Analysis of Mountain Bike Technology
Mountain Bikes are unrecognisable from their early ancestors of the 1970s thanks to the advancement of new technologies. Mountain bike frames were originally based on road bikes, but the technology soon had to evolve to meet the unique demands of rough terrain and difficult conditions.
Nowadays mountain bikes are bristling with technological bits and bobs, all designed to make riding easier and more accessible. This means you can take on harder trails, higher risk and a hell of a lot more fun.
Gears
Take as much of the strain away from your legs with up to 27 gears on many mountain bikes.
Suspension
Your bike’s suspension lets you tackle those tricky obstacles with less effort and more control. Most mountain bikes have at least front suspension - great for uneven descents. For the seriously rough stuff you will need a full suspension bike as this will be much easier to ride.
Frames
Your bike is literally built around the frame and as your bikes gets put through its paces, so does your frame. Your frame must be able to take the increased demands so stronger materials are used along with new styles and designs. Your bikes frame has of course got to be strong but at the same time must be light weight for maximum performance.
Brakes
Today, disc brakes are commonplace on nearly all mountain bikes. Positioned near the wheels rim they are well away from the tyre and the mud, so are less likely to become clogged up making them more responsive even in the muddiest conditions.
Tyres
Road bike tyres are very smooth and slim when compared to big, thick mountain bike tyres. These bigger tyres provide better grip and greater stability particularly when travelling at high speed. Different tyre profiles are available depending on the conditions you are likely to encounter.