Are you looking for a new sport that combines physical fitness, the outdoors, and plenty of thrills? Mountain biking is it. But FYI, there’s no single way to mountain bike, and each style comes with different physical demands, equipment requirements, and levels of challenge and danger. Before you hit the hills or enter a race, do a little research, watch an event or two, and talk to a few long-time riders to know what you’re getting into. To get you started on deciding which is the right style for you, here are four different types of mountain bike disciplines. Whichever one you pick, you’ll stay in shape and get a great cardio workout, lots of fresh air, and plenty of gonzo stories to share.
Cross-Country
Cross-country mountain biking is undoubtedly the best-known version of the sport, and it’s the only version to become an Olympic event thus far. Cross-country races involve a series of different paths crossing through a wide variety of terrain. The paths can run through forests, over hills, across fire roads, and—sometimes, for a break—over paved roads. There are times when tracks are only wide enough for one bike—referred to as single-track—and require a high degree of focus to ride. Cross-country bikes are lighter than other mountain bikes, which makes ascending hills much less arduous. Cross-country riders wear full-face helmets but don’t wear mountain biking body armor the way downhill racers do.
Enduro
Enduro mountain biking is more about what goes down than what goes up. Specifically, judges will time the rider as they race downhill and assess them for their skill. Going uphill is untimed, and there are extremely taxing neutral stages in-between. Judges won’t time these neutral stages, but the racer will need to complete them within a specific time limit. All times together will create the rider’s final score. Most enduro events take place over several days, require a minimum of four stages, and must take place on at least three different courses. The name of the sport says it all.
Downhill
As one of the most challenging of these four different types of mountain bike disciplines, downhill mountain biking involves not only negotiating backwoods paths and rugged mountain trails but also facing sudden drops, high jumps, and punishing stony areas referred to as “rock hardens” in mountain biking slang. Equipment for downhill biking is sturdier. Conditions require heavier and stronger bikes, and riders must wear full-face helmets, goggles, gloves, and tough body armor for the almost inevitable and potentially painful spills. Judges time and score riders accordingly—if they make it to the bottom of the track.
Freeride
Freeride is similar to downhill biking, and they share similar types of bicycles and equipment, but while downhill is about reaching the bottom in the quickest time, freeride is about how you ride. Freeride courses mix natural features with additions like ramps, drops, planks, boards, and similar objects, permitting a variety of stunts and allowing riders to perform the most creative “line” down the path. In short, it’s all good, man.
Van Rundell is a writer and author who specializes in transportation, travel, guidance, health & fitness. With over 10 years of experience in the industry as a driver and an entrepreneur, he has seen it all. His tone is professional but friendly with a dash of humor thrown in for good measure. In past, he has been advising, educating and writing about transport for the public and professionals alike.
A qualified fitness instructor with over 5 years’ experience as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, Van brings his deep knowledge of health and exercise science to his articles on health & fitness.
