Mountain biking mixes exploring nature with high-speed fun. It’s a great way to conquer rugged trails, and it’s a lot quicker than going on foot.“On a mountain bike, you can cover a lot of ground,” says Lea Davison, a cross-country mountain biker and two-time Olympian. “You can challenge yourself or have fun with friends, and you can set and achieve goals and overcome obstacles.”
To get into mountain biking, you’ll need a knobby-tire, flat-bar bike, new or used. Most mountain bikes have front suspension, though many have rear suspension too. Suspension lets the wheels move independently, smoothing out the trail and cushioning the landing when you hop off an obstacle. Typically, front suspension-only bikes, called “hard tails,” cost less than full-suspension bikes, but full-suspension bikes offer smoother riding, making hard…
