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Cross Country Mountain Bikes Overview

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Mountain biking, as a sport, is growing and morphing continually. No doubt most people think of mountain biking as a sport for young men who have a death wish. While there is certainly an aspect of mountain biking that has an element of ‘over-the-top’ dare devilry, there exists a large constituency who go out every day and put on miles. Putting on miles refers to mountain biker riders getting out on the trail and going from point A to point B and back again.

Cross country mountain biking is exactly that, cross country. Whereas freeriders and downhillers rely on four-wheelers and ski lifts to get them to the top of the mountain, to cross country riders getting to the top of the mountain is all part of the ride. There is a misconception that mountain biking is just flying over jumps and plunging down mountains. Though freeriding is becoming more and more popular, the life vein for the sport since its inception has been cross country riding. Much of mountain biking involves climbing, navigating tight switchbacks on trails, and etching a line on a super technical downhill. There is more in going from point A to point B than bombing off major drops, there is the skill and endurance of making it over mountain ranges and through river valleys. [To make things simple, cross country will be referred to as ‘Xcountry’]

Just as Xcountry riders are a different breed so, too, are the bikes they ride. The Xcountry mountain bike is completely different in many ways from its freeride and downhill cousins. The premise for the Xcountry bike is speed. Everything about the xcountry bike revolves around the idea of making the bike and rider faster.

Xcourntry bikes can be made with fully rigid frames, as hardtails, or even full suspension frames. The cross over to full suspension frame is one of the more recent changes in the sport. Up until the turn of the century a full suspension frame would be too heavy to be considered as a Xcourntry frame. With the proliferation of carbon fiber, and aluminum frames, bikes can now have full suspension frames and still maintain a relatively light riding weight. This enables riders to use full suspension frames and benefit from the suspension without giving up speed that comes from the lightweight frames of rigid and hardtail bikes.

The weight difference between freeride bikes and Xcountry bikes is considerable. You will be hard pressed to find a Xcountry bike weigh more than 24 pounds, and even that weight is heavy. A typical freeride bike weighs well over 38-40 pounds. The obvious result of these contrasting bikes is a hybrid of the two types. The ‘backcountry’ bike is quickly becoming the new bike of choice by many riders. The backcountry bike offers the tough durability and long travel of the freeride bikes along with the lighter weight and technical ability of the Xcountry steeds.

Xcountry riders are now able to enjoy the comfort of full suspension in a bike that still weighs light enough to rip to the finish line. Along with the lighter full suspension, rigid or hardtail frames the Xcountry bikes are typically outfitted with extremely lightweight components (brake levers, shifters, chainrings, derailers, rims, tires, chains, etc.). Xcountry bikes need to be able to shift quickly and without fault since many Xcountry riders race and/or are riding for speed over a long distance. The component choice for many riders can be the difference in a few pounds. A few pounds doesn’t sound like too much but when it is the difference between 24 and 19 pounds that could be the difference in a winning finishing time and losing time or a beaten body after two laps as opposed to a body that still feels fresh.

Xcountry bikes depend on light-weight and technically advanced components to aid in the speed of the ride and the overall endurance assistance to the rider. The needs are certainly different from the downhill or freeride mountain biker. This is why the sport continues to thrive; it has something for everyone.

Next Page: How much can I expect to pay for a Cross Country bike?

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