There are two main
types of suspension mountain bikes. The Hardtail
is equipped with front suspension whereas the Dual
or Full Suspension bike has both front and rear
suspension. Deciding which to get is the bicycle
world's equivalent to deciding on purchasing a
PC or Mac computer. [images
on right below]
Traditionally, front-suspension mountain bikes
have been lighter and a bit more efficient,
which is why the Hardtail had pretty much dominated
the cross-country racing scene. As weights
have dropped and efficiency has improved, even
World Cup pros are pulling out dualies for
rough courses.
The simpler frame
style of a front suspension makes the Hardtail
a lighter bike therefore a little easier to clean
and maintain. A full-suspension bike adds speed,
comfort and control to the fun factor so many
cyclist don't mind the slight weight penalty.
Plus, any pedaling efficiency lost in the rear
suspension system is more than made up in faster
downhill and flat-terrain speeds. You'll also
find your rear wheel sticking to technical climbs
better than on a Hardtail. And one more plus
is that you may see that you'll have more energy
on long rides because you're taking less of a
beating.
Specialized
Epic, featuring the
Brain ™
Specialized,
long an innovator in the bicycle industry, introduced
the Specialized Epic, featuring the Brain ™ shock
in 2003. The Brain knows what terrain your riding
on and responds appropriately. On smooth ground,
Brain technology keeps your bike hardtail-firm
and efficient. But when the going gets bumpy,
the Brain instantly delivers the fully active/fully
independent benefits of FSR suspension.The Brain
shock, has an inertial valve that makes this
possible. It was this technology that enabled
the Specialized Epic to become the very first
full-suspension bike to ever win a World Cup
race. more
>> latest trends.
