Vélo de montagne

Mountain Bikes

Mountain bikes are built with a front suspension fork or with front and rear suspension systems. A front suspension mountain bike is known as a hardtail. A full suspension mountain bike has a front suspension fork and a rear suspension shock built into the bike’s frame which gives mountain bikers the ability to handle rough terrain uphill and downhill. Most mountain bike suspensions are either made by Fox Racing MTB or RockShox. 

Modern mountain bikes are built with varying lengths of suspension travel. Suspension travel determines the type of mountain biking a bike will be capable of withstanding while being ridden on rigged trails or down mountains. Cross country or XC mountain bikes offer less travel but the entire bike weighs less so it is agile and easier to climb or ascend on up or on mountain trails. Mountain bike frames are built using raw materials – the most popular mountain bike frames are built with carbon or aluminum. 

Trail bikes, enduro bikes, and downhill mountain bikes have longer travel options on both the front and rear suspension enabling riders to launch off bigger drops and to absorb bigger jumps and rocks on technical trails offroad. Modern development of mountain bikes has greatly improved because of rider demand and from mountain bike racing and modern design and engineering. 

Buyer's Guides: Find the right bike for you.

• Trek Bikes
• Ari Bikes
• Specialized Bikes
• Giant Bikes
• Cannondale Bikes

Cycling Guides: Best Trails & Bike Shops

• Denver, Colorado
• Austin, Texas
• Portland, Oregon
• Sedona, Arizona
• Bentonville, Arkansas