People who do not know a lot about mountain bikes may just assume that they are all the same but this is definitely not the case. Each individual bike will have its own style and nuances but in general, beginners should focus on the difference between two different styles of mountain bikes. These two styles are the hard-tail mountain bike and the full suspension mountain bike. Both have their good points and their bad points but for a beginner looking to develop their mountain biking skills, the full suspension bike probably has more to offer.

First of all, one of the things that many beginners to mountain biking are not aware of is how hard it can be to cycle off-road. When riding off road the surface will typically be very uneven with rocks, tree roots and bumps in the path that could cause some pain if you ride over them, so having this additional level of suspension should really help smooth out the ride.

Of course, one of the reasons that mountain bikers trek uphill is to enjoy the fun of going downhill and this is another area where the full suspension bikes have an advantage. As well as allowing for a greater level of speed when coming downhill, these bikes provide for a greater degree of control to be exercised on the bike. This means the cyclist will have a larger amount of confidence in their cycling, always a good thing when hurtling down a hill at great speed. One of the reasons why many people choose the full suspension style of mountain bike is that it offers more fun, which is one of the biggest reasons why anyone would buy a mountain bike.

There is a larger level of maintenance involved with full suspension bikes and they are usually dearer than similar hard-tail bikes. For a mountain biker on a budget, there is a big decision to be made but in the long-term, the value for money that comes from buying a full suspension mountain bike can tend to bring more benefits. Gaining value for money in purchases is always important and this is a key factor in buying this style of mountain bike. No matter what style of mountain bike is bought, a lot of fun can be had but the full suspension bike may just offer a bit more for a beginner.