Bike Shop

Bike Shop

Trail, DH, FR, full-suspension, hard tail: you will hear all of these terms flying around the bike shop and it can make you feel like you know nothing about bikes at all. Why should you? All you want to do is ride! But by taking the time to learn what these terms mean, you will get a better bike, and then you can forget all about them (maybe).

Types of bike

To find the bike that is right for you, you need to know what rider you want to be. Do you want to ride tight trails? Technical downhill riding? Jumps? Stunts? Or do you just want to ride and have fun? Be realistic about your riding goals. Your geography is going to influence your riding. If you do not have any big hills around your area then a bike specifically designed for downhill may be a waste of your money. Here is a list of the types of bike and what style of riding they are designed for.

DH (downhill)

These bikes are designed to go downhill and downhill fast. The suspension is built so that they can handle really rough terrain. Keep in mind that they are designed for going downhill and when you are riding uphill, you will have a hard time.

FR (free ride)

The bad boy of the bike shop. These bikes are made for the trails that are full of jumps. If you are looking to get into stunts, then this is the bike for you. But if you are looking for a bike that is easy to throw around, then look the other way.

Trail

This is the all-rounder. This bike is the one that most people choose because it can do a little of everything. The bike can handle downhill, keep up with the stunt bikes and is OK for going uphill too. This bike is not to be confused with the trial bike, which is a light bike with low gears used to tackle stationary obstacles.

Suspension- full suspension

Most of the bikes listed are full suspension. Full suspension bikes are designed to give you a comfortable (kind of) ride when tackling rough terrain and give you the ability to hit downhill runs and conquer jumps. Full suspension bikes are also the most expensive and if you this is the bike for you, you will need to buy quality. If you cannot afford well-made dual suspension then you may be disappointed. But there is an alternative.

Suspension- hard tail

The hard tail bike will have no rear suspension, but this has its advantages. They are cheaper, more durable and lighter than dual suspension mountain bikes. If you are looking for accurate response and pedaling efficiency, this is the bike for you. These bikes are much easier to maintain and repair yourself than the dual-suspension bikes. Dirt jumpers tend to prefer these bikes because you can pump off the jump with more aggression that you would be able to with a dual-suspension.

These tips should help you to walk into a bike shop with a clear picture of what type of bike you want.