Mountain Biking

1. Mountain biking is the sport of riding bicycles off road, often over rough terrain, using specially designed mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can generally be broken down into multiple categories: cross country, trail riding, all mountain, downhill, freeride, dirt jumping, and trials. The vast majority of mou .....

Bike

2. Mountain bikesdiffer from other bikes primarily in that they incorporate features aimed at increasing durability and improving performance in rough terrain. Most modern mountain bikes have some kind ofsuspension, 26, 27.5 or 29 inch diameter tires, usually between 1.7 to 2.5inches in width, and a wider, flat or upwardly risinghandlebarthat allows a more upright riding position, giving the rider more control. They have a smaller, reinforcedframe, .....

Gloves

3. Glovesdiffer from road touring gloves, are made of heavier construction, and often have covered thumbs or all fingers covered for hand protection. They are sometimes made with padding for the knuckles. .....

Glasses

4. Glasseswith little or no difference from those used in other cycling sports, help protect againstdebriswhile on the trail. Filtered lenses, whether yellow for cloudy days or shaded for sunny days, protect the eyes from strain. Downhill and freeride mountain bikers often use goggles similar to motorcross or snowboard goggles in unison with their fullface helmets. .....

Shoes

5. Shoesgenerally have gripping soles similar to those of hiking boots for scrambling over un ridable obstacles, unlike the smooth bottomed shoes used in road cycling. Theshankof mountain bike shoes is generally more flexible than road cycling shoes. Shoes compatible with clipless pedal systems are also frequently used. .....

Clothing

6. Clothingis chosen for comfort during physical exertion in the backcountry, and its ability to withstand falls. Road touring clothes are often inappropriate due to their delicate fabrics and construction. .....

Hydration systems

7. Hydration systemsare important for mountain bikers in the backcountry, ranging from simple water bottles to water bags with drinking tubes in lightweight backpacks (e.g.,Camelbaks). .....

GPS navigation device

8. GPS navigation deviceis sometimes added to the handlebars and is used to display and monitor progress on trails downloaded from the internet or pre made mapping systems, record trails on the fly, and keep track of trip times and other data. The GPS system is often a handheld GPS device with color screen and rugged, waterproof (IPX7) design. .....

Pump and Bike tools

9. Pumpto inflate flat tires. And Bike tools and extra bike tubes are important, as mountain bikers frequently find themselves miles from help, with flat tires or other mechanical problems that must be handled by the rider. .....

High power lights

10. High power lightsbased on LED technology, especially for mountain biking at night. .....

Protective gear

11. The style and level of protection worn by individual riders varies greatly and is affected by many factors including terrain, environment, weather, potential obstacles on the trail, experience, technical skill, fitness, perceived risk, desired style and others too numerous to mention. A cross country helmet and simple long fingered gloves are a good minimum for the majority of riding.Limb protection becomes important when speeds rise, surfaces be .....

Helmets

12. Helmetsprovide important head protection. The use of helmets, in one form or another, is almost universal amongst all mountain bikers. The main three types are cross country, rounded skateboarder style (nicknamed half shells or skate style) and full face. Cross country helmets tend to be light and well ventilated, and more comfortable to wear for long periods, especially while perspiring in hot weather. In XC competitions, most bikers use the usu .....

Body armor and pads

13. Body armor and pads, often referred to simply as armor, protect limbs and trunk in the event of a crash. While initially made for and marketed at downhillers, freeriders and jump/street riders, body armor has trickled into other areas of mountain biking as trails have become faster and more technical. Armor ranges from simple neoprene sleeves for knees and elbows to complex, articulated combinations of hard plastic shells and padding that cover a .....

First aid

14. First aidkits are often carried by mountain bikers, so that they are able to clean and dress cuts and abrasions and splint broken limbs. Experienced mountain bike guides may be trained in dealing with suspected spinal injuries (e.g., immobilizing the victim and keeping the neck straight). Seriously injured people may have to be removed bystretcher, by a motor vehicle suitable for the terrain, or by helicopter. .....

Cross Country

15. Cross Country(XC) generally means riding point to point or in a loop including climbs and descents on a variety of terrain. A typical XC bike weighs around 9 13 kilos (20 30lbs), and has 0 125 millimeters (0 5inches) of suspension travel front and sometimes rear. .....

All mountain

16. All mountain/Enduro(AM) bike category typically provides 125 170 millimeters (5 7inches) of rear and front suspension travel and stronger components than XC models, while still providing overall weight suitable for climbing and descending on a variety of terrain. While traditionally called All Mountain riding, this style has been adopted to the Enduro World Series. There are two formats of Enduro racing. Big Mountain Enduro is mostly similar to a .....

Downhill

17. Downhill(DH) is, in the most general sense, riding mountain bikes downhill. The rider commonly travels to the point of descent by other means than cycling, such as a ski lift or automobile, as the weight of the downhill mountain bike often precludes any serious climbing. Downhill specific bikes are universally equipped with front and rear suspension, large disc brakes, and use heavier frame tubing than other mountain bikes. Because of their extre .....

Four cross

18. Four cross is a sport in which riders compete either on separate tracks, as in Dual Slalom, or on a short slalom track, as in 4X. Most bikes used are light hard tails, although the last World Cup was actually won on a full suspension bike. The tracks have dirt jumps, berms, and gaps. Professionals in gravity mountain biking tend to concentrate either on downhill mountain biking or 4X/dual slalom because they are very different. However, some ride .....

Freeride

19. Freeride/ Big Hit / Hucking. Freeride, as the name suggests is a do anything discipline that encompasses everything from downhill racing without the clock to jumping, riding North Shore style (elevated trails made of interconnecting bridges and logs), and generally riding trails and/or stunts that require more skill and aggressive techniques than XC. Freeride bikes are generally heavier and more amply suspended than their XC counterparts, but usu .....

Dirt Jumping

20. Dirt Jumping(DJ) is one of the names given to the practice of riding bikes over shaped mounds of dirt or soil and becoming airborne. The idea is that after riding over the take off the rider will become airborne, and aim to land on the landing. Dirt jumping can be done on almost anything but the bikes are generally smaller and more maneuverable hardtails so that tricks e.g. backflips, are easier to complete. The bikes are simpler so that when a c .....

Trials

21. Trialsriding consists of hopping and jumping bikes over obstacles, without touching a foot onto the ground. It can be performed either off road or in an urban environment. It requires an excellent sense of balance. The emphasis is placed on techniques of effectively overcoming the obstacles, although street trials (as opposed to competition oriented trials) is much like Street and DJ, where doing tricks with style is the essence. Trials bikes loo .....

Urban or Street

22. Urban/Streetis essentially the same as urban BMX (orFreestyle BMX), in which riders perform tricks by riding on/over man made objects. The bikes are the same as those used for Dirt Jumping, having 24 or 26 wheels. Also, they are very light, many in the range of 25 30lbs, and are typically hardtails with between 0 100 millimeters of front suspension. As with Dirt Jumping and Trials, style and execution are emphasized. .....

Mountain bike trail riding

23. Mountain bike trail ridingis recreational mountain biking on hiking trails (hike on a bike), dirt roads and unpaved tracks, forest paths, etc.(pictured at right); its also practiced in dedicated trail centers, such as the scenicSlickrock Trailor Western AustraliasMunda Biddi Trail, which at over 1000km is one of the worlds longest off road trails. There aretrail bike designsfor this activity .....

Mountain Bike Touring

24. Mountain Bike Touring or Marathonis long distance touring on dirt roads and single track with a mountain bike. With the popularity of theGreat Divide Trail, theColorado Trailand other long distance off road biking trails specially fitted mountain bikes are increasingly being used for touring. Bike manufacturers like Salsa have even developed MTB touring bikes like the Fargo model.Mixed Terrain Cycle Touringor rough riding is a form of mountain bi .....

Risks

25. Injuries are a given factor when mountain biking, especially in the more extreme disciplines such as downhill biking. Injuries range from minor wounds, such as cuts and abrasions from falls on gravel or other surfaces, to major injuries such as broken bones, head or spinal injuries resulting from impacts with rocks, trees or the terrain being ridden on.Protective equipment can protect against minor injuries and reduce the extent or seriousness of .....