All modalities in mountain biking – You probably know the term MTB, if you don’t, don’t worry, it just means Mountain Bike, but it’s not as simple as it looks. Just as there are several forms within mountain biking, there are also bicycles for each modality. For the same reason, you have read different abbreviations or wordplay that refer to some modality that may confuse you. In this article, you will find all the patterns that exist in mountain biking.
- XC – Cross Country
This is the best-known modality. It is rolled in full paths and usually are circuits where the tracks are flat presenting a predominant ascent and with certain complications in the descent. The courses can take more climbing pedaling than lowering. The distance can start from 5 km to 40 km or more. The most commonly used bikes are front suspension and short-haul suspension bikes.
- XCM – Cross Country – marathon
We can say that it is a Cross Country, but with tours of more than 45km, it is usually practiced more like competition. In the same way, presents trails predominant climbs and flat. In Mexico, there are many competitions XC and marathon among the best known we have the POPOBIKE and The Ultramarathon Wiricuta in Real de Catorce.
- XC Eliminator
This is only a competitive and little-known and practiced modality since it has not attracted much attention, either from athletes or from the public. So, in a few countries, these competences are carried out. They are short and demanding evidence within a rural and urban circuit. Their mode of competition is to eliminate competitors by qualifying the first 32 drivers and from there by groups of four until they reach a semifinal and final.
- DH – Down Hill
A modality that involves only the descent through the mountain or hill. Those who practice it are climbed to the top of the hill or the start of the track by Vans or, in cycling parks, by telephone gondolas. The aim is to descend as quickly as possible. Through technical complications made by humans such as ramps, drops, penalties and difficulties that the same mountain has. The tracks are relatively short no more than 5 km down. The DH bikes are more substantial and more robust; they are double suspension and have a length of more than 180 mm.
- Trail
If we had to define the Trail with two words, it would be for amateurs. It is a modality between XC and All Mountain. That is to say; it takes a moderate rhythm suitable for beginners or Advanced who want to take the road calmly. The trail is a non-competitive modality, instead of pure enjoyment. It includes UPS, planes and in some cases, sinuous descents. Frequently used bicycles can be rigid or double suspension with routes between 120mm and 140mm. These bikes are currently the most suitable for growing in mountain biking because of their versatility and safety on the mountain road.
- AM – All Mountain
It is a mixture of the two previous modalities. It involves both the climb and descent. The climbs are usually by steep slope until reaching the top of the hill or mountain, and the downhill or downhill slope is by the natural paths that are made either for climatic reasons or by man. The average distance ranges from 20 km to 40 km. All Mountain is practiced with double suspension bikes ranging from 130 mm to 160 mm, although many times people practice it with bikes for XC and Trail.
- Dirt Jump
The Dirt Jump is about doing acrobatics in the air on a ground jumping circuit. Most rides occupy sufficiently rigid or front suspension bikes that do not exceed 120mm travel.
- 4X – four cross
It is a modality of the MTB that combines downhill with the BMX competition mode. Four riders compete at the same time, on a downhill circuit, overcoming natural or artificial obstacles. They also make jumps, take pears, cobblestones or rock gardens and everything on the course. Only the first two of each series advance to the next stage. The fun and exciting part of this modality is to see the constant friction, which within what is allowed are valid and which are part of the attractiveness of the competition.”