The weight of a mountain bike is its biggest enemy. These bikes are tough, but they’re also heavy. They can cost thousands of dollars and they can weigh more than a lot of their counterparts. But if you’re new to mountain biking, then you may not have realized that there are lightweight options out there.
In this guide, we’ll discuss the benefits of mountain bikes and their safety aspects. We’ll also look at mountain bike frame sizes, as well as their overall weight. These affordable mountain bikes for beginners will be best suited to you.
Are mountain bikes heavy?
Yes. They can be heavy depending on their components and the weight of the rider sitting atop them. Most mountain bikes weigh from 37 lbs to 60 lbs, with some lighter options available out there for 44 to 45 pounds (20-21kg). On average, most adult riders are approximately 150lbs or more as compared to 145lb for children, who top out at about 10% less than an adult’s body weight. So, this is a heavy bike.
If you’ve ever seen someone ride one of these bikes going downhill at 60mph or more, they perform as if they weigh nothing since the force of the air hitting their rear tire can help cancel out some weight on the front end. Mountain biking and especially downhill mountain biking are very aerodynamic sports, so there’s precious little weight to that bike in those instances aside from its rider!
Does weight matter?
Yes, it does. If you ride a downhill bike that weighs over 45 lbs, then your balance isn’t as good (heavier bikes are much less stable). You don’t want to tip backward without power pushing the pedals, so this number helps those riding mountain bikes for exercise or recreation set realistic weight goals and obtain appropriate physical fitness beforehand. Weight also matters if you need to carry extra gear atop your bike for touring, including water bottles which most bike roofs are too small for.
A mountain bike without suspension is its bent steel frame, as compared to an entirely rigid machine, which limits gear ratios and sweeps smoothly over obstacles in front while keeping the rear end up, especially on a full MTB rider weighing 150 lbs. A conventional bicycle chain hangs vertically from cages that traverse down both sides parallel but no further than your knees ( the first design) and loop up the back. (This is why you never see photographers riding on a fixed gear in areas with rough trails or off-road situations.)
Both are perfectly functional albeit cumbersome designs for mountain biking and all bicycles have them, but there’s a huge advantage to a suspension fork that helps keep momentum in check when the power output is transferred from your body to bicycle moving through turns at relatively high speeds like those found on hardpack dirt roads or asphalt trails. A simple suspension fork mated to a mini-bike with overdrive will make for fast times on the downhill, especially combined with rigid forks or even full aftermarket aluminum frames that don’t require standard AAA welding charges to construct. They ride smoother and the weight is minimized due to not needing any metals such as steel but adequate cryogenic tubing from carbon fiber reinforced polymers (using static compression).
Advantages of riding heavy mountain bikes
There is an old saying that the heavier the bike, the faster you can ride it. It’s not true unless used in proper reference to maneuvering either on pavement or off-road and stem diameter does indeed play a part but with respectable suspension forks and very good grips, even their less-expensive cousins will be almost equally at home on mountain bikes trails where your knees held high to do more for balance than handlebars which are already pretty well balanced.
What makes a good suspension fork? First, you need to understand the function and purpose of your bike’s intended use rather than grossly over-analyzing every last design detail like trying to decide between welding aluminum vs. titanium or whether carbon fiber tubing is better for suspension forks. You’ll find that mountain bikes fit many different types of riders who ride them with gear ranging from serious racers pushing hard hill climbs on their way down through all sorts of road riding, trail riding, and even ultra-light hack for xc racing. Second is the fact that a good suspension fork can be more expensive than an entry-level YZ/MTB.
What makes many tires so much better? The rubber compound or filled tire tread obviously because they’re not rigid but being able to absorb shock in all sorts of movement makes them far superior with nothing stopping their rotational momentum. Just as important is their manner of construction, which is more flexible, giving us a wider range of lean angles.
Disadvantages of riding heavy mountain bikes
Although the advantage of a large lightweight frame that’s designed with speed in mind is clear, you will find more problems associated with their heavier bicycles. For example, small shoulders on riders who need to carry bags but also having smaller framed bikes fit faster-following downhills and brakes are generally less effective, requiring more pedal pressure regardless of equipped or not by the rider. Realizing this requires trading these lighter why over greater mass which can produce many negative aspects, including fatigue and after a couple of hours on rough roads as well as wearing down more often than necessary, further adding to the weight.
The average weight of mountain bikes
The average weight of mountain bikes is very light. Most lightweight enduro-style XC and Trail Mountain Bikes hover around 10 lbs compared to 14-16 lb road bikes, while some heavier duty trail rigs can be below the 30+ pound mark in the rear market, but overall, they’re going to be way less heavy than your typical 26″ wheeled road bike with tires that get 300 or so on them or often more like 280+.
Realistically there’s a 6-8 pound difference in the average weight of a full-suspension mountain bike and it’s not all that important. Mountain bikes don’t need to be super light but shouldn’t be weighted towards overkill like your heavier roadie, which usually weighs an extra 10 pounds or more just for schwag parts and components.
Conclusion
Mountain bikes are some of the most fun and versatile pieces of equipment you can own. Whether you want to ride them around the neighborhood or head out on a trail, they are the perfect option for getting outside and having a good time. The lightweight aluminum frames and components make these bikes a breeze to maneuver, while their wide range of sizes ensures that there is something for everyone in your family. Their compact size makes them easy to store, too!
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