Bike what is xc

Buy it if: You want more comfort on long XC rides or really like going fast but want a bike that works for more trails.

Or if most of your local trails are cross country trails, and you are maybe still planning on doing occasional XC races. Trail bike geometry is often a middle ground between XC and enduro bikes. A comfortable climbing position is mixed with tougher components and frame, heavier tires and more relaxed geometry that will be comfortable when the trails get spicy. Big adventure rides deep in the mountains, or pushing the limits on local descents, All Mountain bikes are about having fun on going down while still being efficient enough to pedal.

Longer travel, more relaxed geometry, and tough components separate these bigger bikes from their Trail bike siblings. Freeride could arguably be a separate category, but most current freeride bikes tend to be all-mountain or sometimes enduro bikes with much tougher parts builds. Buy it if: You want a bike that will be more comfortable on descents, no matter what you run into going downhill, but still want to pedal up.

If want to ride steep trails and big features, maybe even the occasional day in the bike park or enduro race, check these bikes out. As Enduro continues to grow into its own distinct discipline in mountain biking, Enduro bikes are also getting more and more specific. Enduro bikes are long-travel bikes designed for going as fast as possible downhill on the hardest trails around. Their geometry is built for speed on the descents, but also for pedalling back up hill to start the next race stage.

Tough parts are designed to survive the abuse long days of racing, and even occasional bike park days. Getting to the top of the hill is merely payment for the fun of the down. Due to the differences in riding styles, cross country bikes and trail bikes are designed and built differently. Below are main things to look at:. Cross country bike or trail bike?

Or somewhere in between? What type of rider are you? Of course, with all bike categories, there is always crossover. Can you ride a trail bike in a cross country race? Can you ride your XC hardtail on rocky, technical terrain with your friends who all ride full suspension trail bikes?

When making a buying decision, ride before you buy. Posted in: Blog. By Andy Brown. No comments. Below are main things to look at: Front fork travel Rear travel If any. A rigid fork makes handling more precise. XC suspension forks rely on an air spring to keep the weight down. The fork will generally have between mm and mm of travel.

When Enduro was a just a young pup and the trails were milder, a mm - mm Trail bike was the ideal ride, as it provided a bit more beef than a race focussed XC bike and was easily pedalled compared to a DH downhill bike. Shift forward to the present day, however, and the modern Enduro bike echoes more of a downhill bike than the original 'Trail' bikes that were used. As detailed below, Trail bikes are still very relevant for all styles of riding, but with courses becoming steeper, more technical and more demanding, the weapon of choice has been adapted.

As one of the most popular modern mountain bike disciplines, Enduro mountain bikes are evolving at a rapid rate. Longer, lower and slacker than both XC and Trail bikes, Enduro bikes are all about enjoying the downs.

The wheelbase will be considerably longer than an XC bike thanks to a more relaxed headtube angle and increased trail where the front wheel is positioned relative to the headtube proving more stability at speed.

A longer reach figure allows the rider to get lower on technical descents whereas a Trail bike rivalling seat tube angle ensures that riders can climb the up trail with ease for another lap. Aluminium is commonly found on entry-level to mid-range Enduro bikes thanks to its durable properties, and ability to take a beating from all angles.

At the top-end though, advancements in carbon fibre are making composites the material of choice on flagship models. With suspension travel ranging from mm, Enduro bikes are much burlier than their shorter travel counterparts. This makes them much better suited to big drops, big hits and big air. Rolling stock will be stronger as a result, with internal rim widths typically hovering around 30mm. This increased air volume reduces the risk of pinch flats or tubeless "burps" when attacking the trail.

Tyre widths will typically range from 2. Tubeless tyres are favoured in mountain biking thanks to the lower pressures they allow, increasing the contact patch and allowing the more aggressive tyres to grip the trail more efficiently. Boost spacing wider axle widths front and rear is also in play on most, if not all, Enduro bikes on the market. Boost spacing allows for manufacturers to offset the drivetrain slightly for a straighter chainline, and the ability to run wider tyres than a frame would typically allow.

Moving to the contact points and bars over mm wide are commonplace, as are super short stems, which allow for more direct handling on the trail. Dropper seatposts are also essential, allowing a rider to easily move and shift their weight around the bike on technical descents.

The best riders can be equally effective on both. As things get more competitive, you may want to dip your toe into the world of clipless pedals and shoes, Lycra clothing and XC-style helmets. These are all designed to make you a bit faster, more comfortable and more efficient, which will hopefully get you higher up the leaderboard.

As we said before, your fitness and skills on the bike will ultimately decide where you finish. This should help with any minor mechanical issues you have on the day. During the actual race, many riders also carry a CO2 canister or mini-pump , just in case they get a slow puncture. In the UK, you can find more information about racing licences on the British Cycling website.

In the UK, British Cycling is the best place to start. You can find more information on the British Cycling website. Smaller, local races may have their own websites or Facebook pages, so a quick search for events in your area may do the trick.

Having raced for more than ten years in a variety of different disciplines, including cross-country, marathon racing and hill climbs, Joe now enjoys a more sedate life of cafe stops and post-ride beers. And while a young family means he has less free time, he still likes to hit the hills and suffer on his rides.

A strong proponent of riding a hardtail mountain bike on the road, you might also find Joe riding his beloved Colnago Extreme Power when the sun is out. Marathon events take place over much longer distances and, typically, include less technical terrain.

Cross-country racing can be a pretty amazing spectacle to watch and compete in sometimes for the wrong reasons.