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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What's the difference between XC, Trail, All Mountain, Downhill and a Freeride bikes?

Cross-country (XC) bikes are usually hardtails and most often just have just front suspension and are the most lightweight type of mountain bike. A new generation of XC bikes has rear suspension with 80-100mm rear wheel travel. The angles of an XC bike cater for quick handling and excel in tight single track. Weight range is 9-12 kg (20-26 lbs).

Trail and All Mountain bikes are designed to cope with a much larger variety of terrains and are often referred to as the type of bike to own if you are going to have just one. They are built to be lightweight and perform equally well on ascents as on descents. Trail bikes can have 120-140mm rear wheel travel and weight around 11-15 kg (24-16 lbs). All Mountain bikes will have about 150-160mm rear wheel travel and weigh around 12-16 kg (26-35 lbs).

Downhill bikes are built with very slack angles for downhill speed and performance. Travel is often 180-200mm, sometimes more, with weight in the 16-20 kg (35-45 lbs) range.

Freeride bikes are heavier and more solidly built bikes that are typically full suspension. Freeride bikes are aimed towards the extreme all-day rider, with a premium put on strength vs. weight. Weight range is 12-18 kg (26-40 lbs).

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What’s the difference between Race and Endurance bikes?

Race bikes are designed to win races, pure and simple. They have quick handling characteristics and can be less stable at speed. The frame is more rigid to enable the transfer of maximum power into forward momentum. The rider position is more aggressive with a lower front end. Race bikes are mostly found at the mid-range through to the high end.

Endurance machines can be as light as pure race bikes but offer greater comfort and are more stable. In many cases they provide similar performance to a pure race bike but they are designed to be more forgiving and less demanding to ride. The longer wheelbase and taller head tube place the rider in a more comfortable position. You can find endurance designed bikes from entry level through to high specification Team bikes.

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What’s the best bike for my child?

Children are able to start riding a two wheeled bike at a young age with the aid of trainer wheels and the correct sized bike. Wheel size is used to reference the bike size for children rather than frame size. There are 12”, 16”, 20” and 24” wheel sizes to suit children from 2 years to 11 years of age.

Most 12” and 16” bikes are equipped with trainer wheels as standard to enable the rider to adapt to the bike. Powerful rear hub brakes are common with most 12”-20” bikes with 16” and 20” also equipped with front hand brakes. This range of product is often referred to as a BMX bike. A balance bike, a bike without pedals and trainers, is also an option to get your child started.

20” bikes can have one gear or as many as seven. Single speed models are available for entry level riders through to high specification race and freestyle models. 20” and 24” with gears are perfect for children that can ride well and want to keep up with mum and dad on family rides.

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Why so many different frame materials?

Bicycles today may look like bikes of old but changes in materials and design technology have transformed the way they are built and how they ride. There is no ‘best’ material for a bike as they all have benefits depending on the rider’s expectations and needs. Budget and the type of riding you will be doing will also influence material choice.

Steel is the traditional choice for frames due to its durable, long life nature. It is easy to work with and in most cases, more economical. Children’s and entry level bikes are often produced from steel.

Aluminium is the most popular choice today with products ranging from entry level to lightweight, race tuned machines. Aluminium is produced in many grades to provide strength along with lightweight. Entry level alloy bikes are lighter than their steel equivalent and high end models can be a fraction of that because of the high grade of alloy used. Aluminium is used for all varieties of riding styles, road, mountain, touring and so on.

Carbon fibre is the high tech frame material of today. More products are being made from carbon because of its vibration damping properties as well as its lightweight/strength properties. Carbon frames are made by layering sheets of woven carbon and are bonded using resin and heat. They are labour intensive to build so are more expensive to buy. Road bikes have benefited from this material the most, especially for race and endurance products.

Some frames will use a combination of two materials to get a balance of ride quality/performance with budget in mind. Some road frames are half alloy and half carbon while some may only have two carbon tubes on an all alloy frame. It’s important to balance the ride characteristics with your expectations and how much you intend to invest.

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Useful Information

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What's the difference between XC, Trail, All Mountain, Downhill and a Freeride bikes?

What’s the difference between Race and Endurance bikes?

What’s the best bike for my child?

Why so many different frame materials?