Mountain biking, also known as MTB, is a sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, usually using specially designed mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share some similarities with other bicycles, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain, which makes them heavier, more complex, and less efficient on smooth surfaces. These typically include a suspension fork, large knobby tires, more durable wheels, more powerful brakes, straight, extra wide handlebars to improve balance and comfort over rough terrain, and wide-ratio gearing optimized for topography and application (e.g., steep climbing or fast descending) . Rear suspension is ubiquitous in heavier-duty bikes and now common even in lighter bikes. Dropper posts can be installed to allow the rider to quickly adjust the seat height.
Mountain biking can generally be broken down into five distinct categories: cross country, trail riding, all mountain (also referred to as "Enduro"), downhill, and freeride. Cross Country (XC) is the only recognized discipline of mountain biking at the Olympic Games. This endurance-oriented event is a mass-start competition which typically features 100-150 riders who compete over rough terrain that includes everything from unpaved fire roads to technical singletrack filled with rocks, roots, and ruts. The distance and number of laps to be contested will be determined based on course conditions prior to the day of competition.
Mountain biking is a fun outlet for exercise, adventure, and time in nature. It requires endurance, core and back strength, balance, bike handling skills, and self-reliance.
