by John Gray

Created on: August 17, 2009   Last Updated: August 18, 2009

The mountain bike has fast become the most popular bike on the market today. The excitement of off-road action, together with the push to keep fit, has ensured that the sport has boomed. However in the rush to get out on the road (or off the road) people often make the mistake of purchasing unsuitable types of bike which can seriously stop them progressing in the sport. One such error is that people often purchase the wrong type of suspension to suit their purposes.

What may seem like a matter of little importance is actually a hugely important thing to get right. There are many cases of people with the right intentions who, because they have bought the wrong sort of bike, will give up after just a few rides, this is a great shame.

This brief guide will attempt to explain the differences between the both types of mountain bikes and offer other alternatives which the rider may have completely overlooked.

Full Suspension Bike

Fundamentally, full suspension bikes are only really suitable for extreme terrain or downhill mountain biking. The duel suspension provides for maximum protection from impacts over rigorous surfaces. A good quality full suspension bike will absorb such tensions with ease, and will also help protect the bike from damage. Full suspension bikes are also suitable for jumps and tricks, which is more of a specialist area of biking, than what most people are seeking. A full suspension bike should only be purchased if a person is absolutely sure it is the right type of bike for them. Full suspension bikes are for extreme mountain biking only, they aren't much use for anything else.

Hardtail Bike

A hardtail or front suspension bike on the other hand is more suitable for general off-road terrain and bike tracks. Its front suspension helps to provide some absorption from bumps and shocks, but at the same time will be a faster ride than the full suspension bike. Suspension on a bike will provide protection from rough ground but this is always at the cost of a loss of speed. For off-road action however speed is not the primary objective of the pursuit, it is the adrenaline rush and thrill of the outdoors that the mountain biker thrives off. A hardtail bike should be purchased for the majority of general off-roading needs.

Alternatives

There are some good alternatives out there to the mountain bike which just might be worth considering. Road bikes are super efficient bikes for speed and distance on the road or on really light trails.

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