by Corban Burns

Created on: March 16, 2010

Riding the trails is a fun and relaxing sport. Letting the wind blow your hair, the sun warm your skin and the birds chirp in your ears. But in order for you to reap the full benefits of riding trails, you have to be prepared and equipped with the proper bike.

Depending on the type of trail you are riding, you may need a big or small bike, a heavy or light like, a fast or comfortable bike. There are so many options but you must first identify your needs. For example, if you were to ride a trail with dirt mounds, you would most likely opt for a

BMX dirt jumping bike. The conventional BMX dirt jumper has a wheel size of 20 inches and sports a sturdy frame and wheels, rear brake, and knobby tires. The wheels usually feature 36 rugged 13-gauge spokes and the tires are heavily threaded in order to give the rider maximum traction while riding and turning at high speeds.

Instead of a BMX dirt jumping bike, you may want to take things down a notch and just ride a mountain bike. But as always there are tons of choices for you to choose from. For example, a rigid MTB features a comfortable riding position, great braking & shifting, and is durable.  It is great for general riding on trails and roads. Another type of MTB is a front suspension MTB also known as a “hardtail”. This mountain bike sports a front suspension fork and is very popular. It gives us more comfort and control than a rigid even on tough trails. Still another type of MTB is the dual suspension. This is about as comfy as they come because it has suspension in the rear and front, putting you in command of the bike. Also, a major plus of a dual suspension MTB is the reduced impact on your body when riding rougher trails. And last is the free ride. This model of a MTB is quite similar to the “hardtails” and dual suspensions bikes but more rugged. The free ride sports a reinforced frame, extremely tough wheels and other components such as brakes, derailleur, cranks and so on. This is mainly for people who love to the steep drop-offs on a trail and super fast and steep downhills.

But what if you’re not that hardcore? Maybe you prefer to just cruise on a trail and enjoy the scenery and nature itself. Well there is still a bike left for you. The market has bikes available sturdy enough to withstand a trail’s terrain but at the same time offers to comfort and reliability. Best of all they aren’t that expensive and can be found at a local bike shop.

Now all that is left is for you to find out what your riding style is and purchase a bike, whether its BMX, mountain bike (MTB) or a cruiser.

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