Best Mid Travel Mountain Bike (2024)

FAQs

What is a mid travel mountain bike? ›

Mid-travel bikes have 120-140mm of travel and are perfect for riders looking to ride a bit of everything. They aren't the most efficient on the climbs, they require a bike of extra skill and rider input for the downs, but they will ride everything well.

The answer may seem obvious: 100 millimeters (4 inches) for cross-country, 130 millimeters (5.1 inches) for trail, 150 to 160 millimeters (6 to 6.3 inches) for all mountain and enduro, 180 millimeters (7 inches) for "freeride" (I know, a dated term, but let's just move along) bikes and 200 to 220 millimeters (7.8 ...

Long travel bikes with 160-180mm of travel are the pinnacle of going downhill fast, while still being able to climb up a mountain.

Confident on descents and fairly capable on climbs, trail bikes typically have between 120 and 160mm of suspension travel. Trail bikes at the longer end of the suspension-travel spectrum cross the boundary into all-mountain.

Norco vs Trek regarding spec.

For an extra $300 you get a lot for the cash with the Norco, the SRAM Eagle drivetrain is superb, the gear range is huge and had us cleaning the steep climbs easier with a few gears up our sleeve, and the shifting and operation is so crisp, quiet and smooth.

As circuits got shorter, the UCI introduced the 80% rule. If a rider's time is 80% slower than that of the race leader, they have to pull out of the race but will still be classified. The general classification is determined by adding up the points won in the XCO and XCC.

Is it better to size up or down on a mountain bike? Size up if… you are a skilled rider or prioritize stability on fast descents. Choose the smaller size if… you are a less aggressive rider or desire a more upright riding position and nimble bike handling.

As for mountain bikes, due to the rugged nature of the terrain they're designed for, they tend to be the heaviest of the three. A typical high-end cross-country mountain bike might weigh around 22-24 pounds (10-11 kg), while heavier-duty trail and downhill bikes could be 30 pounds (13.6 kg) or more.

Trek and Specialized get the edge in terms of worldwide brand recognition, but Giant is a major player in the industry. Many times when we help someone search for a new bike, we end up coming back to Giant for their competitive pricing and solid reputation.

But tackling a 100-mile race on a mountain bike, though certainly difficult, is not impossible. In fact, given a base level of fitness and athletic ability, you can whip yourself into race-day shape in about a month.

What is the most popular type of mountain biking? ›

Trail is the most common type of mountain biking, and how most mountain biking beginners get their start in the sport. Trail focuses equally on technical downhill riding and uphill/rolling cross-country terrain.

Long-travel bikes usually have 150-170mm of rear travel to handle tough downhill trails. Front travel often matches rear travel but sometimes can be more. Trail and enduro bikes fall into this category. They absorb big hits and smooth out rough terrain.

For those who value maximum efficiency, the Trek Supercaliber and Specialized Epic World Cup are the most efficient XC bikes we've tested.

Sprinting up climbs is easier on my 100mm XC bike. Short-travel bikes usually have 100-120mm of travel to maximize efficiency. In some cases, these bikes could have forks with 10-20mm more travel to make them more versatile on descents. XC and short-travel trail bikes fall into this category.

That amount of travel is more than enough to smooth out bumps and rocks and give you a comfortable and controlled ride. Going larger usually means a slacker and heavier bike. Fine for downhill, but a lot less fun for regular trails.

In the world of ebikes there are two main types of motors we see that power the forward motion of the bike. The first is a mid drive motor, which is located near the pedals. A mid drive motor powers the cranks and sends force through the drivetrain in the same way your own legs would move it with added assistance.