| Mountain bikes are designed for off-road riding. | | | | with this design feature both front and rear |
| Whether made for racing or the more leisurely rider, | | | | suspensions. These bikes are the latest mountain bike |
| there are four basic frame designs for mountain bikes: | | | | design. For a long time riders avoided full suspension |
| rigid, hard-tail, soft-tail, and full suspension. | | | | bikes because they were heavy and they tended to |
| The rigid (also commonly known as fully rigid) mountain | | | | sag in the middle like an old swayback horse. It took |
| bikes resemble a conventional sort of bike as you | | | | years for engineers and riders to perfect a viable, |
| would imagine it. A rigid mountain bike has neither a | | | | functional full suspension mountain bike. It was in the |
| rear suspension nor a front suspension. These used to | | | | 1990's when these bikes finally reached a point where |
| be the most common kind of mountain bike but they | | | | they were marketable. |
| are rapidly being replaced by the more comfortable | | | | In addition to the frame and suspension, there are |
| models which feature some sort of suspension | | | | other differences in mountain bike designs. One key |
| system. Fully rigid bikes tend to be lower-priced than | | | | area where bikes differ is the brakes. Mountain bikes |
| models with a suspension. Many riders still prefer rigid | | | | either have some form of caliper brakes, which are |
| bikes because it's what they're accustomed to, and | | | | the kind of brakes typically associated with bikes. This |
| the feel that the rigid design allows them greater | | | | kind of brake squeezes the rims to slow and stop the |
| control. | | | | bike. The other type of brake is the drum brake. Drum |
| Another common mountain bike design is the hard-tail. | | | | brakes on bikes are similar to the braking system on |
| Hard-tail mountain bikes are so named because they | | | | automobiles. Drum brakes are more expensive than |
| have a conventional rear end without a suspension. | | | | caliper brakes but they're also easier to maintain. |
| Hard-tails differ from fully rigid bikes in that they have a | | | | Mountain bike braking systems have even been made |
| front suspension. The hard-tail is perhaps the most | | | | which utilize hydraulic power. |
| popular mountain bike design. Many professional riders | | | | Another area where you have some choice in |
| prefer the feel of a hard-tail and the comfort of a front | | | | mountain bike design is tire size. Mountain bike tires |
| suspension. | | | | typically range in size from 24" to 29". Smaller tires are |
| The next kind of mountain bike design is the soft-tail. | | | | used when greater maneuverability is required as in |
| As you probably guessed, soft-tails employ a rear | | | | stunt-riding and jumping. Larger tires are used when |
| suspension. Rear suspensions are a more recent | | | | speed is the key. |
| innovation than front suspension due to the | | | | As with any other important purchase, do your |
| complexities of the design. Soft-tails are often more | | | | homework before buying a new mountain bike. Think |
| expensive than hard-tails, but they also tend to be | | | | about your needs and your budget. Mountain biking is a |
| more forgiving. | | | | terrific past-time. It's a fun way to get some fresh air, |
| Finally there's the full suspension mountain bike. Bikes | | | | enjoy the outdoors, and improve your health. |