What classifies as a "mountain" bike?

[fatass]

Street bikes classify as mountain bikes don't they? By that I mean 24" wheels and SS, but I've also seen some 24" SS Ridgid street bikes... Would you still call that a mountain bike? It doesn't really matter, I just want to see some opinions of the extremes of what you can call a mountain bike.

[Disturbed.Rider]

Basicly just to stop confusion I considder anything with 20 inch wheels (that isnt specificaly a trials bike) a BMX and anything else (that isnt specificaly a roadie) mountain bikes.

[mtb_slipknot_fan]

But what about 24" bmxs which are ridgid and singlespeed??? Alot of the frames these days that run 24" wheels only come with bmx rear spacing or no chance at running a rear derailer. I believe if i see 24" wheels and ridgids on the same bike, its a 24" bmx.

Chris

[Rik]

The line gets very blurry when you're looking at 24" rigid SS street bikes, and to me the difference between MTB and BMX in that area is defined by geometry moreso than anything else.

[ovadahill]

The "classifications" of bicycle types should denote the riders style of riding rather than what type of frame or wheels it has.

Why did bikes start being called "mountain bikes" in the first place? -- because they were built to be ridden in the mountains.

At least 80% of "street" or "urban" bikes will never be ridden offroad -- so.. can you still call them an MTB -- even if they are built from bicycles that may have been designed for the MTB market.

How many "BMX" bikes are actually used for "bicycle motocross"? The majority infact are used for street, park, and recreational riding.

Why force yourself to shoehorn different types of bikes into quite rigid classification groups - you'll end up restricting your own perception of cycling when in fact it encompasses so much more than that. Expand your cycling experience.

[4130]

The "classifications" of bicycle types should denote the riders style of riding rather than what type of frame or wheels it has.

Why did bikes start being called "mountain bikes" in the first place? -- because they were built to be ridden in the mountains.

At least 80% of "street" or "urban" bikes will never be ridden offroad -- so.. can you still call them an MTB -- even if they are built from bicycles that may have been designed for the MTB market.

How many "BMX" bikes are actually used for "bicycle motocross"? The majority infact are used for street, park, and recreational riding.

Why force yourself to shoehorn different types of bikes into quite rigid classification groups - you'll end up restricting your own perception of cycling when in fact it encompasses so much more than that. Expand your cycling experience.

ovadahill has it right

[Link]

From what I can get from the UCI site - these are the official regulations that allow a bike to be raced in a mountain bike event. Though they don't exactly define what a mountain bike 'is' they very loosly say what one isn't.


4.1.038 The use of tyres fitted with metal spikes or screws is not permitted.
4.1.039 The diameter of bicycle wheels may not exceed 29 inches.

...Guess that means I can't ride my penny farthing at the next national champs

[ovadahill]

...Guess that means I can't ride my penny farthing at the next national champs

The way that all the American MTB mags are pushing the 29" bikes it looks like the current fad is definitely "bigger is better" --- keep the penny farthing -at this rate it could fit into wheel size regulations by the year 2011. (you would then have to find a way to have front and back brakes to make it legal)

[yogibear]

24" bmx bikes are all 110mm rear wheel spacing. v brake only and have 24" specific BMX bars,
24" MTB's have 135mm rear wheel spacing, most times a provision for disk brakes and geometry and forks height adjusted for smaller rise bars and Suspension if needed.

And befire anyone says it, yes I know there are mtb's with 110mm rear wheel spacing and are v brake only but they too have had their geometry height adjusted.

[Turner_rider]

...Guess that means I can't ride my penny farthing at the next national champs

No but you can still ride this....

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/images/bike%20shops/First_Flight/Mt_Machine.JPG

As mentioned previously if you want to give yourself a label do so, but otherwise just ride a "bike" and call yourself a "rider".

There are too many excpetions to the rule to try and label all bikes in particular categories - why waste time debating the issue when you could be riding? :cool:

[ovadahill]

There are too many excpetions to the rule to try and label all bikes in particular categories - why waste time debating the issue when you could be riding? :cool:

Go the JUSTriders -- no MTBer, BMXer, Downhiller, freerider, Dirtjumper, Slopestyler, Streetrider, Roadie, Racer, Recumbenter labels -- just ride.

[Regan of Gong]

Mountain Bike?

$99 from K-mart.

[Xmetal]

I like to think if it doesn't have gearing then it's not a mountain bike

BUT

If it's an SS bike with discs and a shock fork then it's a BMX with Benefits. :D

[Turner_rider]

No this is a BMX with benefits :D

Mongoose crica 1989 - Funny how fashions move in cycles as 24" wheels and mullets are now back in fashion in some parts of the biking world....


http://www.expure.com/bikes/scans/mongoose24.jpg

[eternalgorias]

I like to think if it doesn't have gearing then it's not a mountain bike

BUT

If it's an SS bike with discs and a shock fork then it's a BMX with Benefits. :D

Agreed. gears + Greater than 24inch wheel = mtb

[flognoffsky]

I read somewhere that for 4x the revised rules it that you have to have 2 of the following

A)two 26' wheels
B)fully functional suspension forks
C)and gears

I rekon this should be what a mountain bike is defined as.

[dunk]

I read somewhere that for 4x the revised rules it that you have to have 2 of the following

A)two 26' wheels
B)fully functional suspension forks
C)and gears

I rekon this should be what a mountain bike is defined as.

So what do propose my 29" fully rigid singlespeed is?

[Chalkie]

So what do propose my 29" fully rigid singlespeed is?

Hideous and inappropriate for 4X.

[dunk]

Hideous and inappropriate for 4X.

LOL I'll agree about the 4X part, but as far as I'm concerned it's still a MTB.

I had one of those 24" geared bikes in about 1988/9 while living in Canada, I can't remember what brand it was (I think it was a Mongoose) seemed average at everything, and good for nothing.

[Refreshinglygood]

fat tyre, off road on trail = MTB.

It's probably more about the mountain than it is about the bike, well at least it is for me.