What are the different types of Mountain Biking?

Mountain Biking is a sport that has many diverse disciplines, terrains, and styles that make the sport very exciting and constantly changing. Mountain Biking requires riders to adapt to the environment and has caused the sport to branch into many different disciplines that all emphasize and embrace the various types of forms that nature can take. Many riders find their style based on the environment that is around them and the trails they have access to. No two trails or riders are the same, but this article will help provide some clarification on the various types of mountain biking styles to help you choose which best fits you.

Types of Mountain Bike Trails

Before discussing the different types of mountain biking styles, we have to address the different types of trails. Mountain biking requires trails or paths to be taken, sometimes these trails are built by fellow mountain bikers, sometimes they are repurposed fire-roads or access roads, many mountain bike trails are already existing hiking trails. Some trails may contain a variety of different types of styles all in one trail. We will cover the different types of trails and what you can expect from each.

Fire-roads

Fireroads are one of the most common types of trails that mountain bikers make use of. Oftentimes, some trails start or end at fire roads. Fireroads are a great way for new mountain bikers to get familiar with the terrain. They offer a great way to get in and out of the mountain. Fireroads are unpaved paths or roads used by emergency vehicles to access remote areas quickly. They are also sometimes used as fire breaks during wildfires to execute backburning plans. You can often find them twisting up the side of a mountain, or across ridges.

Not all fire roads are the same, some are regularly used and are well maintained, but other times they are eroded and rugged. This makes fire-roads a great place to start mountain biking, if you find a good one, you may be able to climb up and fly down the backside. Some of the most fun I’ve had on the mountain was going full speed down a fire road with my friends.

Use caution as fire-roads usually have vehicle access as well, make sure you are aware of corners and vehicles that are also on the trail, they may not be looking out for you.

Single Track

Single tracks are by far the most iconic and popular forms of mountain biking. Single tracks are trails through terrain that riders must go single-file down. They are thin, winding trails. Single tracks are great because, like many other trails, they can be at various skill levels. Single tracks can contain flowing sections, downhill sections and technical areas that are great for a little bit of everything.

Flow Trails

Flow trials are trails that contain smooth curves, berms, and rollers that allow the rider to ride quickly and smoothly. Flow trials are very similar to single tracks and oftentimes single tracks can have sections that are flow sections. However, flow trails are typically more maintained and manufactured. They often contain wooden berms and jumps. Flow trails are essentially single tracks that someone designed and put a lot of work into making as fun as possible. The wide turns and rolling hills are great for beginners and can be taken even faster by experienced riders.

Technical Trails

A Technical mountain bike trail can take various forms. Technical trails refer to any trail that focuses on technical bike skills and difficult obstacles like roots, rocks, drops and climbs. Technical trails are usually in single-track form. Technical trails can be both done quickly downhill but also can be flat or uphill. Often times, technical trails are done at high levels very quickly. It’s easy to do a rock garden if you jump over it!

Bike Parks

Bike parks are some of the best trails that can be found. These are often on ski slopes during the off-season. Bike Park trails have great trails that are maintained well. Fun downhill sections, technical sections and flow sections. They can be all of the above. They also have a wide range of different difficult trails that are rated using ski ratings. Some bike parks even have a ski lift running so that you can skip the climb and ride great trails over and over again.

These are some of the more common types of trails and riding. Each type of riding has many different aspects and some rides may contain a little bit of everything. While going over these types of trails we can see that there are many different ways to ride and many different skills that come along with it. Below we can explore the different riding disciplines.

Different Styles of Mountain Biking

Mountain Biking as a sport can attract many different types of athletes and each can find their own way of riding that they enjoy. Since the trail and environments are always changing, mountain biking requires everyone to adapt and improve their skills. While some riders like to stick to one type of riding, many others can do a little bit of everything. Below is a list of the different styles of riding, and what skills they require.

Cross-Country

Cross-country mountain biking is exactly how it sounds, riders travel long distances over a wide variety of terrain including climbs and decent. Cross-country is one of the major competitive disciplines of the sport and it involves riders racing around a set, often very long course.

Cross-Country riding is more focused on endurance and efficiency, although bike control and technical ability can not be ignored. Typically riders opt for lightweight, with less suspension travel bikes that help reduce weight and increase efficiency for the long distance. Cross-country is also a nice way to get out and get some exercise and enjoy nature.

Trail Riding

Trail riding is another very common form of mountain biking. It is a great mix for riders who enjoy different types of terrain. Riders that like to go a little faster and be a little more technical than cross-country riders. Trail riding is great for beginners as long as the trail they are riding is at their skill level.

Trail bikes typically have longer suspensions than cross-country bikes, as they require the ability to absorb larger impacts and drops. Trail riding is great for casual riders who want a little bit of a challenge.

Enduro

Enduro riding is my personal favorite type of riding. Enduro takes trail riding and turns it up a few notches while emphasizing the downhill speed and technicality. Enduro riding often contains a long technical descent with short uphill climbs in between.

I like Enduro riding because after every climb you get rewarded with an awesome downhill. Enduro bikes have much longer suspension travel compared to trail riding, but as they help support the downhill speed. Enduro bikes are typically where the slack geometry required for downhill speed starts to take hold.

Downhill

Downhill mountain biking is the beginning of extreme action sports. Although the other forms of mountain biking are both extreme and exciting. Downhill takes it all to the next level. At the highest level, downhill mountain biking can be extremely fast with massive jumps, extremely technical drops and dangerous gaps.

Although not all downhill riding is this extreme, generally true downhill mountain biking is strictly as the name says, downhill, and downhill as fast as possible. Downhill mountain bikes typically have very long suspension travel and a dramatic downward slope to the bike, that helps keep riders low and in control while descending.

Extreme downhill riders will often be seen sporting full-face Motorcross style helmets and body pads. At high speeds riders need all the protection they can find. Downhill mountain biking is great for the thrill seekers and the very skilled riders. RedBull Rampage is one of the most popular displays of downhill mountain biking.

Slopestyle and Dirt jumps

Slopestyle and dirt jump mountain biking is a section of mountain biking that is about as far away from cross-country mountain biking as possible. As it sounds, slopestyle is a strictly downhill ride that contains massive jumps. The ride is more focused on the jumps rather than anything else. Dirt Jumping is exactly how it sounds as well, jumping over dirt jumps, typically large. Slopestyle requires massive levels of skills and guts.

How to Choose Your Style of Mountain Biking

Choosing your style of mountain biking is as simple as trying what you are comfortable with, what you have access to, and what you enjoy the most. Most of the styles of mountain biking, excluding downhill, and slopestyle, are fairly easy to adapt to all levels of riding. You don’t have to be the best at riding to ride Enduro, and you don’t have to be an elite endurance athlete to ride Cross-Country. Get out and explore, there may only be a certain type of trail that you have access to, or the trail you ride might not fit into one of the categories we described. At the end of the day, mountain biking is a hobby that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, at various skill levels and in whatever style you enjoy the most. Get out and ride, be safe, and enjoy time in the great outdoors.