Mens Mountain Bicycles – How To Find Just the Right One

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Mens mountain bicycles differ from women’s in several important respects. Because men are built differently from women, the mountain bicycles they use need to be constructed to accommodate the male anatomy. If male riders are uncomfortable, they will not be able to ride properly and they will not be safe.
Why mens mountain bicycles are the majority
Mountain biking is becoming more and more popular and is widely seen as one of the most challenging and exciting of all sports. Because of the nature of the sport, by definition it requires considerable strength and endurance, as well as skill in machine handling, which in turn needs some mechanical knowledge. For these reasons, for some time the majority of mountain bikers have inevitably been men, although women have certainly been catching up in recent years so most bikes have been mens mountain bicycles.
How mens mountain bicycles differ from womens
With so many mountain bikers being men, mountain bicycles have generally been constructed to suit the requirements of the male frame. Of course, all men are different and come in all shapes and sizes, but in general, men have longer torsos and broader shoulders than women do. Mens mountain bicycles, therefore, first and foremost need to have the right size frame and the correct geometry – that is, the various parts need to be the right size in relation to each other and to the whole. One example is the top tube or crossbar. If this is not exactly the right length for the man’s torso, not only will he not be comfortable, but he will not have proper control over the steering – a serious safety issue.
In addition to the length, mens mountain bicycles need to be the correct height from the ground. Men’s legs on the whole tend to be shorter than women’s in relation to the length of their torsos, but individual men differ enormously in height, so ensuring that the bike is the correct height off the ground is extremely important. A way of making sure the frame size is right for you is to stand astride the bike, with the top of the saddle just touching the lower part of your back, then lift the front of the bike off the ground until the top tube touches your crotch. The front wheel should be two to four inches off the ground. Mens mountain bicycles generally fit this way.
Another general characteristic of the male frame is that the man’s shoulders tend to be broader. Mens mountain bicycles therefore usually require wider handlebars than women’s. However, male riders do need to pay attention to the width of the handlebars before purchasing the bike. Generally, the wider the handlebars, the more control and leverage you have, but with really wide handlebars you could find your wrists becoming really painful after any length of time. So when looking at the width of the handlebars, you need to decide whether you are likely to be doing very long bike rides, and whether greater control is a higher priority for you than greater comfort. Just because you’re looking at mens mountain bicycles doesn’t mean they are the right fit.
The saddle on mens mountain bicycles
Few men would disagree that the saddle is one of the most important features of mens mountain bicycles, if not the most important. The longer you stay on the bike, the more you are going to feel it if your saddle has any degree of mismatch with your rear end. There is in fact, a range of mountain bike saddles that are specifically manufactured for conformity with the male anatomy. Not only do they need to be narrow enough – women’s saddles are wider – but they need to have the right kind of padding to minimize pressure on sensitive points. One model actually has three layers of padding material, which helps to distribute pressure more uniformly, and increases its shock absorbing power. Some – very expensive – men’s saddles have kinked rails to facilitate leg clearance. You can often tell mens mountain bicycles just by looking at the seat.
Frame materials of mens mountain bicycles
Because on the whole, men’s mountain biking activity tends to be more demanding and strenuous than that of many – though not all – women, the materials of which mens mountain bicycles are constructed may need to stand up to harder use. Some of the most durable frames on mens mountain bicycles are made of steel alloy, or of carbon fiber mixed with Kevlar. These composites make the frames very lightweight as well as durable, but a problem some users find is that they have a negative reaction to solvents and acids. The most popular material is titanium, which in addition to being extremely lightweight and durable, is very resistant to corrosion. But of course the drawback is that titanium frames are seriously expensive. A less costly alternative for mens mountain bicycles is a solid aluminum frame, which is still lightweight and stands up to a lot of abuse.
If mens mountain bicycles are not designed to fit the male physique, male riders will simply not be able to ride safely, let alone enjoy their mountain biking. There are no such things as standard mountain bicycles, as they vary according to biking styles as well as individual sizes and shapes. The only way to find the machine for your requirements is to test a lot of them out – and not be satisfied until you find the one that is exactly right.
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