts For First Time Buyers

 
 Bicycles were invented in the 19th century. Since then, bicycles have become popular and have been adopted for various purposes in our lifestyles. The invention of bicycles has made an enormous impact in our society today. Bicycles have played a role in shaping our culture, our economic state and our industrial methods.  In many urban, sub urban and rural areas today, the bicycle is being used as the principal means of transport. We have adopted bicycles into our recreational activities, fitness programs, courier services, and many more activities. The bicycle is useful in a wide variety of activities. Each activity demands special shapes, sizes and functionality of the bicycle. With the advent of computer aided design and manufacture, different types, shapes, sizes and functionality of bicycles have been developed to suit specific needs.  You can also find information on mountain bikes on Wikipedia.


    A good example is the mountain bicycle, famously known as the mountain bike (MTB). This is a bicycle designed specifically for off-roading. You can think of it as a 4 wheel drive (4X4) SUV version of the bicycle. They are specifically designed to be literally ridden on unpaved terrains such as single tracks, mountain trails, logging roads and fire roads. These kinds of unpaved terrains feature steep inclining and declining grades, roots, loose sand and gravel, ruts and rocks. The special design of mountain bikes equips them with the ability to handle theses terrains with common obstacles like drop offs and logs.

The major noticeable differences between a mountain bike and a regular bicycle include the Mountain Bike Parts such as:

• The Suspension – Most mountain bikes are fitted with suspension. Depending on the terrain and activity the bike is made for, some mountain bikes may not have any suspension, some may have only the front suspension, while others have both the front and rear suspension.

• The tires – The tires on a mountain bike are very large and thick. They are made of more durable materials than a regular bike’s tires. The heavy duty tires are the appropriate tires for off road biking.

• Brakes – The braking system on a mountain bike is made in such a way that the cyclist can make a powerful sharp brake using very small amount of pressure on the brake levers.

• The gears – To cater for climbing steep grades, riding on poor traction terrains like mud and sand, getting high speeds in favorable conditions, mountain bikes are fitted with a combination of high gears and very low gears.

    Mountain bikes are specially designed and manufactured to suit off road cycling activities. They can be used for fitness programs, fun and recreational activities, racing and many more. All these done in unpaved or off road terrains. There are a wide range of activities and terrains out there. Therefore, mountain bikes have been refined and redesigned into different types to suit more specific activities and terrains. Let us have a deeper insight on the types of mountain bikes available today.

Based on the suspension, we can classify mountain bikes into four types.

1. The Rigid Mountain Bike: This is a mountain bike with no suspension. It has a rigid fork and a rear that is fixed on the frame. If you need an MTB and you are in a really tight budget, this one is perfect for you. It is cheap and easy to maintain.

2. The Hard Tail Mountain Bike: This one has got only the front suspension. It is called a hard tail because its rear is stiff compared to its front, due to lack of suspension.

3. A Soft Tail Mountain Bike: Like the hard tail, the soft tail has got a front suspension. It also has a small feel of suspension in the rear. Its rear suspension is made possible by a flex of the frame rather than pivots.

4. The full Suspension Mountain Bike: This one has both the front and the rear suspensions. It also features a rear shock absorber that allows the rear wheel to move on pivots.
Apart from classification based on the suspension, MTBs can also be classified according to the type of ride they are made for.

Cross-Country Mountain Bikes

    These bikes are designed for long distant cycling on walking trails with minimum or no obstacles. They are also good for climbing and riding small down hills. Of all the types of MTBs they have the most efficient pedaling systems. They are able to handle small jumps and light drops though not very comfortably. Most cross country mountain bikes are hard tails or soft tails.  All-Mountain Bikes
An All-Mountain bike is made to suit custom built trails and trail centers. They are designed for cyclists who need to climb uphill easily and then come down hard on the downhill. Most of these bikes fall in the category of full suspension mountain bikes. The rare suspension enables the cyclist to take hard jumps and drops without compromising on the speed.

Downhill Mountain Bikes

    Downhill bikes are designed for the roughest downhill terrains. It is all about staying in one piece while riding hard on the roughest terrains. They are able to handle big drops and can make jumps as high as 20 feet look and feel very easy. They are full suspension mountain bikes with very huge rear suspension. To achieve the downhill ability, the uphill pedaling capability has been compromised and can be very difficult compared to the other types of mountain bikes. Nevertheless, they offer a smooth, silky, gliding experience, comfort and confidence on the downhill ride.

   There are many different types of mountain bikes that will fit your level of skill and style of riding.  We always recommend you research as much as possible to determine which type of mountain bike fits your style of riding.  Some bike shops will let you test ride mountain bikes to make sure you are comfortable with the bike.  This is highly recommended.  If you have any questions make sure to locate a bike shop in your area and speak with a mountain bike professional who can help you make the right choice. You can also check reviews on bike shops to determine which shops might have better service too.  If you are in the southern california area of Los Angeles you can stop by Blue Sky Cycling for help.  They have a vast amount of knowledge on mountain bikes and will answer all your questions with respect to mountain bike suspension, brakes, gears, tires, pedals, and seats.  They have a nice size bicycle shop.   We hope you enjoyed our article on the different types of mountain bike parts for first time buyers.

BLUE SKY CYCLING
www.blueskycycling.com
2530 Randolph St.Huntington Park, CA 90255

Toll Free: 1-800-585-4137Tel: 323-585-3934Fax: 323-585-3405info@blueskycycling.com

Store Hours:  

Monday - Friday :

8am - 5pm (PST)