Lists of bike styles and terrain Mountain bikes With frames designed to take a licking and keep on ticking and components that make seemingly impossible feats possible (like riding up Cable Lane in Athens), 21st Century mountain bikes can help their owners go up, down, across and under just about anything. Fat, knobby tires provide traction and control in dirt and mud. Suspension forks (commonplace on mountain bikes these days) and dual-suspension frames make logs and rocks less intimidating and significantly reduce whole-body fatigue after a long ride. Low gears make steep hills climbable and powerful brakes put the rider in control. With 26" wheels (vs. the larger 700 centimeter wheels found on hybrid, cyclocross and road bikes), mountain bikes keep the rider’s center of gravity closer to the ground, making obstacles less scary. The smaller wheels also are stronger than their larger cousins. Rider positioning is relatively upright, depending on the "aggressiveness" of the bike — that is to say, racing mountain bikes will put the rider in a more forward position, increasing control over the front wheel for fast cornering, among other things. Recreational mountain bikes have more upright positioning (achieved with the "rise" in the stem, which can be adjusted on any bike). If you want to hit the trail or even gravel and barely paved back roads, consider a mountain bike. Or, if you know you want to ride off-road a good bit, but want the option of riding paved roads or paths, consider buying a smooth set of tires for your mountain bike — you’ll go faster when you’re on pavement. If you don’t think you’ll spend too much time on dirt, however, you might want to consider a road bike or a hybrid bike. Home | Products & services | Choosing a bike | Places to ride | Fun stuff | News Athens Bicycle, 14 W. Stimson, Athens, OH 45701 (740) 594-9944 Toll-free: (866) 594-9944 E-mail: pete@athensbicycle.com