Mountain bike
A rugged bicycle built to handle rough, off-road terrain.
Overview
A mountain bike is a sturdy bicycle with wide, knobbly tyres, a strong frame and often suspension to absorb bumps, all designed for riding on rough, off-road trails. Flat handlebars and low gearing help with control and steep climbs.
Its grippy tyres and shock-absorbing build suit the loose, uneven ground of trails, tracks and hills where a road bike could not go.
Good to know
- Wide, knobbly tyres grip loose, uneven ground.
- Suspension helps absorb bumps on rough trails.
- Low gearing assists on steep climbs.
Where it’s used
Sports that use mountain bike:
How it connects
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Frequently learned together
Taught side by side in the same stage of a learning path.
- Cycling shoesBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Cycling learning path.
- Bike helmetBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Cycling learning path.
- Road bikeBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Cycling learning path.
- Water bottleBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Cycling learning path.
- VelodromeBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Cycling learning path.
Used with
Turns up alongside this across the same sports.
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Facilities
- VelodromeA steeply banked oval track for track cycling, with sloped bends that let riders hold high speeds through the turns.
- Padel courtAn enclosed court, much smaller than a tennis court, walled with glass and mesh so the ball can be played off the walls.
- Sports hallA large indoor hall with multi-sport line markings, used for court sports like basketball, volleyball and badminton.
- Ice rinkA sheet of prepared ice, usually rink-boarded with rounded corners, used for skating and ice sports.
Playing surfaces
- GravelLoose crushed stone over a firm base — an unpaved middle ground between smooth road and rough trail, ridden and run for variable grip and steady pace.
- TrailNatural off-road terrain of dirt, rock, roots, grass and mud that varies constantly and rewards surefootedness in trail running, mountain biking and hiking.
- SnowCompacted or natural snow on slopes and trails — a low-friction surface built for gliding, where skis, boards and runners slide fast over frozen ground.
Learning paths
Disciplines
- CyclocrossCyclocross is lap racing on a short off-road circuit of grass, mud, and sand, where riders often dismount to carry the bike over obstacles.
- Road CyclingRoad cycling covers riding and racing on paved roads, from mass-start races and time trials to multi-day stage events.
- Middle Distance (70.3)Middle distance triathlon, widely known as 70.3, covers a 1.9 km swim, 90 km bike, and a 21.1 km half-marathon run.
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Equipment
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-07-09
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