What kind of bike do you need? This is a common question for new riders, and the answer depends on your intended use, terrain, and personal preferences. In this post, I will break down the main types of bikes and their characteristics to help you make an informed decision.
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What kinds of bikes are there?
If you’re just starting your mountain bike journey, you may be surprised to learn that it’s more than just cheap mountain bike vs expensive mountain bike. There are actually a variety of different kinds. This choice can be more important than just thinking it’s about a price point. Below, we’ll get into the types, benefits, and differences.
Suspension types
- Rigid: No suspension, lighter weight, more efficient on smooth terrain, less maintenance. Common in road and gravel bikes.
- Hardtail: Front suspension only, good for cross-country and light trail riding, more affordable. However, can also be found in some very capable trail bikes. Some people like the feel, but you will sacrifice some comfort, control and speed depending on the roughness of the terrain.
- Full Suspension: Front and rear suspension, better for rough terrain and downhill riding, more expensive. Also, full suspension is not just about hitting super rough terrain or taking jumps. It can also be a huge comfort and control benefit.
Gravel
Think of a Gravel bike as a more rugged road bike, in a way. It has tires which are big enough to handle a dirt or gravel filled road, but not rugged enough to really get deep into a rough trail, since it’s traction and handling are just not made for it. For multipurpose riding between pavement and some easy dirt roads, this is a good choice.
Cross Country
The next step up is a Cross Country bike. This is a mountain bike which is designed for speed and efficiency on smoother trails. It will have a front suspension fork, and may or may not have rear suspension. The tires will be more aggressive than a gravel bike, but still not as aggressive as a trail or downhill bike. This is a good choice for someone who wants to ride on trails, but not necessarily do any big jumps, drops, or super rocky/rooty terrain.
Down Country
A Down Country bike is a step up from a Cross Country bike. It is designed for more aggressive riding, with a focus on climbing and descending. It will have a full suspension system, with a longer travel fork and rear shock. The tires will be more aggressive than a Cross Country bike, but still not as aggressive as a Trail or Downhill bike. This is a good choice for someone who wants to ride on more technical trails, but still wants to be able to climb efficiently. Think of it as an a extra rugged Cross Country bike. Honestly, these days, the line between Cross Country and Down Country is getting a bit blurry, as many bikes are now designed to handle a wider range of terrain.
Trail
A Trail bike is designed for more aggressive riding, with a focus on descending and technical features. It will have a full suspension system, but with more travel than seen on most cross country bikes. Travel means how much room the suspension has to absorb rough features. The tires will be more aggressive than a Down Country bike, but still not as aggressive as a Downhill bike. They are more multipurpose for descending and rough terrain, while still being pretty good at climbing. They are usually just not quite as efficient or light as a cross country bike.
Enduro/All Mountain
Enduro (or All Mountain) is the bigger brother of a Trail bike. All the same, but more suspension, more weight, less climbing efficiency.
Downhill
Downhill bikes are very interesting, because of the specilization. Basically, maximum grip, suspension, and weight at the cost of all climbing efficiency. Many downhill bikes will never even be pedalled up a hill, since they are designed to be on a ski mountain, where a lift takes you up, and you just use gravity to blast down the hill. It is not well rounded at all, but works wonderfully in the context of the roughest, steepest type of terrain.
Electric Mountain Bikes
At this point, every type of bike can have an Electric option. I am very torn on this. I am a bit oldschool, and still feel like a big part of this sport is about earning it through the pain of the climb. However, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve started noticing it as a great option for those who want to have a nice long day, still have the ability, but their body just needs some help. If we’re talking about actual e-bikes, which are basically just offering assisted pedalling power, then I support it. It just comes with extra cost and weight to any non electric equivalent. Keep in mind, anything with a throttle is basically an e-motorcycle or e-moto, but these often get called e-bikes as well which causes a lot of confusion for consumers.
What bike do you actually need?
If you’re new to the sport, my main advice would be not to over buy for your first bike. Honestly, when I first started, I was miserable, but was really looking for a new outdoor activity. I stuck with it, wound up loving it, and then upgraded. However, imagine if the opposite happened. I start with the ‘upgraded’ bike, never got past that initial miserable feeling, and then I had a really expensive dust collector sitting in my garage taking up space. So, start with something basic, figure out your terrain or style of riding, then once you outgrow what you have, move on to the next. Also, none of this is a list of levels to graduate to. If your style and terrain are all about Gravel, then you may start on an intro Gravel bike, and eventually get a really good Gravel bike, never touching cross-country, trail, or downhill terrain. They are all separate, and one is not better than another. It’s just about your style, and the terrain choice.