Mountain bikes are obviously bikes that are made especially for mountain biking. There are many different types of mountain biking so there are many different types of mountain bike. The two main ones are downhill and XC (cross country).
Although competition bikes are used either for downhill or cross-country, most mountain bikes hardly ever go off road, and the genus mountain bike has now become a generic term for a bike with 26" wheels, wide-range gears and a sloping downtube.

DOWNHILL

For downhill biking you only go down the hill on your bike and not up it so downhill bikes don’t have to be very light. Since you will be going very fast and accidents can hit the frame hard it needs to be tough. With all that speed you need some heavy duty brakes, usually disc or hydraulic. Most downhill bikes have large full suspension because the trails are very rough.

XC(Cross Country)

XC involves both climbing hills and going down them so a light but reasonably tough frame is needed. A number of different brakes can be used on XC bikes, V- brakes or light disc brakes are the norm. Most good mountain bikes have suspension but it is not as essential as on downhill bikes.

BUYING

WHERE TO BUY

You can buy moutain bikes, both XC and downhill at most cycling shops athough for a really good deal it is advisable to shop around and look for the best prices.

COST

Mountain bikes can cost anywhere between about £200 and £5000. You should get a bike that suits your ability; there is no point in getting a bike with amazing brakes if you never go fast enough to need them. Second hand bikes are available if you need something cheaper, but you should always inspect their condition because it could be more expensive if you have to pay for major repairs after only a few months of owning it.

SUSPENSION

There are two main types of suspension: front suspension and full (front and back) suspension. Front suspension is suspension forks in place of rigid forks between the frame and the front wheel. It improves comfort and handling on rough sufaces and absorbes some bumps like tree roots or rocks. Bikes with only front suspension are sometimes called hardtails.

Full suspension (sometimes refferred to as duel suspension) has front suspension forks plus suspension on the frame allowing for even more extreme terrains to be crossed.

BRAKES

There are many differant kinds of brakes each with their advantages and disadvantages.

Rim Breaks: V- Brakes and Cantilever brakes use two brake pads to press against the rim of the wheel when the cable is pulled slowing the bike down. They have the advantage of being both light and powerfull but their disadvantage is that the rim is close to the ground and so in very muddy terrain it can become slippy decreasing the power of the brakes.

Disc Brakes: These have an exposed disc at the hub of the wheel which is clamped to slow the bike. They are powerfull and quite light and are not affected as much by the weather as rim brakes.

Hydralics: These are similar to car breaks in that instead of being operated by the pulling of a cable like most brakes they are operated by pistons compressing oil which increases the force of your hand. They are very powerfull and do not need much maintainance, but are more expensive than other brakes.

FRAME MATERIALS

The material that the frame of your bike is made of is very important. It affects the weight, strength, responsiveness and how long the bike will last.

Aluminium: Aluminium is the most common material used today because it is light and does not rust. It is also easy for robots to weld so that makes it slightly cheaper. The disadvantages of amuminium is that it is very stiff so can feel harsh to ride and has a limited life, they normally have a guarantee of 5 years.

Steel:Steel comes in many differant grades from cheap heavy material to hi-tech strong and light alloys. It has more of a spring to it than aluminium so the ride will be less harsh. Steel does not fatigue like aluminium so a steel frame can last a lifetime.

Titanium:Titanium very light, very strong, does not rust, does not fatigue and produces a very responsive ride making it the best material for frames. However it is very expensive so only very good bikes have titanium frames.

SIZES

Like normal bikes you can get mountain bikes in small, medium and large sizes. Differant makes however use differant reference points for measurement so sizing is not always consistant. Good bike shops will help you choose which is right for you. Kids bikes are available with 24" or 26" wheels. The 24" being for under 10's and the 26" for over 10's.

USES

If you ride both downhill and XC then you can get bikes designed to be good at both, if you aren't a professional then you don't really need a specific downhill or XC bike.
True mountain bikes are built for off-road use and so aren't very good for going round town on or racing on the road. If you do both mountain biking and road biking though you can get a hybrid bike. These aren't as good as true mountain bikes or road bikes but offer a good mix if you cannot afford both or do not do enough riding to warrant buying both. If you are going to ride on road however, you might want to get some higher pressure tyres with a central bead to avoid wasting energy. You might also consider getting suspension that has an option to lock it rigid as it improves road handling and reduces pedalling effort.

UPGRADING/REPAIRING

Like normal bikes you can upgrade or replace broken parts of mountain bikes. Not all bike parts are compatible though e.g. some suspension forks do not work on some frames. Unless you are experienced in bike mechanics it is recommended that you get a bike repair shop to do the modifications for you.

MAINTENANCE

Like any bike you need to maintain your bike to ensure it is in working order, if it isn’t then your safety is at risk.

The following jobs you should do regulally:

• Clean the chain
• Lubricate the chain and wipe off excess lubricant
• Check and adjust tire pressure
• Adjust your brakes
• Tighten all the bolts
• Check your wheels for alignment
• Clean your bike
• Lubricate cables and derailleurs