Differences in Bikes and terrian

[mtbN00b]

What is the different "off road"  bike types (freeride, downhill, jump bike etc) that you get and how do the terrain differ for each.

 

(feel free to explain with pictures - i understand them )

 

Sorry if this is a n00b question but after all .. I am still a N00b

 

[Iwan Kemp]

Think about it this way: You have three bakkies to your disposal. A 1600 Ford Bantam, a Toyota Hilux 4x4 pimped for true 4x4 and an American Monster Truck. You have to cover: 1. Fairly smooth jeep track with sweeps and nothing too technical 2. Jeep Track with some drops and tricky sections and technical descents and climbs 3. BIG drops and BIG terrain to neg. The bantam (XC) should be fastest over the smooth gravel, the Hilux(AM) with the intermediate f and approaching seriously stuff and the Monster truck will eat everything in it's path but won't be as agile and manoeuvrable. Maybe not the BEST explanation, but the same basic principal applies.

 

 

 

A XC bike(which has less travel) will be lighter and faster with a steeper geometry because 1. It doesn?t?t have to cope with anything big and 2. Steeper geo gives it sharper handling

 

 

 

An AM bike (with more travel and slacker geo) will be heavier than the XC bike, but will be able to cope with bigger jumps & drops. The slacker geo will make it more difficult to climb but will aid in coming down like the speed demon you are.

 

 

 

A DH bike (biggest travel and slackest geo) will be dog heavy, but with all the travel and comfy angles will be able to cope with the biggest of big stuff out there. It won?t be the best in twisty, turny single track (cheers Jonkers) and won?t be much fun on flats

 

 

 

You get the picture?

[Iwan Kemp]

XC

 

Hard Tail or 80mm-100mm travel

 

Steep geometry with long Top Tube. Lightest frame and build

 

 

 

 

 

Trail

 

120mm - 140mm

 

Slightly slacker geo, but still fairly long TT in order for you to climb more comfortably and be able to still do longer rides and races

 

 

 

 

All Mountain

 

140 - 160mm/170mm

 

Slack geo and shorter TT to bike more chuckable in the air and easier to throw around through technical sections. Frames start getting heavy

 

 

 

 

Free Ride

 

170mm - 180mm OR Hard Tail with 100-160mm Fork

 

Seriously short bike with slack angles and burly frame.

 

 

 

 

Downhill

 

180mm - 220mm (Depending on terrain)

 

Slack geo and and short TT, again depending on terrain. Burly frame to last but for race use not always the heaviest build.

 

The Crow2009-08-28 02:40:39

[mtbN00b]

Thanks crow. I have a Mongoose Tyax Elite (2008 model)

Will this bike be best for XC and untill which 'class" can i use it ?

 

http://www.mongoose.com/usa/eng/mtn/Products/Mountain-Pavement/Details/2624--Tyax-Elite-

 

[Iwan Kemp]

A lot depends on your skill. If you have a lot of the magic "S" you'll be able to get away with a lot.

 

But at the end of the day it is a short travel XC frame with a XC/trail build.

 

Bike will be plenty good for XC/races and trail riding. It'll survive small jumps and mild drops. Or if you're Brian Lopes you'll win a 4X race on it then pilot it to victory in a DH race!

[mtbN00b]

so it is not the best for more technical stuff but better for trails like Groenkloof etc? Would an all mountain bike be the better option to upgrade to later on?