What Style of Mens Mountain Bike is Best For You?

With the worldwide explosion of the exciting recreational and competition sport of mountain biking, a plethora of mountain bike styles has evolved. With so many choices, it's well to take a little time to evaluate just what type of bike will suit your needs. In other words, how you plan to use your mens mountain bike will determine the type that's the best fit for you. Some knowledge of the various types should help in leading you to the right selection. Here's an articles we came accross that should prove helpful.

Mens Mountain Bikes - Which Style Is For You?

Over the past 30 years or so many manufacturers have begun producing specialist mens mountain bikes, as the popularity of the sport grew. Nowadays you can choose between several styles of mountain bike, as each style is designed for a different style of riding. Before you buy a bike you need to decide which style it is that you prefer.

Mens mountain bikes are generally made using lightweight materials, and they have advanced brakes, gears and suspension systems. They can be divided into four categories based on the suspension systems.

These systems are as follows. Hard Tail, which is a frame with only front suspension. Soft Tail, which is a frame with only rear suspension. Dual or Full Suspension, which is a frame with both front and rear suspension. And Fully Rigid, which is a frame with either fixed rear suspension or no suspension.

There are several different styles available as well, including Trail bikes, Freeride bikes, Cross Country (XC), and All Mountain (AM) bikes.

Cross Country (XC for short) bikes are lightweight and generally only have a small amount of suspension. They are aimed at riding on climbs and have fast turning capability.

Trail Bikes are a mixture of Cross Country and All Mountain bikes. They are good all round bikes for all elements of mountain biking.

All Mountain Bikes provide fantastic suspension. They are designed to be able to ascend mild to moderate inclines and descend steep declines. These bikes are perfect for all levels of rider, adults or children.

Freeride Bikes are similar to downhill bikes. They are built to focus on strength rather than weight. They have good suspension and are built from strong, heavy material. They are extremely good for riding technically downhill.

The choice of which mountain bike to invest in firstly comes down to personal preference of riding style. You must decide how you want to spend time on your bike. Do you want to ride smooth flowing trails, climb big mountains, ride stunts, descend technical downhill courses, or just have all around fun? There are plenty of mens mountain bikes covering all of these options so you just need to find one that feels right for you that is within your budget.

Take a Biking Vacation in Colorado

If you've been to Colorado, you just know that it's a great venue for biking, both on the road and off-road. It seems the trails are endless, and the vistas are incomparable. If you're considering a Colorado biking vacation, there are some locales that are standouts. A little advance planning can lead you to an extraordinary biking experience. There's something for everyone. Here is a rundown of some of the better choices in this gorgeous state. Read on.

Colorado: A Gorgeous Challenging Place to Go Biking!

Ever dreamed of going on a Colorado biking adventure? The multiple beautiful mountain ranges in the state are the perfect place for adventurous bikers to test their skills and enjoy the great outdoors. But even less seasoned bikers will find great trails in Colorado suitable for their skill levels. Check these out.

Three trails combine to create a long, technical trail encompassing 21 miles. Located near Buena Vista, the Colorado Trail, Chalk Cliffs, and Cottonwood Pass Road have some sections suitable for inexperienced riders, but a good part of the path is uphill with steep inclines. Your reward for braving the trek? Enjoy the hot springs located midway on the trail and give yourself a relaxing break. The Colorado Trail also has restrooms by their parking area.

If you love biking because you just like to enjoy nature, then this next trail is just the perfect one for you. Monarch Crest is a 28-mile trail near Salida. Some of the best views (the Continental Divide) in all of Colorado can be seen right here. Its best to take a shuttle to the top since you will be at an elevation of 12,000.

White Ranch Park near Golden is over 19 miles of various loops to choose from. Its an old ranch just east of Denver. You will have to share the track with hikers, and the occasional cow, deer, elk, or bear. There are some great climbs, tough descents, roots and rocks to keep things interesting. While technical, it can be a great place for an intermediate biker to hone his skills.

The Bear Creek Loop near Glenwood Springs is a 20-mile loop. It starts out with a 10-mile climb before following the rim of the Glenwood Canyon at about 1700 feet above the Colorado River. Aside from the awesome views, there's also fast banked corners and wide open stretches where you can build up quite a bit of speed. This is followed by a tricky downhill section that is lots of fun. Watch out for some technical rocky sections and some fast bermed corners. You can buy a map of this area for only $1 at the Chamber of Commerce.

The Searle/Kokomo Pass near Dillon, Colorado is 18 miles of very difficult track. It reaches a very high elevation of 12,300 so this can make breathing difficult if you are used to such a high altitude. If you can handle a strenuous ride like this one, you'll be rewarded with some amazing scenery, alpine ponds, and gorgeous wildflowers. Youll even get some great downhill sections as well.

Even more challenging and arduous, expert bikers will experience some fantastic but technical trails on the 32-mile loop called the Double Top Trail not far from Crested Butte, Colorado. Bring along lots of water, though, because the 11,700-foot altitude contributes to dehydration problems. Make sure you're in excellent physical condition before you tackle this one, and then plan to have a blast!

Colorado's biking trails present unique challengers to bikers-like the high altitudes that can cause a lightheaded reaction and contribute to dehydration-but they're also incredible if you want to have fun and stretch your skill level. To ensure safe riding, never bike alone, always take lots of water along with you, and give yourself time to adjust to the high altitude before biking. Then have fun!