Different styles

DazAshley

Im a beginner and am confused on the different styles and types of mountain biking, can someone please explain them for me.

Thanks

Torres

Ok. Mountain biking has become a very diverse sport over the the last 10-15 years, with many different types of riding.

Firstly, there is cross country. People interpret this name differently, some see it as XC racing, where competitors do laps of a set track (usualy 6 or 7 miles) and the first one to do all the laps wins. Others see XC literaly, that it is riding "accross country," so a weekend ride with your mates accross the moores can be XC. Neither is wrong.

Then there is trail riding. very similar to XC, this can be dused to describe a ride out with friends/alone but also refers to riding trail centres. Places like Afan or Grizedale where routes have been purposely built for riders.

"All Mountain" is a tag used by many companies. It is not a type of riding, but a type of bike which (apparently) will let you try all types of riding. Sort of a jack of all trades master of none, type bike.

Freeriding, defining this leads to many arguments. Usulay attempted by guys and girls with 6/7" rigs. It involves riding down hill fast, over natural and man made objects where the aim is to show off, pulling tricks, big jumps etc,

Downhill. Does what it says on the tin, you ride down a big hill on a defined course; usulay littered wth huge jumps, rocks and berms. Huge full sus bikes are normally used for this. Riders ride alone down the course, one after another. The rider with the fastest time, wins. Simple.

Dirt jumping. Simply it means jumping your bike over...er...jumps. Small harcore hardtails are good for this, with short travel forks and strong frames.

Street is like DJing, but on concrete. Comparable to BMXing but on a bigger bike, usulay with suspension. The focus of street and dj is on pulling tricks and showing off.

Four cross. One of the maddest and best forms of mountain biking to watch. Four riders on small travel (wither hard tail or full sus) bikes race down a course [like BMX racing] over jumps, berms and rollers. FIrst one down wins.

Slopestyle. Another term used by the marketing men. Its a bit of a mix of DJ, downhill and freeride. Riders have one run down a course, built of huge ramps, the emphesis is to pull the biggest and best tricks. Judges then decide on a winner.


To be honest though don't worry about it all. Yes you do need some specific equiptment to ride different styles, but if you spend all your time worrying if youve bought the "right" thing, according to the marketing men, then you'll never have any time to go riding...and isn't that what it's all about...
Hope this helps 8)

xtreem

Torres you forgot Trials. I'll explain it, or better no.
DazAshley just watch this video and you'll understand.
Trial is the most technical and skillfull discipline done on a MTB.

http://www.pinkbike.com/video/1440/

mhuk

XC: Riding a bike on trails that include climbing, descending, and negotiating obstacles.
Downhill: A race to see who can coast the fastest on a motorcycle that's had the engine removed and then riding a ski lift back up.
Freeride: Downhill without a time clock.
Urban Assault: Trying to justify spending all that money on a mountain bike for riding on the pavement.
Dirt Jumping: Falling off cliffs while holding onto a bicycle.

Torres

Xtreem wrote:

Torres you forgot Trials.

Didn't forget it mate, i only included the ones you didn't have to be superhuman to do

Belphegor

Xtreem wrote:

Torres you forgot Trials. I'll explain it, or better no.
DazAshley just watch this video and you'll understand.
Trial is the most technical and skillfull discipline done on a MTB.

http://www.pinkbike.com/video/1440/

http://www.pinkbike.com/video/5933/

That trials vid is awesome, but this rubs it in your face! Some people clearly have too much time on their hands to beable to get this good!

easyg

I think that is a very good outline Torres.

At the end of the day mate, look after your rig, be safe and just ride whatever you feel like doing as it all pales into insignificance when you find your 'flow'!

Northwind

XC = just mountain biking
All mountain = just mountain biking, harder.
Trail = just mountain biking, on a trail made for just mountain biking

Dan67

Its ridulous how many tags companys try to market their bikes under its starting to become to many