ULTIMATE BIKE BUYER’S GUIDE
#1 HOW MUCH TRAVEL DO YOU NEED?
It’s essential to establish early on what sort of trails you intend to ride and on what terrain you want your bike to excel. This will help you decide what category of bike you need. Unless you’re set on a hardtail or fatbike (see panels), the easiest way to define the categories is in terms of suspension travel. Roughly speaking…
60-110mm: Cross-country race bike
Trail types: Fast-flowing, smooth.
Excels: Climbing and acceleration.
110-130mm: Cross-country/trail bike
Trail types: Manmade loops and less rocky natural routes.
Excels: Covering distance fast.
130-160mm: Trail bike
Trail types: More technical tracks with some bigger features.
Excels: Equally capable up and downhill.
160-180mm: Enduro bike
Trail types: Steep, gnarly off-piste; rocky tech; bike park tracks.
Excels: Rapid on the descents, but can still be pedalled back to the top.
180-200mm: Downhill race bike
Trail types: The fastest, roughest descents known to man!
Excels: Descending; there’s no way you’re pedalling one uphill.
Less suspension travel usually means a lighter, faster bike uphill. More travel equals better downhill capability. If
