titleA Look At Some Of The More Common Mountain Bike Designs/titlepMountain b style=color:#000;background:#ffff66bikes/b are designed for off-road riding. Whether made for racing or the more leisurely rider, there are four basic frame designs for mountain b style=color:#000;background:#ffff66bikes/b: rigid, hard-tail, soft-tail, and full suspension./ppThe rigid (also commonly known as fully rigid) mountain b style=color:#000;background:#ffff66bikes/b resemble a conventional sort of bike as you would imagine it. A rigid mountain bike has neither a rear suspension nor a front suspension. These used to be the most common kind of mountain bike but they are rapidly being replaced by the more comfortable models which feature some sort of suspension system. Fully rigid b style=color:#000;background:#ffff66bikes/b tend to be lower-priced than models with a suspension. Many riders still prefer rigid b style=color:#000;background:#ffff66bikes/b because its what theyre accustomed to, and the feel that the rigid design allows them greater control./ppAnother common mountain bike design is the hard-tail. Hard-tail mountain b style=color:#000;background:#ffff66bikes/b are so named because they have a conventional rear end without a suspension. Hard-tails differ from fully rigid b style=color:#000;background:#ffff66bikes/b i000022D8n that they have a front suspension. The hard-tail is perhaps the most popular mountain bike design. Many professional riders prefer the feel of a hard-tail and the comfort of a front suspension./ppThe next kind of mountain bike design is the soft-tail. As you probably guessed, soft-tails employ a rear suspension. Rear suspensions are a more recent innovation than front suspension due to the complexities of the design. Soft-tails are often more expensive than hard-tails, but they also tend to be more forgiving./ppFinally theres the full suspension mountain bike. b style=color:#000;background:#ffff66Bikes/b with this design feature both front and rear suspensions. These b style=color:#000;background:#ffff66bikes/b are the latest mountain bike design. For a long time riders avoided full suspension b style=color:#000;background:#ffff66bikes/b because they were heavy and they tended to sag in the middle like an old swayback horse. It took years for engineers and riders to perfect a viable, functional full suspension mountain bike. It was in the 1990s when these b style=color:#000;background:#ffff66bikes/b finally reached a point where they were marketable./ppIn addition to the frame and suspension, there are other differences in mountain bike designs. One key area where b style=color:#000;background:#ffff66bikes/b differ is the brakes. Mountain b style=color:#000;background:#ffff66bikes/b either have some form of caliper brakes, which are the kind of brakes typically associated with b style=color:#000;background:#ffff66bikes/b. This kind of brake squeezes the rims to slow and stop the bike. The other type of brake is the drum brake. Drum brakes on b style=color:#000;background:#ffff66bikes/b are similar to the braking system on automobiles. Drum brakes are more expensive than caliper brakes but theyre also easier to maintain. Mountain bike braking systems have even been made which utilize hydraulic power./ppAnother area where you have some choice in mountain bike design is tire size. Mountain bike tires typically range in size from 24 to 29. Smaller tires are used when greater maneuverability is required as in stunt-riding and jumping. Larger tires are used when speed is the key./ppAs with any other important purchase, do your homework before buying a new mountain bike. Think about your needs and your budget. Mountain biking is a terrific past-time. Its a fun way to get some fresh air, enjoy the outdoors, and improve your health./ppGregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as a target=_new href=http://www.cyclinggearplus.comcycling fitness/a at a target=_new href=http://www.cyclinggearplus.comhttp://www.cyclinggearplus.com/a/pbrbra href=http://camerasforsale.anyhow5.com/nikon-d90-review/Nikon D90 Review/abra href=http://canon7dcamera.oggix.org/Canon 7D Camera Review/abra href=http://astore.amazon.com/buy-canon-sd-1200-reviews-sale-prices-20?_encoding=UTF8node=2Canon SD 1200 Battery/abra href=http://astore.amazon.com/canon-sx-20-is-review-best-price-sale-20Canon SX 20IS/abra href=http://hf200review.anyhow5.com/Canon HF 200 Review/abr