What is a mountain bike? Types of mountain bikes - why such a variety? Frame type hardtail

According to the type of depreciation, several types of bicycles are distinguished: rigid (rigid, there is no rear shock absorber), hardtails (suspension fork, rear end rigid) and two-suspension (both front and rear there is a shock absorber). Now we will talk about what hardtails are for, where and by whom they are used.

Hardtail bikes outperform full-suspension bikes in weight and roll on flat roads, but lose out on off-road. Compared to rigids, they are better off-road, but worse on the highway. From this we can conclude that bicycles with a soft fork and without rear shock absorption are designed for disciplines in which not only flotation is important, but also rollover, or for extreme species cycling. Such disciplines include cross country (XC), dirt jumping (DJ), biker cross (4x); sometimes hardtails are used even in freeride.

Hardtails are not used in particularly dangerous mountain disciplines, as they require long-travel front and rear shock absorbers. Putting a 200mm dual crown fork on a hardtail runs the risk of breaking the frame around the stem. This is because the hardtail frame is not designed for a long-travel shock absorber, the geometry is distorted, and the head tube angle becomes very flat. The frame cannot withstand such a load and breaks.

Bicycles for different disciplines of cycling have different geometries. Some frames have long feathers, others have short ones; some bikes are long, some are short, and so on. All this affects the behavior of the bike in various conditions. That is why it is better not to use the bike for other purposes, because this increases the likelihood of injury.

For a hardtail, weight is an important characteristic. Manufacturers lighten their frames with single, double, triple butting. Butting is the thinning of the frame walls without loss of strength. Ultralight carbon frames are also common among XC pros.

Different types of hardtail frames

cross-country

Cross-country (CC, XC) is a discipline of mountain biking, which provides for movement over rough terrain with long ascents and descents. In XC, the focus is on rider endurance. with a rear shock absorber (if there is one) only dampens your speed and forces you to spend more effort on pedaling. That is why full-suspension in KK is used only on tracks with complex technical elements that are more difficult to pass on a hardtail.

A good cross-country bike frame should help the rider get through the course with good inertia and light weight.

A mountain bike for an XC usually has a high top tube of the front triangle of the frame, long chainstays, a not very flat, but not a steep head tube angle, a rather narrow handlebar and a low bottom bracket. All this makes the bike rolling, maneuverable, stable and aerodynamic, which is required for cross-country racing! The seat is raised so that the cyclist's leg is almost completely straightened when pedaling. This will keep the knee joint healthy and improve muscle efficiency.

Cross-country bikes have some similarities with road bikes: the rider's position in these types of bikes is as aerodynamic as possible. The saddle is positioned at or above the handlebars to streamline the rider's body.

Dirt-jumping

Dirt competitions are held on a special track with jumps of various sizes. The athlete needs to jump and do some kind of trick in the air.

For this discipline, hardtails are used, which are easy to lift into the air and which are convenient to control when performing tricks. These features are given to dirt bikes by a special geometry.

Hardtails for this discipline are fundamentally different from bikes for XC. Their frames are made specifically for tricks. The short stays and riser handlebars make it easier to yank the handlebars out, while the long wheelbase keeps the bike stable. A very strong frame - usually chrome-molybdenum steel - will not let you down at a crucial moment. The seat is lowered to a minimum so as not to interfere with the execution of figures in the air; the top tube of the frame is low for convenience as well. The carriage is located high enough to successfully perform tricks.

A dirt jump bike is usually single speed (single speed) and without brakes.

street

Street is a discipline in which riders do all sorts of tricks on asphalt or on urban obstacles: stairs, benches, curbs and others.

A hardtail for a street is practically no different from a dirt one. It has a sharper head angle due to the fact that riders perform tricks mostly on the flat, unlike dirt. A street bike often has a rigid fork instead of a soft one. It already depends on the preferences of the cyclist.

4-cross or biker-cross

4x and dual slalom are disciplines in which riders ride 4 (in four-cross) or 2 (in dual slalom) people along a specially prepared track that combines various elements: bumps, jumps, counter slopes, drops.

For such races, special bicycles have been created that have a short-stroke fork (80–100 mm), short chainstays for ease of jumping, and a turned down fork angle for stability on the track. The steering wheel is placed as low as possible, for this the following measures are used: a semi-integrated steering column is inside the frame (does not go beyond the head tube of the frame), a low fork, a steering wheel with a low lift or without it at all, spacers under the steering wheel are removed.

Often hardtails for 4x use a small size: such a bike is easier to handle. Their anterior triangle is long, and the posterior triangle is small. Together with the heavily angled head tube, this gives the bike a long wheelbase. The maneuverability of the bike from this feature of geometry is reduced, but it is easier to keep balance at high speeds.

Why hardtail? A mountain bike with full suspension will lose in this type of race. Overclocking such a bike is more difficult because it is heavier relative to a hardtail, and its suspension sways when riding. In bikercross, acceleration is crucial, and no amount of full cushioning will help you get over obstacles quickly.

The flat head angle and short travel fork are ideal for 4x

hybrids

There are also hybrids. A hybrid is a road bike with a soft fork and narrow tires.

The geometry of such bikes is made in such a way that it is convenient for its owner to slowly ride around the city. Thanks to the adjustable stem, most models have a high handlebar for a comfortable fit. Often, hybrids are equipped with a cushioned seatpost and saddle. Mounts are provided on the frame for a trunk, a basket on the steering wheel, footrests, bags.

The hybrid is the best choice for those who drive mostly on city parks and paved roads.

The hardtail bike is the most common due to its cost and variety of uses. Even on budget bikes, you can compete and win, which cannot be said about full-suspension bikes. On a hardtail, you can hone your driving skills on spots and also engage in tourism and outdoor activities, and also use it as an everyday transport, saving money on gasoline and improving your muscles!

suspension fork designed to soften all the obstacles you pass. It consists of a spring, which takes the main "shock" and which processes vibrations, and a damper, which absorbs vibrations. All these parts are made from different materials using air, oil, synthetic materials - elastomers. Depending on this, the suspension fork can be oil-air, spring, elastomer, spring-elastomer, air.

Disc brakes- This is a special type of hand brake, which is a steel disc that is mounted on a special wheel hub, and a device that compresses the disc with brake pads. Disc brakes have a number of advantages: independence from weather conditions(rain, snow), less clogging when riding, better modulation, their operation is not affected by the “eights” of the wheel, does not wear out the rim, requires less maintenance.

Quality rim- the key to successful skating and not bending the wheels with “eights” and other “joys”. Double rims are more durable and maintainable. At the same time, they have less weight, but higher strength.

aluminum frame widely used by many famous bicycle manufacturers. As a rule, aluminum alloy with silicon, zinc, scandium, magnesium is used. Its advantage is that while reducing the weight of the structure, the strength and reliability of the frame remains at high level. Among other advantages aluminum frame– good dynamics and sensitivity to the road, high resistance to corrosion, good load capacity.

Hydraulic brake drive It works on the principle of pressing the pads to the disc by means of the pressure of the brake fluid, which is poured into special cables - the hydraulic line. The hydraulic drive is distinguished by excellent endurance, the speed of reaction of the mechanism to pressure on the handle, the overall reliability of the system, proven over the years. Disadvantages: high cost, slightly more expensive service.

multi speed bike suitable for rough terrain. Such a bike is equipped with a gearshift system, and the number of gears depends on the type of bike and the level of training of the cyclist. Multi-speed bicycles from well-known manufacturers are as reliable and even superior to models that use one gear.

damper in oil-air, oil-spring forks serves as an oil cartridge, and in the spring - air (in air). Advantages of forks that use air or oil: comfort, better handling of small bumps, vibration damping, quick rebound. Such forks improve both the ride quality of the bike - handling, comfort, and operational - reliability, durability.

The carbon frame is known for its strength and rigidity. The carbon frame is used where it is necessary to achieve the lowest possible weight. For example, the weight of some carbon frames does not exceed 1000 g. This is especially important for full-suspension, cross-country hardtails, and road bikes. Its main disadvantage is its high cost.

Hardtail bikes: what does it mean, how are they different from other models, are they suitable for freeriding. This family of bicycles can be safely attributed to the most popular and versatile.

Many fans of cycling and various kinds of bike trials use these bikes, often without even knowing about the features of their design. Meanwhile, even basic knowledge of English is enough to understand what "hardtail" means - a hard (hard) tail (tail).

The design of these bikes provides for shock absorption of the front fork and no suspension on the rear. In general, all bicycles can be divided into three classes according to the type of depreciation:

bike class	Depreciation type
rigid	No cushioning on front and rear forks
hardtail	front fork damping
double suspension	cushioning on both forks

At the same time, it is completely wrong to think about the presence of suspensions according to the principle “the more the better”. Each design has its own advantages and disadvantages. Although for decades the vast majority of bikes were rigid bikes, the advent of hardtails and full suspension revolutionized the distribution of popularity and sales flows.

However, the popularity of the same rigids has only grown in recent years, as they remain indispensable for many types of cycling. As for hardtails, their fans pay attention to the following advantages:

• relative simplicity of design;
• light weight;
• low cost;
• reliability;
• low cost of repair;
• universality;
• fast acceleration;
• reduction of hand fatigue;
• ergonomics.

Who is hardtail suitable for?

The advantages of this class of bikes determine the circle of those for whom the hardtail suits the most. And this circle is big. The simplicity of the design allows in most cases to do without the help of specialists. Although different types of shock absorbers may be used for different models, the absence of complex and heavy rear suspension greatly simplifies the bike frame.

This implies two other advantages: low weight and low cost. As a rule, full-suspension bikes cost almost twice as much as hardtails. In any case, for the money spent on a very average two-suspension, you can easily buy a very good hardtail.

The absence of a complex rear suspension increases the overall reliability of the bike, not to mention the cost of maintenance and repair. Sometimes the whole frame of a single-suspension bike is cheaper than repairing a full-suspension bike, since the details of expensive bikes are essential, even if they are ordered abroad. In bicycle workshops for the repair of a two-suspension with the replacement of parts, they will definitely rip off mercilessly.

It is important to understand one more important circumstance: any suspension is designed to dampen vertical vibrations.

And in this her mission lies a huge loss for the cyclist. After all, vibrations are kinetic energy, which is the result of the efforts of the cyclist. It turns out that part of the energy spent on accelerating the bike is spent on damping vibrations by the suspension.

That is why many people prefer to use rigid-framed rigids, which do not dampen vibrations at all. However, in this case, when driving over the slightest bumps, the hands quickly get tired, forced to firmly hold the steering wheel all the time. And management is deteriorating.

Front shock hardtails reduce hand fatigue, increase comfort, improve bike handling and at the same time keep the rider's energy in good use.

But the main quality of hardtails is versatility.

They can be used in urban conditions, and when driving on mountain roads, and for performing tricks. Especially widely used hardtail for various kinds freeride, where the lack of a rear suspension does not play a significant role, but it becomes an advantage for high-speed riding. At the same time, manufacturers take into account the features of a particular type of riding in the designs of bicycles.

For example, for urban freeride and dirt jumping, they make a strong frame with a low seat and a low steering angle to make it easier to pull out during vertical jumps. For street, the handlebar angle is increased, so it is more convenient to do tricks on a flat surface.

Although for country cross and extreme mountain riding however, it is preferable to use dual suspensions that dampen large holes and have better handling, many riders even here prefer to use specialized hardtails with durable carbon frames that allow them to develop more speed.

For city walks, lightweight bike models with a high handlebar are sold, providing maximum comfort. In principle, the same models can be used for the popular combination of city-enduro riding, when cycling along city streets is combined with riding along the groomed paths of parks and suburban forests.

We ask cyclists to take the survey below the article.

Mountain bike (mountain bike) (English mountain bike, abbreviated as MTB) is a bicycle designed for off-road riding (although it does not exclude the opposite), and as a result, it has a special design that is different from road, track and road (city) bicycles. Also "mountain bike" is a collective name sports disciplines associated with the use of mountain bikes.

Mountain bike features

Features of a mountain bike:

• Sturdy frame with large mud gaps.
• Wide tires with off-road or combined tread pattern.
• Durable wheels with rims, typically 559mm (26″), 584mm (27.5″) or 622mm (29″) (Niners).
• As a rule, the presence of suspension of the front or both wheels, with a stroke of 80 mm or more.
• Hardtail - a bicycle with a suspension fork and a rigid rear wheel suspension.
• Full suspension - a bicycle with soft suspensions on both wheels.
• Rigid - a bicycle with rigid suspensions on both wheels.
• As a rule, a transmission with external gear shifting. The transmission has a large capacity, in which up to half are downshifts.
• Mostly disc brakes. Vibrating bikes are found on below-average models or older bikes.
• Straight handlebar or handlebar with a slight rise (Riser).

The weight of a mountain bike ranges from 7 kg (top carbon models) to 18 kg (downhill or freeride bikes) depending on the discipline.

Obsolete rim brakes have now almost completely replaced disc brakes: mechanical (with force transmission through a cable) or hydraulic (with a hydraulic line filled with brake fluid).

For a long time, there were 2 wheel standards for mountain biking: 24 and 26 inches. Also in 2010-2014, 2 more new standards appeared 650B (27.5 inches) and 29 inches (the so-called "Niners"). 24 inches have almost disappeared from use, remained only for freestyle and teen bikes.

Mountain bike 29″

The price of such a factory bike ranges from $ 100-200 ( First level) up to $1,000-10,000 or more (professional athlete level), which clearly demonstrates how different materials, quality and design of parts and production technologies are used to create a bike of one level or another.

Scope of mountain bike

Mountain bikes are definitely good for riding on dirt roads, off-road, and also on snowy roads. Also, the high strength of the wheels and frames ensures a relatively trouble-free ride on rough roads with a cycle backpack weighing up to 25 kg.

Mountain biking in the city

Often mountain bikes (usually general-purpose models) are purchased as general-purpose bikes for city, highway and dirt riding. There is some truth in this application, however, bicycles of the appropriate types are much better suited for driving on asphalt roads:

• On the highway, a mountain bike is likely to lose speed to a road bike, but its suspension will require more attention.
• In the city, a mountain bike is unlikely to be noticeably faster than a city bike or a commuter, and it will require more maintenance.
• The use of mountain bikes in cycling tourism is not justified for asphalt hiking, especially with a small load (up to 15 kg): in this case, a hybrid or touring would be more suitable.

However, if any significant part of the trip is on dirt, a mountain bike is a reasonable choice.