Until about 2 decades ago, the only types available were Downhill and Cross Country. However, recent developments in technology, and the result is the range of new variants such as Freeride, Dirt jump and Trail bikes that have joined the bandwagon of mountain bikes.
A Downhill bike is for a downhill and extreme falls. It is generally heavier, but efforts are made to keep it light so it can be used for racing. As it is for downhill, its not really easy riding uphill with it. Equipped with disc brakes that are hydraulic for braking instantly at higher speeds it also has suspension travel that’s more than a lot of other bikes.
The XC (Cross-Country) model of bikes is optimally suited for all terrains and off-road expeditions with average obstacles. It is also suitable for ascends as well as descends. Its light weight helps it go as fast as it can in normal conditions. It can be full suspension,hardtail (front suspension) or rigid (no suspension).
The Trail Mountain variant is a modification of XC except with a much softer suspension so as to negotiate harder and more complex challenges. Nevertheless, the only disadvantage with this bike is the effort required to pedal as a result of greater suspension.
Freeride bikes are a ride-anywhere bike designed to negotiate big drops or hits while zooming down hills. These are durable, heavy bikes, sporting full suspension, thus enabling you to incorporate maximum travelling distance all thanks to the 7-9 gear selection. These bikes are for people who spend majority of their time in parks, streets or go down hill often. As such, it can work both, as a Downhill and a Cross Country Bike, albeit with variable performance.
Dirt Jump models happen to be a subcategory of the freeride bikes and they are popularly used for riding in parks, on the streets, doing tricks and things much similar to a BMX. They are smaller than other types and are designed to get maximum air on jumps as they are made of tough lightweight materials. Fitted with a just few gears they are not best suited for other styles. Unlike BMX counterparts, these have a front suspension and are apt for serious dirt jumpers.
The All-Terrain is an amalgamation of the strengths of freeride and XC bikes.Its 5-6 inches of full-suspension for front as well as back, a gear set that’s complete along with a heavier frame as compared to XC make it best for medium rides and challenges.
If you are a beginner, the Hardtail XC should be your pick, since it is cheaper and capable of most things that bikes are typically meant to do. Do consider which riding type you want to get in to. Remember each bike has its own pros and cons.
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