Mountain biking is the sport of riding off-road over rough terrain on bikes that underscore durability and performance in rough terrain: wide, knobby tires, large frame tubing, front fork or dual suspension shock absorbers. The durability factor means a far heavier bicycle weight to rider ratio. Mountain biking is broken down into four categories: cross country, downhill, four cross and trials.
This individual sport requires endurance, bike-handling skills and self-reliance. Most mountain bikers ride off-road trails, whether country back roads, fire roads, or singletrack (narrow trails that wind through forests, mountains, deserts, or fields). There are aspects of mountain biking is quite similar to trail running. Riders need to be self-reliant as they are often quite far away from civilization. Riders learn to repair their broken bikes or flat tires to avoid being stranded miles from help. Club rides and other forms of group rides are common.
