Mountain Bike Trail Adventures

Getting Into Mountain Biking: What You Need to Know

Mountain bike categories have gotten complicated with all the travel numbers and geometry terms flying around. As someone who started on a heavy department store bike with terrible brakes and survived somehow, I learned everything there is to know about this sport the hard way. Today, I’ll share what would have helped to know upfront.

Types of Mountain Bikes

Cross-country (XC): Light, efficient, built for pedaling. Short travel suspension (80-120mm), steep geometry. For racing, fitness riding, and trails without major technical challenges. You’ll go fast but won’t love big drops or gnarly descents.

Trail bikes: Probably should have led with this category, honestly. The do-everything type with 120-150mm travel and balanced geometry. Climbs reasonably well, descends confidently. If you’re buying one bike for varied terrain, this is probably it.

Enduro/All-mountain: 150-170mm travel, slacker geometry. Built for rowdy descents while still being pedal-able. More bike than most people need, but great if you’re hitting bike parks or aggressive terrain.

Downhill: 180mm+ travel, built specifically for going down. Useless for climbing — you shuttle or use lifts. Specialized equipment for specialized riding.

Fat bikes: Massive tires (4″+ wide) for snow, sand, and soft surfaces. Niche but fun if you have the terrain for them.

What Actually Matters

That’s what makes the right bike endearing to us trail riders — it matches how you actually ride. The bike industry wants to sell you the most expensive option. Most riders would be well-served by a mid-range trail bike. Match the bike to your terrain and skill level, not to your aspirations.

Getting Started

Proper fit matters more than components. A bike that fits lets you learn skills without fighting the machine. Good brakes matter because stopping confidently enables everything else. Suspension quality affects control and comfort.

Start on easier trails. Build skills progressively. The trails will be there when you’re ready — no rush to attempt features beyond your current ability.