what are the differences between FS DH and XC. so i can know more or less what type of riding i do.
thanks
thanks
newbie quest
- Thread starter blank123003
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DH (Downhill) is gravity. Take a lift/hike to the top and ride down. Usually done on a downhill/freeride specific bike. It just means more travel and stronger frames and components. It also has some jumps, rock gardens, drops, etc. XC (Cross Country) is uphill, downhill, flat, etc. It doesn't contain any real jumps or drops. It is done of either full suspension or hardtail bikes (so is downhill but more commonly on full suspension bikes).
If you want endurance and stamina then XC is probably for you, its for the people that like to ride long distances and like more of a challenge than just holding onto a bike going downhill (i still respect all the guys that do downhill).
Hope that helps a bit.
If you want endurance and stamina then XC is probably for you, its for the people that like to ride long distances and like more of a challenge than just holding onto a bike going downhill (i still respect all the guys that do downhill).
Hope that helps a bit.
The basic categories:
XC - cross country - as already described; focus on light, quick handling bikes, rear travel of 0"-4", front travel= same, twitchy at speed (downhill)
AM - all mountain - do pretty much everything, but with compromises; generally stronger and longer travel than XC bikes (4"-6" front and rear), but they don't pedal as well. Useful if you like to ride aggressively and get the wheels off the ground now and then. Not as stable at speed as DH bikes and not usually the travel of a FR bike, if you can only have one, you can't go too wrong with one of these.
FR- freeride - stunt oriented riding; heavier, stronger bikes with slacker angles for stability, meant to be jumped, dropped and generally abused. Most common travel 6"-8" front and rear. Often built to be ridden up before coming back down (won't pedal nearly as well as an XC bike though). The extra travel helps if you screw up on a stunt.
DH-downhill - pretty obvious, really. Lots of crossover between these and FR bikes, (you can ride DH or FR on either one) but DH bikes are often slacker and have a bit more travel (8"+ f&r). If these bikes pedal uphill at all it is a big bonus. They are pretty task specific, so probably not a great choice if you can only have one bike.
XC - cross country - as already described; focus on light, quick handling bikes, rear travel of 0"-4", front travel= same, twitchy at speed (downhill)
AM - all mountain - do pretty much everything, but with compromises; generally stronger and longer travel than XC bikes (4"-6" front and rear), but they don't pedal as well. Useful if you like to ride aggressively and get the wheels off the ground now and then. Not as stable at speed as DH bikes and not usually the travel of a FR bike, if you can only have one, you can't go too wrong with one of these.
FR- freeride - stunt oriented riding; heavier, stronger bikes with slacker angles for stability, meant to be jumped, dropped and generally abused. Most common travel 6"-8" front and rear. Often built to be ridden up before coming back down (won't pedal nearly as well as an XC bike though). The extra travel helps if you screw up on a stunt.
DH-downhill - pretty obvious, really. Lots of crossover between these and FR bikes, (you can ride DH or FR on either one) but DH bikes are often slacker and have a bit more travel (8"+ f&r). If these bikes pedal uphill at all it is a big bonus. They are pretty task specific, so probably not a great choice if you can only have one bike.