Mountain bike is one of the biggest categories in cycling world, there are a lot of cyclists who even ride both road bike and mountain bike in different seasons. So in this guide, we will break down the MTB in parts and explain everything you need to know about the mountain bike. Let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
Get to know mountain bike
What is Mountain bike
The mountain bike originated in 1977, when Scott, a student at the University of California, modified an ordinary bicycle into a model that was derived and developed by driving the bike in a motorcycle race on a cross-country course for a fancy race. It gradually formed a form of sport and became popular in Europe and the United States.
In 1979, a company was founded under the name “Ricky’s Mountain Bikes”, which is how the name “Mountain Bikes” came about.
Mountain bike types
Mountain bikes are familiar and unfamiliar to many bike enthusiasts, familiar because many bike enthusiasts into the pit of the first bike is a mountain bike, unfamiliar because many bike enthusiasts for the mountain bike does not have a very in-depth understanding of what is DH, what is soft tail? Why are there so many mountain bikes?
The earliest definition of mountain bike is relatively simple, that is, the bicycle used on the mountain road, roughly divided into hard tail (with shock fork, no rear shock) and soft tail (that is, full shock models, with front and rear shock) two. Later, as mountain bikes became more and more playful and people’s needs became more and more diverse, many models were subdivided.
1.XC(Cross Country）
The XC model includes a simple hardtail model and a small-travel soft-tail model with a simple structure and a low entry threshold, making it suitable for mountain bike beginners. In addition, the XC model is relatively affordable, so it is also the first choice for many people to get in touch with sports bikes.
2.Trail
The forest road bike can be considered an advanced model of XC, with a short stroke full shock structure, suitable for forest and mountain roads, there are certain requirements for riding skills. Many amateur players will choose the trail bike, on the one hand, can experience the fun of mountain bikes conquering obstacles, on the other hand, the difficulty of getting started is also moderate.
3.AM（All Mountain）
AM models have longer shock travel than trail bikes and can pass through larger drops, making them suitable for more rugged roads such as mountain technical roads. Compared to other mountain bikes, AM models can both climb steep slopes and make difficult descents, with excellent all-around performance that can meet the requirements of most mountain bikers. However, more skills and experience are needed to master certain AM riding techniques.
4.Enduro
Enduro is a very popular mountain bike race in recent years, emphasizing the combination of physical strength and riding skills, with a long race course, also known as the endurance race in mountain biking. enduro tracks are mostly downhill sections, containing many small flying bags and sharp corners, so the enduro models are overall more similar to AM. The relationship between AM and Enduro has not yet been unified, but Enduro has an exclusive EWS (Enduro World Series) system, and major manufacturers have also launched Enduro models, so here is a special introduction.
5.FR（Free Ride）
FR means free ride, typical play includes big drop, difficult skills, etc., is the toughest and most exciting in mountain biking, famous for the Red Bull Fell Mountain Race. fr pursues the challenge of downhill and obstacles, the pursuit of difficult routes and movements, the construction of the site requires artificial construction to ensure safety. fr models are equipped with ultra-long travel shock system, generally similar to the DH models to be introduced below. The FR models are equipped with long travel shock systems, similar to the DH models described below.
6.DH（Down Hill）
DH models have a small head tube angle and long shock travel, as well as a variety of uniquely designed rear shock systems, all designed to allow riders to maintain good control on high-speed descents, with frame, fork and brake components specially designed for high-speed descents and road impacts. DH models are a niche market, but there are many riders who use DH models in FR.
This article only lists six common types of mountain bikes, and there are DS and other more niche models that I won’t talk about. As the market continues to develop, there will be more and more subdivisions, and the boundaries between models and models become more blurred. Most of the brands are not strictly in accordance with the classification to plan the product line, there are often many crossover models, you can pick according to their own needs.
BOOST mountain bike
The Boost specification means 15X110mm front axle and 12X148mm rear axle open gear. This means that the hub flange can be larger, so that the drive side in the shortening of the spokes at the same time increase the spoke bevel angle, theoretically the increase in spoke bevel angle can increase lateral rigidity, while the shortening of the spokes can reduce energy loss, which is often said to be more direct power. It is important to note that Boost is a new specification and is not compatible with the previous standard specification.
The wider open gear also makes the Chain Line offset increase by 3mm, increasing the spacing between the tire and the frame, making it compatible with wider tires and achieving better mud drainage. Many manufacturers have already replaced their new mountain bikes with Boost specifications, and many hub/wheel set brands have shown great interest and intention, so it is foreseeable that this will be a new trend of mountain bike axle specifications.
The new mountain bike hub system, BOOST, has entered the market as a dark horse and has become the new standard in the past few years. Continuing the hook-and-claw design and widening the hub, the front and rear axles and hub lugs are extended 3-5mm outward on both sides, without affecting the original frame geometry and durability in any way. As for the specific details, the Boost’s front hub is 110 x 15mm wide and the rear hub is 148 x 12mm wide, significantly increasing the rigidity of each wheelset size and making the design much more flexible.
FSA (Full Speed Ahead) is well aware of the significant improvements in wheelset strength and stability that have been made to the Boost system over the past few years. The wider rear hook spacing has increased the width of the hub flange and changed the distance between the spokes on either side, while the wider flange also provides more support angle for the spokes.
In short, the Boost hub brings the following advantages.
- Significantly more rigidity, optimizing the bike’s handling efficiency and precision.
- Wider rear wheel allows the rear lower fork length to be trimmed down with it, improving handling sensitivity.
- Shock pivot spacing is increased, resulting in more rigidity.
- Wider rear hub allows for more options for gearing.
- Improved clearance between the front fork and rear fork.
Mountain Bike Parts
Mountain bike frames
The importance of the frame
In the above article I mentioned that the frame is the soul of the whole bike, this statement is not too much. Many newcomers to the bike, often intentionally or unintentionally ignore the importance of the frame. They consider what XTR kit to install, what grade of fork, and so on their own budget with almost, and then go shopping for a random frame. The direct result of this behavior is that the whole bike looks very high-grade, but ride is not so much. What is the crux of the problem? It is that they have purchased an unsuitable frame.
Let’s discuss the importance of the frame from the following aspects in a rough way:
1. The frame determines the type of bike. For example, if you were to assemble a DH bike, would you go shopping for a 1400g GIANT XTC-TEAM? Or in other words, would you put a DNM double-shoulder fork with up to 20CM of travel on your lightweight XC? Of course not. So, the type of frame also determines the type of the whole bike.
2. The frame directly or indirectly affects all aspects of the bike’s performance. What affects the handling of the bike? What determines the stability of the bike? What determines how fast or slow the bike turns? What determines the comfort level of the bike? Is it the XTR kit, is it the ROCKSHOX fork? Yes, but no. Because to make these parts play their strong fighting power, it is necessary to lay a good foundation – frame. A 200 yuan frame and a 2000 yuan frame, even if the final price of the bike installed out exactly the same, the actual ride will feel like a clouds. 3.
3. The size of the frame also determines whether the bike is suitable for you. Even if the right kind of frame is chosen, the performance is not bad, but if the size of the frame is not suitable, it is like chicken ribs, can only be cut. Because the size of the bike is not suitable to ride up not only can not be a good exercise, there may cause sports injuries, and even bring great safety risks. This point will be explained in detail below.
Above we have a general impression of the importance of the frame, let us learn more about the soul of the bike.
Mountain bike frame types
1. Hard Tail (HARD TAIL)
As shown in the picture, we can see that the frame can be divided into two main parts: the front triangle and the rear triangle. The rear triangle has no shock absorber, and the frame is directly welded with metal tubes, which we call hard tail frame. This frame has the advantages of light weight and no pedal loss, and the price is relatively cheap, so it is widely used in XC cross-country bikes with high requirements for climbing speed. However, due to the poor shock absorption of the rear triangle, the stability of the rear wheel becomes a problem when driving at higher speed on rough roads, and it may even be turned off the ground causing the bike to lose control.
Mountain bike frame Unlike general XC frames, climbing frames have their own characteristics
The seat tube of the climbing frame is especially short, which makes the whole frame’s center of gravity very low, and with the thicker front and rear wheels than the general cross-country bikes, the stability of the whole bike is guaranteed. With the longer than average top and bottom tubes, the rider’s body center of gravity can be quickly adjusted to a wide range of situations. This is also a good example of how performance determines appearance.
2. Soft-tail frame (SOFT–TAIL)
Soft-tail frame is a frame between shadow tail frame and full shock frame. This frame has a passive damping structure at the seat support of the rear triangle. This structure is similar to a rear shock absorber, but without the obvious damping effect of a rear shock absorber. It only serves to make the vibration transmitted to the human body slightly smaller, while making the rear wheel more closely in contact with the ground and better control. Like the hardtail frame, the softtail frame has almost no energy loss during the pedaling process. This frame is slightly heavier than a hardtail frame and lighter than a fully damped frame. However, due to the frame type, it is rare in China, and the following are the products of KHS, which is famous for producing soft-tail bikes.
3. FULL SUSPENSION
It is a real frame with shock absorbing structure and shock absorbing effect, different from soft tail frame, full shock frame with completely independent shock absorbing structure and a wide variety of shock absorbers, with shock absorbing fork, you can get good shock absorbing effect (it seems that there is no bike with rear shock without front shock). The performance of different fully damped frames varies greatly. The following are a few common types of fully damped frames.
- Single point of rotation frame
- Four-link frame
Hardtail vs Suspension Frame
Although the full shock frame has good riding effect, but compared with the hard tail frame, it also has its inevitable disadvantages:
- Weight about 1400 grams of cross-country frame has been very common, while 2000 grams or less of the full shock frame is very little, for those DH bike frame is often more than 3000 grams.
- Maintenance Compared to hardtail bikes, full shock bikes require very careful tuning and maintenance, and its rear shock must be precisely set to achieve the desired effect.
- Most of the full shock frames will absorb part of the rider’s pedaling force, causing a cascade of force.
Generally speaking, hardtail frames are mostly used on XC bikes and climbing bikes. And full shock frame is used in FR or DH bike
According to the current domestic situation, I believe that the hard-tailed buggy is the best choice for newcomers
- From the use of value and use of the scope, lightweight off-road vehicles are not only sports equipment, or very good walking tools and travel equipment. The cross-country bikes with bald tires and hard forks can reach very high speed. Full shock absorbers due to its huge size, large weight and the disadvantages of diarrhea when riding, making it very limited and not suitable for general riding.
- In terms of maintenance, full shock bikes require more professional maintenance, and domestic bike shops are still very imperfect and irregular, not only the repair parts are not easy to find, but also the related technical support is very lacking. There are only a few bicycle shops that can provide warranty and guarantee.
- In the same time, the price of a full shock absorber will be more expensive. The one-time investment for newcomers will be larger. And the choice of newcomers often comes with blindness, once you find that this type of riding is not suitable for you, the loss will be relatively heavy.
MTB Frame Materials
Currently, the following materials can be used to make bicycle frames: steel, aluminum, titanium, magnesium, scandium, carbon fiber, etc. The frames that are generally available on the market are mainly made of steel, aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber. Scandium alloy and magnesium alloy are the most recent emerging materials and are relatively uncommon.
To understand the characteristics of these materials, it is necessary to know some basic concepts and parameters
1. STRENGTH
Assume that the weight hanging from the other end of the bar is heavy enough to cause permanent deformation of the bar, i.e., when the weight is removed, the bar still appears to bend and cannot fully return to its original shape, i.e., the so-called yield. The force to bring the material to yield varies from material to material, and this is called strength. Strength is related to the durability of the frame but not to the ride quality. Strength is determined by the yield strength of the material. The yield strength has a significant relationship with the quality of the frame tubing, the heat treatment process and the alloy composition (certain brand types).
2. STIFFNESS
Suppose a metal bar is fixed to a fixture at one end, and a certain weight is added to the other end to make the bar bend temporarily, and when the weight is removed, the bar immediately returns to its original shape. The same weight applied to different materials will produce a different degree of bending, which is rigidity. Stiffness affects the ride quality of the frame, because the frame is most afraid of deformation during normal riding. Stiffness is determined by the coefficient of elasticity of the material, and quite importantly, the coefficient of elasticity is independent of the quality of the metal and the composition of its alloy. For example, all types of steel basically have the same coefficient of elasticity.
3. WEIGHT
In addition to strength and rigidity, weight is also a topic. As with rigidity, weight is affected quite slightly by the alloy composition of the material. Even if your frame is labeled “Lite Steel TM” (lightweight steel), the fact is that all steels have almost equal weight.
The most popular MTB frame materials
Steel frame: the main feature is round, frame tube cross-section is mostly round. Weld irregularity, the same size frame, steel is the heaviest, cheap.
Aluminum alloy frame: streamlined, overall more beautiful, variable cross-section of the frame tube, lighter than steel, moderate price, obvious advantages, the entry bike is mostly aluminum alloy frame.
Titanium alloy frame: the most important feature is no coating, fine welding joints (compared with aluminum alloy), and is regular fish scale. Very light, high strength but easy to deform. Cost is also very expensive.
Carbon fiber: non-metal, with weave pattern, no welding points. The lightest weight, durable, but easy to knock. Use a torque wrench to tighten the screws according to the preset torque value.
Carbon fiber Mountain bike Frame
Generally speaking, carbon fiber as a material for bicycles has the following characteristics.
- Extremely light weight: carbon fiber road frames of about 1200 grams are already everywhere. Since the mass of carbon is only 1.6g/cm3, making a frame of about 1kg is no longer a dream.
- Good shock absorption performance. Carbon fiber can effectively absorb shocks and maintain very good rigidity. This feature makes it a very good material for competition level.
- Can make various shapes of frame. Unlike the general manufacturing process of metal frames, carbon fiber frames are generally made by first making a mold, then paying the carbon fiber sheet on the mold, and finally gluing it with epoxy resin. This process can be used to make a frame with minimal wind resistance using aerodynamics.
The current problems with this material are two main points.
- Complicated stress calculation. The carbon fiber frame is composed of carbon fiber, which is characterized by strong tensile strength, but weak shear strength, processing requires complex stress calculations (longitudinal rigidity, transverse rigidity), according to the calculations to overlap the carbon fiber pieces into shape. Generally speaking, the impact of carbon fiber against the surface is quite good, while the puncture resistance is very poor. It does not matter if you drop the vertical shot horizontally, but the fear is to drop the vertical shot across the process of encountering a sharp stone or two, that can not be taken to the welding can be solved.
- Expensive, and titanium compared to the price of carbon fiber frame has never been more expensive, to the top of the carbon fiber frame prices are tens of thousands, and the price of the C40 and C50 Konarco even more than $3000. This is mainly because the production process of carbon fiber frame requires a lot of manual work, and the scrap rate is very high, resulting in a large increase in costs.
Mountain bike wheelset
In accordance with the usual before the start of the guide, the first few points of knowledge about the wheelset.
1) For the mountain bike wheelset, wide rims have become the trend, but also to moderate. The wider the rim, the larger the volume of the tire, relatively speaking, it can have a larger contact area with the ground, can use lower tire pressure, and better stability (to maintain the shape of the tire, for example, in the corner). But definitely not the wider the better, in the external media (pinkbike) test the most excellent is 35mm rim, followed by 30mm, while 40mm is not particularly ideal.
The difference between 35mm and 30mm is not much, while the change from 25mm to 30mm has a large improvement (in terms of grip, etc.). So, for a mountain bike wheelset, just choose a moderate width, there is no need to go for too wide rims.
2) Self-editing or the original wheel is no difference in performance, provided that the self-editing tension and other specification data are set correctly. Road wheelset, many manufacturers will promote the wheelset after the “integrated design of the whole”, the rim spokes hub with each other to achieve the best performance. But when it comes to the mountain field, the overall gain effect of such an integrated design is not very outstanding. In the premise of the materials and specifications are the same, the biggest difference between the original and self-editing wheelset is the precision of the preparation process, the original wheelset mostly uses machine preparation, relatively speaking, its tension and so on will be more balanced. Of course, the warranty and after-sales service of the original wheelset is also the service that ordinary self-made wheelset players cannot enjoy.
3) Carbon fiber wheels are necessary? For most people it is not necessary. First of all, it is expensive, very expensive, which is not wallet friendly at all. Secondly, carbon wheels are much stiffer. Many people may think that carbon fiber will have more elastic deformation, which will increase the comfort. But in this aspect of the rim, in most cases, carbon rims will be much harder than many aluminum rims, which will bring stronger ground feedback, which is very worthwhile for the competitor.
Of course carbon wheels can bring lighter unsprung mass and better acceleration, so it’s worth trying when your wallet is thick enough. But this is not necessary, in the top mountain racing, excluding the climbing xc, in the EWS (climbing section without time) or DH World Cup, there are many riders who use aluminum rims to win the championship, last year’s world champion Luwak Bruni is using a pair of DT Swiss EX 471 aluminum rims.
Mountain Wheelset Sizes
First, you need to determine the correct size of your bike wheelset. The current wheelset sizes in existence are 26, 27.5 (also becoming 650B), and 29. If you are in doubt about this, check the tires currently in use and the wheelset size will be indicated on the sidewall.
Plus mountain bike? Generally speaking you’ll know what this is if you’ve bought one, if not? Please just ignore this paragraph. The common Plus size is 27.5+. These are essentially the same diameter as a regular 27.5 wheelset, but with significantly wider rims (maybe 44mm wide outside instead of 30mm)
The Freehub
The freehub is the component used to drive the hub, this is generally not a very important factor, steel free hubs are heavier and more durable, aluminum free hubs are lighter but can be easily bitten by the flywheel.
Now Sram 11 speed/12 speed kits require a dedicated xd freehub, so if you want to use Sram’s 11/12 speed kit, use an xd freehub.
Shimano 11-speed and lower, as well as Sram’s 10-speed flywheels are compatible with Shimano’s standard HG freehubs.
Some hubs are compatible with both Shimano hg and SRAM XD bases, so just choose the corresponding bases at the time of purchase, or you can order another bases separately.
Mountain bike handlebars
Flat handlebar: easy to power up, less wind resistance, can get better riding speed. Suitable for paved roads and light off-road (XC). There is more room for addition (navigation bracket, lights, code table, etc.)
Riser handlebar: on both sides of the handlebar, bend up laterally. The opposite of the flat handlebar, wind resistance, less space for retrofitting. The advantage is good handling, non-heavy cross-country, or recommended straight handle.
Mountain bike fork
The fork is a tool to unload the force, when encountering potholes or uneven roads, it can absorb part of the force and play a role in reducing the force on the rider, thus making the ride more comfortable.
In terms of structure, almost all mountain bikes on the market today are shock forks, and hard forks are almost extinct. In entry-level mountain bikes, the types of forks are mostly oil-spring forks and oil-air forks. For the same brand, the price of oil-air forks is higher than that of oil-spring forks because they feel better and rebound more linearly.
In terms of handling, shock forks are divided into three types according to whether they can be locked: non-lockable, shoulder-controlled lockable and wire-controlled lockable, the main difference is in the shoulder of the fork (fork shoulder, also known as fork crown).
The purpose of lockable fork is mainly to save energy, on paved roads, locking the fork can improve transmission effectiveness.
Non-lockable: The fork shoulder is directly sealed with a cap and cannot do any operation.
Lockable shoulder control: There is a knob on the fork shoulder, that is, the switch to control the locking is on the fork shoulder. My bike belongs to this kind, the switch is in the right fork shoulder (the left knob is used to adjust the rebound stroke), you need to bend down to switch.
Lockable by wire: The locking switch is mounted on the handlebar, and there is a wire connected to the fork shoulder, the advantage is that the switch is convenient, no need to bend down. Suitable for people with variable road conditions to choose.
Common fork brands are (price from low to high, not absolute): Santo (SR), ROCKSHOX, FOX.
Mountain bike groupsets
Broadly speaking, the shifting kit includes: finger paddle, front paddle, rear paddle, chain, center shaft, crank, cassette, flywheel, brake (including handlebar, brake pipe and clamp)
However, in the current publicity of the business, the Shimano shifting is generally said to be Shimano’s finger paddle + front and rear paddle + flywheel.
The most common shifter for entry-level mountain bikes is Shimano, with exquisite workmanship, fine gears, precise shifting and a soft feel.
The following are the members of Shimano mountain shifting family (from low to high gear).
SIS, TOURNEY, ALTUS, ACERA, ALIVIO, DEORE, DEORE SLX, DEORE XT, SAINT, XTR, most of the entry-level bikes mainly I bolded the five.
In addition to Shimano, there is also the American Sram, a derailleur that is just like an American bike, full of muscle and a hard shifting style.
Speed: entry mountain is mostly tooth plate 3 gears, flywheel 7-10 ranging.
It constitutes 21, 24, 37, 30 speed, these kinds of speed, the more speed, the more choices when riding.
However, avoid the case of big disc with big wheel and small disc with small wheel. Because this kind of riding state, the chain as a whole is tilted, which is detrimental to the life of the chain, I do not recommend doing so.
Mountain bike brake
V brakes are mostly found on mountain bikes under $300-$500, and there are very few mountain bikes with V brakes now.
Mechanical disc brakes, or what we often call wire discs, are driven by the brake pads, mainly by the brake line.
Hydraulic disc brakes, when braking, push the brake fluid in the brake line through the handlebar piston to drive the brake pads.
Mountain bike tires
Currently there are three main wheel sizes for mountain bikes, 26 inch, 27.5 inch and 29 inch.
The wheel diameter here refers to the diameter of the bicycle wheel, only the diameter of the steel wheel, not including the tire.
Mountain bike seatpost
The size of mountain bike seatposts all refer to the diameter of the outer circle, and there are currently three main specifications: 27.2, 30.8 and 31.6.
In recent years, the geometry of mountain bike frames has been developing towards the three characteristics of steeper seat tube angle, looser head tube angle and longer front triangle. The angle of the seat tube is particularly important for the pedaling position. Generally speaking, the ergonomic seat tube angle is 72-73 degrees, which is also the most common and recommended angle on our road bikes, but of course this is not absolute, but also varies from person to person up and down a degree or two. And depending on the front and rear position of the seat installation, this angle will also have a range of movement of plus or minus three degrees.
However, the vast majority of full-suspension bikes we see are almost always equipped with a steeper seat tube angle, which means a greater angle to the ground. The most common ones we’ve seen recently are around 75 degrees, which is certainly not the result of a random design, but is determined by the environment and performance of the bike being used.
The angle of the seat tube on the soft-tail is generally designed to be steeper, and with the different uses, the steepness varies, the largest has seen 79 degrees, the smallest also has 74 degrees, 75 degrees.
FAQ about MTB
1. Mountain bike frame size chart
An oversized frame may bring the following accidents.
1)Back pain brought on by long hours of cycling due to excessive stretching
2)standing because there is not enough clearance, will make you feel somewhere what is called pain (you know)
3)the bike will become difficult to control
Too small frame may bring the following accidents.
1)too small frame will make your legs can not be stretched out, a long time riding will be easy to be injured
2)The distance between your crotch and the frame is too large when you stand up, which can lead to back injuries during long rides
2. Mountain bike tire pressure
Generally, the standard tire pressure is between 60-80 PSI for normal mountain bike tires.
If it is to go flat road long distance, the recommended tire pressure is 60-65 PSI, rolling resistance will be reduced, but also less likely to tie the tire. If you are going off-road riding, a lower pressure of 35-40 PSI is fine. A lower pressure can increase the grip of the tires and improve the performance of off-road.
The air pressure of bicycle tires is usually marked on the outer tire of the bike. For example: 2.8-5.5 bar, 280-550kpa, 40-80 PSI. You must strictly follow the parameters of the pump air pressure chart to make the wheel inflation pressure reach the specified range of the tire label.
Bicycle tire pressure varies according to size and function. Generally, the thicker the tire, the lower the pressure, and the finer the tire, the higher the pressure.
An atmospheric pressure is 1.013 x 10E5 Pascal, which is 1 BAR generic saying 1 kg. And 1PSI is equal to about 6.9 × 10E3 Pascal, that is, 1 BAR is equal to about 15PSI.
3. Mountain bike vs Road bike
For common mountain bikes and road bikes, what exactly is the difference between them?
Tires
Road 700C is equivalent to 28″, mountain is 26″ wheel diameter; mountain bike tires are usually above 1.9″ (1.5″ may be chosen for special tracks), while road bike tires are mostly 20mm wide or less.
Handlebar Controls
In order to ride in the rugged mountain roads and pursue the control, the handlebar is wider, while the road pursues speed and reduces wind resistance, so the handlebar is narrower.
Frame
Mountain in the bumpy road, consider the combination of light weight and hard, while the road consideration is focused on pedaling rigidity, light weight. Road bikes are usually slimmer (in recent years aerodynamically designed frames are thicker), while mountain bikes are sturdier. The frame angle of a mountain bike is very specific, while the angle of a road bike is about the same. The axle of a mountain bike is thicker, while the axle of a road bike is more delicate. At present, with the use of production technology and high-tech materials, it is difficult to find any similarity between the two types of frames except for the basic structure.
Brakes
Mountain bikes require high force, high braking power and all-weather braking system. Early mountain bikes used sling brakes, later V-brakes emerged to provide better braking performance, and now the best braking system is the disc brake, or disc brake, introduced from motorcycles. The most important thing about road bikes, besides the braking power, is their light weight.
Front Fork
The fork of a mountain bike is an important part of a mountain bike, with high technology content, performance and comfort plus a combination of rigidity and lightness, while the fork of a road bike is only a part of the frame related parts.
Weight
The heavier the bike is, the more work you consume will also increase, invariably increasing your own excess consumption.
Mountain appearance gives a complex feeling, no road to give the feeling of simple and smooth, of course, some are not able to look at the appearance, need to see is the overall effect of the bike, by the process of riding, will appreciate. Mountain bike feel more stable, comfortable, and very good maneuverability and braking; all the design of the road bike is to emphasize speed, because the tire width is narrow to the high requirements of the road, slippery road easily skid, flexibility is poor.
4. Mountain bike forum and magazine
- Pinkbike comprehensive mountain bike website, with its own forum and used trading section, involved in covering many mountain bike races, very rich content
- Vital MTB – Mountain Bikes, Reviews, Videos, Races and a sister site vitabmx, both are comprehensive websites with forums and second-hand trading sections, with comparative reviews of major brands of mainstream models
- bikejames.com. mainly introduces the training methods and techniques that can be used by all kinds of mountain bikers. The content is very rich and practical
- Mountain Bike Review is a comprehensive website that introduces all kinds of accessories and equipment for mountain bikes, with its own forum, colder than pinkbike, but more friendly
5. Most expensive mountain bike
The 24K Gold Extreme Mountain Bike, which costs up to $1 million, is designed by House of Solid Gold and only 13 units are sold worldwide. The frame of the bike is made of 24K solid gold, with jewel-encrusted badges, chocolate brown seat made of crocodile skin, gold water bottle, etc., adding to the luxury of the design. Fitted with fat and high grip off-road tires with a high grip tread pattern to help overcome rough and undulating terrain.
▲The pedal car is not just gold-plated, but uses 24K gold to make the frame
▲The head of the dragon is decorated with a jeweled crest
▲Gold kettle shell is also decorated with pearl fish skin
6. Mountain bike weight
- Cross-country bicycle: the general weight is usually about 10kg to 15kg.
- All-mountain bike: the weight is usually between 14kg and 16kg.
- Free riding mountain bikes: weight is usually around 14kg to 20kg.
7. Mountain bike maintenance
Mountain bike, you should know, is actually designed for off-road walking bicycle, than our daily riding bicycle to be responsible for so little, but with ordinary bicycle, usually also need to do a good job of basic maintenance, then you may know the ordinary bicycle maintenance methods, then what is the mountain bike maintenance methods? Don’t worry, I’ll tell you about the maintenance method of mountain bikes.
1. First of all, maintenance is often necessary to keep your bike in good condition, so do not take it lightly.
2. Washing your bike often can keep your bike shining when it is new, and can help prevent rusting of the frame. If you ride in heavy rain or muddy roads, make sure to clean it quickly.
3. When washing the bike, you should pay attention to the following points: if there is a lot of sludge on the bike, or just dust, you can use a rag to wipe clean, or use a brush to brush clean. Can not use high-pressure water column to eradicate the sludge on the body, although this method is very effective, but may force the sewage into the bearings, so it will form the bearing damage.
4. Shock absorber maintenance: replace the new shock oil, the form of Urethane, then check whether the Urethane has cracks or deformation, if there is, then update, shock absorber maintenance, should consult the original purchase manufacturer.
5. In the case of a lot of sludge on the bike, now use a brush and soapy water to rinse the sludge clean, rinse with water, and then dry with a cloth.
After the bike is clean, remember to check if the paint is peeling off. Steel frames will start to rust when the paint is peeling off, while aluminum or carbon fiber or titanium frames will not rust and will only affect the aesthetics. After washing the bike with water, remember to dry the chain and re-oil it.
If the brake or shifting action is not good, it may be because the friction of the inner and outer lines is too big.
6. Re-grease the line pipe, if the brake or shifting action is not good, it may be too much friction between the table and the inner line, take off the outer line from the part of the stop tube, grease the inner line and re-install it, if it is still not smooth after this operation, then consider replacing the table and the inner line pipe.
7. Clean the chain: If there is a lot of sludge inside the chain, it may be time to clean it, you can use a chain washer to clean the chain, or remove the chain, find a container, fill it with solvent oil, put it into the chain, shake it to make it clean, and finally take it out to dry and oil it.
8. Chain oiling: Put oil on the chain and wipe the oil on the outside of the chain after about ten minutes, the excess oil on the outside will stick to the dust and increase the trouble of cleaning. In addition, if you use spray can lubricant, remember to wipe off the oil dripping to other parts after oiling.
9. Check the flywheel and big gear plate: If the flywheel is skipping teeth after updating the chain, update the flywheel, and if the teeth of the big gear plate are worn out and the chain is stuck, replace them.
10. Check the chain: The chain will be stretched after long time use, the pitch of the chain is 0.5 inch, measure 24 links of chain, the length should be 12 inches, if the length has exceeded the normal length 1/8 inch, the chain should be replaced.
11. Check the wheel rim: Check if there is a slight crack near the air nozzle hole and wire hole, if there is a crack, replace the wheel rim as soon as possible, lift the wheel, rotate the wheel and observe if the wheel rim will rub the brake skin, if so, the wheel rim must be readjusted.
12. Check the seat cushion and seat post: remove the seat post, check whether there is deformation or cracks, check whether there is damage to the seat cushion and whether the bracket is intact, if there is a problem, it needs to be replaced
13. Check the steel wire: check whether the steel wire of the front and rear wheel is cracked, if so, replace it, and re-adjust the wheel rim after changing the steel wire, when adjusting the wheel rim, observe the direction of the wheel rim deflection, such as to the right, the right side of the wheel rim adjacent to the steel wire relaxation, the left side of the lock, to the left, the opposite, the wheel rim deflection should be less than 2mm.
14. Check the hub: remove the front and rear wheels, check whether there is a crack near the wire hole, if there is, replace it immediately, roll the hub shaft by hand to see, and then shake it up and down, if there is a gap, or very loose, the hub shaft will be disassembled, the internal oil will be cleaned up, and then reload the new grease, reassemble the hub shaft, remember to adjust the bearing to the shaft can roll smoothly, but there will be a gap of shaking up and down
15. Check the handlebar: check whether the handlebar is deformed, whether cracks occur in the part of the riser locking, if so, update the handlebar
16. Check the brake skin: remove the debris on the brake skin to ensure its braking effect, if its wear is now very serious, it must be updated.
17. Check the middle shaft: remove the chain, grab the crank and shake it left and right, if it shakes, lock the fixing screw, if it still shakes, then you have to adjust the center of the sky bearing; put your ear to the seat cushion, rotate the crank, the sound you hear should be “whirring” very smooth sound, if you hear rattling or other strange sound, it means the bearing has been damaged, you should Replace the center of the sky
18. Check the pedal: remove the pedal, use a 15mm open-end wrench, pay attention to the left pedal is left-hand thread, do not remove the wrong when demolishing, pedal bearing is not too need to adjust, but still must be checked, if the use of the card pedal, check whether its mechanism action is normal, and oiled smooth. Check the transmission: check whether the various action parts of the transmission shake, if so, indicating that the transmission wear has been quite serious, should be replaced, if not, then in the action parts on the oil smooth
After reading the above 18 points of mountain bike maintenance, do you think in fact with our ordinary bicycle maintenance is not too different, so do not or very simple, usually a little attention, general maintenance is no problem, to extend the life is also a matter of hand!
8. How to adjust front derailleur on mountain bike
9. How to adjust rear derailleur on mountain bike
Now over to you:
What’s your favourite mountain bike type?
Or you just start riding MTB as a beginner?
Or you want to upgrade your MTB bike to next level?
Either way, please share your thought in comment!
