Mountain Bike Shock Systems
It is very important for a mountain bike to have a proper shock system including a full suspension. It is important because it helps absorb the shock when going over rugged terrain and helps to provide a smoother ride. You will find that full suspension bikes have both a front and back suspension. If a mountain bike has a solid rear fork and a suspension at the front they are often called hard tailed. Bikes without a suspension at all tend to be fairly lower end mountain bikes.
Mountain bikes with both descending and climbing ability are usually ideal for cross country riders. The movement in the rear suspension system is only about 4 inches so that it does not cause a problem when trying to climb hills. A cross country mountain bike would usually come with 28 gears so that it is easier to cope with different types of land.
If you are a more technical mountain bike rider you will probably need a trial bike as they are a little more robust. 4 to 7 inches is the typical type of movement you can expect from the suspension on a trial bike. Uphill pedalling will be more difficult but you will in general get a much smoother ride. A decision will need to be made as to which way you want to go, a smoother ride with an uphill struggle or not. Trek Track Bikes is a great place to look on the internet for all terrain bikes.
