A Beginner’s Guide To The Different Types Of Mountain Biking
Everything you need to know about MTB’s major categories.
Mountain biking can be a complex thing to come into with fresh eyes. There is so much to take into account, and searching for the perfect bike to pedal in your local area can be a serious minefield of suspension travel, wheel sizes, complex geometry and discipline specific componentry. Mountain biking may sound simple enough- you grab a bike and ride it on dirt; easy. Unfortunately though, there are a surprising number of categories within the field that require very different approaches and equipment. You may well be thinking to yourself “well I’ll just go out and buy a bike, then ride it anyway”. And the truth is, if you’re a beginner, then you should do exactly that- see our Bike Buying Advice for Beginners blog.The problem arises when you gain a little more proficiency, start to get to grips with the sport and start looking for a new bike to aid your progression; you’ll soon discover the plethora of options divided, then subdivided, into categories that seem to blend together.So here is a breakdown of the categories of mountain biking that we think you’ll come across in your journey. Each one is worthy of its own essay detailing the finer points, but for now, we’re going to give you an overview just to get you started. - XC -
Cross country, commonly abbreviated to XC, is probably the most abundant bike-type of all the mountain bikes. XC sees riders tackling single track, double track, gravel roads, hills, technical climbs, bridleways, downhill sections, obstacles and everything else in between. As a discipline, it covers the widest range of off-road terrain and has its very own race categories.- The Bikes -
XC bikes look strikingly different to the others in this category; they have tall, upright frames with thinner handlebars, thinner tyres and very light compared to their mountainous cousins below. The parts fitted to these bikes will try to toe the line between lightweight and durable, whilst delivering the maximum efficiency. You’ll see a variety of suspension options on XC bikes, although most modern choices will run small travel suspension on the front and rear of the bike.- What XC Bikes are Designed For -
XC bikes prioritise pedal efficiency and long distance comfort over all else. The frame is designed to put you in a neutral position in the centre of the bike, allowing you to adjust forward or backward depending on the terrain. - Where to Ride an XC Bike -
XC bikes are most at home on mixed terrain like single track and can handle anything from technical climbs to downhill descents. These bikes will perform on the road, on bridleways, in the hills and on everything in between- some people even use them as commuters. You’ll notice on steep descents that the bike becomes a touch uncomfortable, and in bike parks and on flow trails you will find the bike lacking a certain amount of rideability. - Trail -
Trail riding tips the scale away from cross country in favour of heading down the hill. Having said that, the trail category does a great job of recognising that in order to come down, one must first go up- and in some cases across.Trail riding elaborates on cross country, but aims to give you a better chance of heading down steeper, more technical sections of trail with confidence- maybe even hitting a few jumps and features along the way. A trail ride will, more often than not, involve cycling a route that includes a few climbs, a few descents, and a bit in between. For a trail bike to be effective, you need to be comfortable and able to tackle technical climbs, and then get sendy on the way down! - The Bikes -
Trail bikes are, for many, a ‘do it all’ day to day machine. They are often described as being ‘light’ and ‘playful’, but don’t really have that much in common with an XC bike. Trail bikes offer more suspension travel, more durability and a whole lot more fun. They are lighter, the suspension is plush and forgiving and they can handle anything you could think to throw at them. The bikes themselves will be lower, longer and look more aggressive than their XC counterparts. The more aggressive end of the trail bike category can even be at home in bike parks and extremely technical downhill trails. - What Trail Bikes are Designed For -
Trail bikes place a huge amount more emphasis on the downhill segment of your ride, and aim to extract the maximum downhill performance without sacrificing the ability to climb well and pedal long distances without too much discomfort.In the last decade trail bikes have become one of the most popular options for the everyday rider, and are quickly claiming a vast chunk of the market for themselves. - Where to Ride a Trail Bike -
A trail bike will be a fair bit more sluggish than an XC bike on roads or flat sections of off-road- but everywhere else they will excel. Point them at steep downhill and they’ll eat it up, tackle steep climbs with no worries, hit features with relative ease and enjoy every second along the way.Your local woods, intricate trail networks, long mountainous routes, bike parks- this really is your pedal-anywhere-machine. - Enduro -
Enduro is one of the most popular disciplines, and most of the time, people don’t even realise they are doing it. The Enduro World Series, or EWS see athletes racing downhill stages against the clock; multiple stages in one day with set start times mean you are not scored on your ascent, but you have to be at the top to make your start time- so your bike has to be able to pedal uphill reasonably well, and then stand up to a thrashing at full speed on the way down. Most people will cruise up to the trail head, have a chat with friends and then ride down as quickly as they can. After repeating this a few times you start to see the similarities between an every day ride, and enduro competitions. Modern enduro covers everything from bike park laps, large jump lines, technical features and downhill races. - The Bikes -
Enduro bikes are extremely aggressive descenders. The weight is not really important, the durability is high and the suspension is plentiful on the front and rear of the bike. Strong riders won’t struggle to pedal an enduro bike uphill, but smaller riders might be concerned with their weight.Enduro bikes are used for some of the gnarliest and most technical trails in the world, they can take a hit and get straight back up for more. They look aggressive and as soon as you sit on one, you can feel it begging you to point it nose first down a hill. - What Enduro Bikes are Designed For -
Enduro bikes place very little stock in being able to climb, and don’t mind being pushed to the top- but that’s not to say you can’t pedal them uphill. The line between enduro bikes and trail bikes is being blurred further and further as the years pass and as the technology improves, so don’t write them off if you love a climb. Many people will buy enduro bikes as the penalty on the climb is insignificant compared to the sheer amount of bike you get during the descent.Wide handlebars, low centres of gravity, thick downhill tyres and strong components make enduro bikes capable of handling anything the trail throws in their path. - Where to Ride an Enduro Bike -
You’ll see plenty of enduro bikes ripping laps at bike parks and trail centres around the world, but you’ll also see them out in the wild. They like to jump, hit large features and can generally shred as hard as the rider would like.- Downhill -
Downhill is the home of speed. The races are wild, the tracks are steep, and the crowds at major events are humongous- and eccentric to say the least. Downhill is just as the name suggests- pedalling uphill is not welcome here. Many bike parks will offer up-lifts, or even chairlifts to the top of the hill; with the entire focus being placed on tracks that head back down. There is a wide variety of track types that suit the downhill discipline and they are generally rough, bumpy and technical.- The Bikes -
Downhill bikes are the easiest to spot of any category- the frame slants at an incredibly aggressive angle, the saddle is tucked low down towards the back wheel, and the front suspension appears to attach to the handle bars. Everything on a downhill bike is heavy and very strong; they are designed to withstand blow after blow at high speeds after all. They will visibly have larger suspension that the other bikes on this list, and if you get to have a go on one, you’ll notice how sluggish they are even when pedalling on flat ground. - What Downhill Bikes are Designed For -
Every element of a downhill bike is aimed at giving you the most stable comfortable platform possible when pointed down pretty much anything. The weight and soft, plentiful suspension discourages you from pedalling pretty much anywhere but down, and they can absorb incredible impacts; you’ll get a floaty and smooth ride down almost any terrain. - Where to Ride a Downhill Bike -
As previously mentioned, bike parks and race tracks are the best places for downhill bikes. Essentially anywhere with an up-lift; even pushing these beasts to the top of a trail can be hard.- How to Choose the Right Mountain Bike For You -
- Assess Your Riding Style -
Your riding style is the most critical factor in choosing the right mountain bike. If you love long-distance rides and smooth trails, a cross-country bike might be the best choice. If you prefer a bit of everything and want one bike to do it all, a trail bike is likely the way to go. If you enjoy fast descents and technical trails, a full suspension bike will provide the comfort, control, and performance you need.- Consider the Terrain -
Think about where you’ll be riding most often. For steep, technical descents, an enduro or downhill bike will serve you best. For mixed terrains and general trail riding, a trail bike strikes a good balance.- Budget & Components -
Mountain bikes come in a wide range of prices. Higher-end models offer better components and lighter frames but come at a premium price. Determine your budget and look for bikes that offer the best value in your price range. Keep in mind that full suspension bikes generally cost more and require more maintenance. If you’re on a tighter budget or prefer a lower-maintenance option, a hardtail might be more suitable.- Where SheRides Fits In -
We love all things that pedal. However, the type of riding we mostly find ourselves doing is largely trail based. Our current bikes are aggressive trail bikes, and we generally have to climb a significant amount to get any kind of downhill. If we are lucky enough to be in a bike park, then our trail bikes can handle pretty much everything we would care to ride. We have a special love for bike parks- something that we will talk about more in the future- and flowy, jump-strewn trails are the things dreams are made of. For the most part riding in the UK is made up of fire-road and bridleway ascents, with rough single track goodness on the way down, so this is what we end up riding the most. As with most mountain bikers across the country, anything that gets you out pedalling is good in our book! Hopefully this guide to MTB’s different categories was somewhat helpful; if there is anything we missed then let us know, and remember, never stop shredding. 