Who can keep up with mountain bikes? Fat tire freaks have too many types of trail-tailored rigs. It’s leaving those even on the outskirts of the inner circle confused. Regional riders help provide a quick cheat sheet for the basic breakdown in mountain bike mutations.

Cross Country

Breakdown: The basic bike that started it all—cross country is light to go fast on off-road terrain. Many cross country riders are going back to hard tail in an effort to trim the fat and resistance of full suspension. But as components get lighter, others feel they can find a balance with some give in the rear.

Best Bet: When you want to go fast and hard on rolling, technical singletrack. “It’s a lot less weight to carry up the mountain,” says Brian Batteiger, who converted back to hard tail from full suspension. “You don’t spend as much energy on the ascents. I sacrifice speed on the descents, but I’d rather have a more enjoyable climb.”
Blue Ridge Bicycle Club President Dan Casey has been recently convinced otherwise. “For many years I preferred hard tail over earlier versions of full suspension; the bikes were heavy and did not feel nearly nimble enough,” he says. “But I recently had the chance to take a Gary Fisher Cake out for a snow ride and I fell in love. The next off-road bike I buy will definitely be a full suspension.”

Bummer: When you’re ready to move on to grittier downhill terrain, a costly upgrade is always necessary.

ALL MOUNTAIN

Breakdown: Riders that need more than cross country but less than the big body of Downhill or Freeride bikes look to the middle ground of All Mountain. Also known as a trail bike, the full-suspension frames have more travel and durability than a cross country bike.

Best Bet: “All Mountain will still be efficient, but able to take on rockier cross country trails,” says Matt Palmer of Half Moon Bikes in Strasburg, Va.

Bummer: You’ll be wishing for something a little lighter at the end of the day when you have to climb the fire road.

SINGLE SPEED

Breakdown: It’s just as simple as it sounds. Single Speed is all about going gearless. The bikes hold momentum and use less suspension to keep bob out of the stand and hammer approach.

Best Bet: Single Speed bikes are lighter and more efficient. They cut out the maintenance of derailleurs and shift cables. The only thing to maintain is the chain. “I found myself constantly frustrated by expensive, finicky drive trains that seemed to take away from my ride time and add to my repair time,” says Waynesboro, Va., rider Rich Moore.

Bummer: While others in the riding crew are still pedaling, you might have to walk if the climb is too steep. “Your attack has to be more aggressive into the climbs, and momentum is an absolute necessity,” adds Moore. “The old sit and spin routine is effectively out the window.”

FREERIDE

Breakdown: Very similar to Downhill bikes, Freeride rigs are generally lighter for the ability to still be agile on trails and tackle more technical obstacles—log pyramids, ladder bridges, and berm jumps—on fast downhill courses. As a result, rear suspension travel is a little less than Downhill bikes, though still can be between five and eight inches. Bottom brackets are also pretty high compared to other bikes as well (usually 14 inches) to help with pedal clearance of logs.
Best Bet: “There is definitely a gray area between a Downhill race bike and a Freeride bike and most manufactures try to cover both with one bike,” says Jon Eichner of the Southern Off Road Bicycle Association Freeride Alliance. “Freeride bikes are designed so that they can be pedaled uphill, most if not all will be able to take a front derailleur, whereas most Downhill bikes won’t.”

Bummer: “Although not as easy to climb as a trail bike, they will get those up the hill that don’t mind the phrase ‘earn your turn,’” says Eichner.

DOWNHILL

Breakdown: The monster truck of mountain bikes—these full suspension beasts tip the scales at 50 pounds plus. The bikes are low and slack with heavy sag needed in the rear suspension (typically eight to 10 inches) to take the big hits on screaming descents through gnarly rock gardens.

Best Bet: When you’ve got the need for speed on bomber rides down steep resort slopes, these heavy beasts are the way to go.

Bummer: With the heavy weight and specific geometry, it’s a one-dimensional bike that’s not cheap. Most start at around $3,000. Unless you frequently travel to ride outside the region, it’s debatable whether we even need them in the South. “For racing in the Southeast a Freeride bike can make an excellent east coast Downhill bike with the right components," says Eichner. "Since our mountains are smaller and our trails are typically rocky and rooty, a long wheel base slack bike is not necessarily an advantage.” 

29ER

Breakdown: Big wheels aren’t just for kids anymore. 29er bikes have 29-inch wheels, as opposed to the standard 26-inch wheel.

Best Bet: The bigger wheels hold momentum and make it easier to roll right over larger trail obstacles. As a result many 29er riders forgo front suspension in exchange for a rigid fork. “Once you're moving, you stay moving better than with a 26,” says Jack Imbriani of Triangle MTB.com.

Bummer: Some riders complain that the increased wheel size hinders acceleration and maneuverability on more technical trails. “There is usually slower steering due to longer wheel base,” Imbriani adds.

DIRT JUMP

Breakdown: Where mountain biking meets BMX. The bikes are single speed with tires that have minimal knobs and typically just a rear brake.

Best Bet: “You’ve got less things to break and less weight to throw around in the air,” says dirt jumper Dave Hoganson. “You don’t pedal much at all; timing in the air is what it’s all about. Some only like to bust tech tricks, some like the speed, and some just like to style the trails. My favorite part is hanging it out over the gaps and tweaking position in the air.”

Bummer: None—if you’re riding one of these, you’d rather be catching air than slogging singletrack.


—Jedd Ferris