Dirt Jumpers Good For Trails
If riding a bike is one of your favourite pastime activities, you’ve probably already been thinking about buying a bike that will serve you well for ages. Although there are many options available, you want to find a quality bike that meets your needs and allows you to enjoy your favourite hobby, whether you’re cycling on a silky or a rougher surface.
Trail biking is a popular form of mountain biking, and although you need certain skills and experience to start riding on trails, the type of bike you own will also play a leading role in whether you’re safe and protected while riding on brittle paths or forest roads. So, if you’re thinking about investing in a dirt jumper, let’s take a look at why these bikes can be a good choice for trail biking.
What is trail biking?
Trail biking is an excellent sport for those who want to spend more time in nature. Still, without quality equipment, this type of outdoor physical activity can be extremely dangerous even for experienced cyclists. As a beginner, you may be tempted to try a certain trick or ride faster than other cyclists, but it’s advisable to put on the safety gear and get yourself a good bike before attempting to ride on trails like a professional. With that being said, you may need to buy a dirt jumper before going on a cycling adventure.
What are dirt jumpers?
Essentially, a dirt jumper is a type of mountain bike. If you know what a BMX bike looks like, we should tell you that dirt jumpers are slightly larger than those bikes. This bike has only one gear and a low seat-post, meaning the bike isn’t designed for seated pedalling. In addition, a dirt jumper bike doesn’t have a front brake, but the impressive frame geometry makes this bike ideal for aerial stunts.
Dirt jumpers are also relatively heavy, and the shorter chainstays make these bikes more compact and safe. Once we say a few more words about each of these features, it will be easier to determine whether jumpers are good for trails.
Chainstays
To perform certain tricks easier, dirt jumpers come with shorter chainstays compared to regular MTB’s chainstays. This feature tends to reduce the bike’s wheelbase and make lifting the front wheel undemanding. A short chainstay complements tricks, but they’re also lighter and stiffer, which is one of the main reasons many people who enjoy mountain biking choose to invest in dirt jumpers.
Frame size and weight
When trying to find a quality dirt jumper, you’ll notice that many manufacturers produce one-size-fits-all models. If you want to ride your bike on smoother surfaces, a dirt jumper may not be the best option for you since a frame that doesn’t fit can make you feel like you don’t have full control over your bike. However, as mentioned earlier, they’re ideal for mountain biking since this type of bike isn’t designed for seated pedalling.
Another reason why dirt jumpers may be best for mountain biking is that they’re designed for hard impact landings. The frames are strong, and naturally, extra heavy compared to other types of mountain bikes such as hardtails. A single-speed dirt jumper can often be a lot heavier than a geared hardtail mountain bike, making them more stable and secure for riding on trails.
Frames on a dirt jumper bike can be manufactured from a wide range of materials. The most important options for dirt jumpers are aluminium and Chromoly steel. Between the two, aluminium will always be more affordable, but it’s also much stiffer.
Hardtail mountain bikes
Photo by Carter Moorse on Unsplash
Hardtail mountain bikes are another popular type of bikes ideal for mountain biking. What makes them truly special is that they offer a unique riding experience on almost any terrain. In addition, their great handling capabilities and precision are what makes them so popular among bike-loving folks. So, once you prepare for the next trip, nothing’s stopping you from planning a cycling holiday and riding a hardtail mountain bike across the country.
However, to ride a hardtail mountain bike, you need to first acquire a lot of cycling experience. Without proper skills and necessary experience, you can get badly hurt while riding a hardtail bike.
Dirt jumpers vs hardtail mountain bikes
Firstly, both dirt jumpers and hardtail mountain bikes are decent options for riding on trails. However, dirt jumpers are low maintenance, and if this is your first time buying a bike, a dirt jumper is a better option. In addition, they’re more economical, and if you’ve never had a bike before, it will be easier to ride a dirt jumper than trying to learn how to balance while riding a hardtail mountain bike on trails.
More importantly, if you’re thinking about learning how to do fun bike tricks, all you need is a dirt jump bike and a place where you can practice. However, we mentioned earlier that it’s extremely challenging to pedal like a pro if you don’t have the opportunity to stay in your seat. So, with that in mind, hardtail mountain bikes may be a more versatile option since you will be able to ride them on any other type of surface.
Gear
Whether you decide to purchase a hardtail mountain bike or a dirt jumper, it’s advisable to find the safety gear that will protect you from getting badly injured. Riding on trails can be fun and exciting, but even experienced cyclists can get into an accident if they lose focus. Therefore, be sure to gain more confidence and put on the safety gear before you decide to go on a mountain biking journey with your bike-loving friends.
Conclusion
Choosing the right bike for mountain biking is far from easy, but we hope this guide helped you realise which option is better. Of course, you won’t know until you try, so, if possible, give each bike a chance before making a final decision. So, if some of your friends have a dirt jumper or a hardtail mountain bike, it’s advisable to borrow it for an hour or two and decide based on your experience.
If, however, you don’t have the opportunity to ride both bikes, check the product description when shopping from an online retailer, and you’ll manage to find a bike that will take you on exciting journeys where you will get a chance to experience what it feels like to ride on trails.