Important Features of Mountain Bikes

Mountain biking is a rough and tough sport. In involves riding and negotiating tough, off-road mountain terrain. Clearly, an ordinary bike is not up to the arduous journey.

So, what are the most important features of mountain bikes?

Mountain bicycles do share certain similarities with ordinary bikes but they also incorporate many features that help them adapt to rough terrain and endure extreme conditions. Modern mountain bikes have a dual suspension system to help the rider move smoothly over bumps and holes. The tires are wider and more wobbly to provide more traction and balance and could be of 26 or 29 inches. These wide tires are generally mounted on reinforced rims so as to help mountain bikes withstand the stress of bad roads.

Mountain bikes have special features that facilitate easy handling and balance. For instance, the handlebar is raised, wide and flat. This allows a more comfortable riding position for the rider. If the handlebars are too much to the front or back, there will be excessive pressure on the upper part of the body, which makes riding a painful experience. Mountain bicycles are heavier than road bikes so as to ensure more balance.

It is possible to adjust the height of the saddle so that riders can easily rest a foot on the ground, if and when necessary. To ensure this, riders generally make use of a slightly smaller frame size so both their feet can touch the ground. To ensure safety and good road control, mountain bikes make use of gears and disc brakes. Riders need to adjust the position of the brakes so they get proper control of the brakes. The gear ratio of mountain bicycles is much higher to facilitate steep climbs.

Recently, there have been many innovations in the technologies used in mountain bikes which enhance their speed and allow the rider better control. For instance, riders are now provided with clipless pedals so that specially designed shoes can easily connect and engage with the pedals. This ensures that the feet do not slip away from the pedals when mountain biking.

Thus, it is obvious that mountain bicycles have special systems to help riders achieve better speed without losing control. To that extent, mountain bikes have come a long way and most riders look for the most sophisticated bikes so that they can ride seamlessly and smoothly on roads that are designed to test the mettle of any rider. That is why it is important to choose mountain bicycles that can readily withstand the rigors of mountain terrain and deliver strength, balance and speed. Such a bike is an asset for a rider.