If you’re planning to purchase a mountain bike then its best that you learn more about them first. For one, not all mountain bikes are the same. There are generally two types of mountain bikes that you can choose from; the 28 touring bike and the 26 mountain bike.
Don’t get mistaken though, both are generally called mountain bikes, the only difference is that the 28 inch touring bike is designed for riding on paved or smooth dirt roads, while the other is created to handle harsher surfaces and punishing terrains.
As compared to 28 inch touring bikes that have larger seats with lots of padding 26 mountain bike are generally smaller and has straighter forks to give better steering response. Most of these bikes come with suspension for better handling on rough terrains.
Basically called clincher wheels by most experts, the 26 inch size wheels have inner tubes, and may sometimes come with rims that are only 22 inches in diameter. As of the moment, tubeless technology is slowly entering the competition for 26-inch wheels and offers more traction and absorption of shock according to manufacturers.
For those who are interested in using the tubeless 26 mountain bike conversion kits are already available and employ a special tape in order to close off any of the holes, then injecting a liquefied rubber compound to further seal off any leaks and holes present in the tire before final attachments are made.
The tires of mountain bikes will generally change depending on the terrain that you’ll be handling. And while 26 mountain bike will also give you control and traction over smooth surfaces, speed can somewhat become an issue. So it’s best that you purchase various tire widths to handle any terrain.
Aside from concentrating on the tires for traction and control, another factor that you might want to take a look into when handling rough terrains would be your brakes. Rim brakes can be good if you’re going to be handling leveled out surfaces but will somewhat limit your control when it comes to downhill runs. For this, you might want to take the added punch of disc brakes into consideration.
So, planning on purchasing a mountain bike anytime soon? Then it’s best that you learn more about its essential components first before you head out to buy. It all basically depends on where you’re planning to take your bike for a ride. If you fancy long trips over highways or slightly rough roads then the 28 will be a good enough choice. On the other hand, if rugged terrains are what you have in mind then goes with the 26 mountain bike.