Mountain Biking

The birth of mountain biking dates back to 1976 on Mount Tamalpais in California when the first downhill races took place on converted bikes from the 1930s. The subsequent and rapid triumph of the mountain bike was fuelled by all kinds of technical innovations and enthusiasm that came from the American outdoor scene, and a new sport soon became known nationwide.

The appeal of mountain biking is obvious to many, with steep climbs and fast descents taking place through a terrain of gravel tracks, technical trails, and jumps that are guaranteed to provide plenty of adrenalin. Both fitness and riding techniques are put to the test when mountain biking, but the sense of fun is also always there. 

There are different bikes to suit the surface and level of difficulty of the terrain you're tackling. 

Essentially, you can break it down into roughly two types: Hardtail MTBs that only have suspension on the front fork, while full-suspension bikes will also have rear suspension. There are then various sub-categories (sorted from little to a lot of suspension travel):

• Cross-country: for racing and easy trails, usually lightweight, predominantly hardtail.
• All Mountain: an all-rounder, usually with full-suspension for extra versaility. 
• Enduro: full-suspension with long suspension travel, sporty all-rounder for downhill trails and fast climbs.
• Downhill: for the fastest possible descents, full suspension, robust and usually too heavy to ride uphill.
• Freeride: robust, full suspension, good for jumps in the bike park and very difficult terrain.

Once you've determined the right bike for you, it's then all about getting the right frame and tire size and tread. You will find the right model depending on your size and riding style.