4 Basic Types of Mountain Bikes
- Trail bikes are the jack of all trades of mountain bikes. These bikes are great for riding both uphill and down, and can handle simple jumps and other various obstacles encountered on the trail. Trail bikes will also hold their own on longer excursions as well as daily trips locally.
- Cross Country bikes are on the lighter side. While they are not the go-to for tackling drops or jumps, they are built for lengthy trips and climbing uphill.
- Enduro mountain bikes are more typical in the “Enduro” racing scene. Enduros are perfect for climbing uphill, then soaring downhill while being able to hit any trail feature with maximum efficiency and ease.
- Downhill bikes are the ultimate bikes for tricking. Not used for uphill in any way, downhill bikes ensure the fastest speeds while being able to handle almost anything the terrain may throw out while riding down.
Budgets and Brands
Examples of bikes for each type with entry level pricing in mind. Prices shown are recorded as of December 2023.
Trail: REI’s Co-Op line features trail bikes starting as low as $600 with hundreds of positive reviews. If all the bells and whistles are a necessity, one of the leading competitors in this category would be Santa Cruz with numerous tiers of customization starting at around $4-$5k.
Cross Country (XC): Trek is a noteworthy mountain bike manufacturer with a plethora of great options for XC mountain biking and beginners of all mountain bike types in general. While still subjectively on the expensive side, the mountain biking community generally agrees that the X-Caliber 9 is a quality XC bike for its relatively low price of around $2k compared to Trek’s flagship bikes coming in at around $15k for the most premium features and components.
Enduro: Canyon has great options when it comes to relatively low end versus high end. Canyon’s Spectral line features simple, solid options ranging from $1,800 to $5,500. On the premium side, Canyon’s Torque line is great for everything one could need on an extra long trip.
Downhill: As a more specialized type of mountain bike, downhill mountain bikes are generally going to be more expensive. The Tues line from YT Industries offers quality downhill bikes ranging from around $3k-$6k. Commencal’s FRS series is also widely recommended by the community in the freeride downhill category offering bikes similarly priced to YT Industries.
Rose Bike Shop
Located in Orono, Rose Bike Shop is a locally owned business with over 30 years of operation. The store has a wide selection of bikes and gear alike at affordable prices. Rose Bike Shop’s friendly staff are sure to be able to help with any biking needs. All images on this page were taken at Rose Bike Shop itself.
Visit Rose Bike Shop in person on 9 Pine St, Orono, ME or visit the website at www.rosebike.com
