In the last two decades or so, alpine mountain biking has gone from being a niche sport enjoyed by semi-serious amateurs and competitive cyclists to broadening its appeal considerably to include other demographics. Some well-timed marketing campaigns, coupled with the area’s natural charm, have turned many people to the French and Swiss mountains as a potential destination for an active family or couples holiday.
With this rise in popularity came, of course, a parallel boom in sales of sports bikes, i.e. mountain bikes. Alpine mountain biking is considerably more demanding, in terms of robustness and technical features, than road cycling, and many would-be enthusiasts who wish to participate in this activity are forced to purchase a new and better bike. And that’s usually where the doubts begin.
The reason so many fans wonder which bike is the best has to do with the fact that this is an eminently technical field. Most people have very vague notions about the different types of bikes available on the market, and as soon as the conversation turns to the technical, the deer stares in the headlights begin.
That’s why this article isn’t meant to be a highly technical, jargon-filled guide to the ideal bike setup for alpine mountain biking; rather, it is an overview of the two types of bikes that men and women who simply want to enjoy an active holiday before hitting the French or Swiss tracks can choose from.
all about the bike
Contrary to what the less informed may think, these bikes are not the only type of cycle suitable for tackling alpine tracks. While they are the most popular type of bike seen in the area, and remain the best-selling type of bike in the world, visitors to the Alps can also opt for a hybrid bike for good performance on the trail. .
As the name suggests, a hybrid is suitable for both road and track, as well as off-road cycling. While a bike has yet to be built that can perform both functions perfectly, hybrids tend to perform each at a high enough level to be a viable alternative.
Compared to MTBs, hybrid bikes feature thinner, softer tires typically found on road bikes, giving them a sizable speed advantage over their rougher mountain-specific counterparts. However, this type of bike still manages to be considerably sturdier than a road bike, thus combining the best features of both types of vehicles in one practical package.
Ultimately, it is up to the rider to decide which type of bike best suits their needs. In doing so, they should consider, for example, what type of alpine mountain biking they will be involved in: for a mix of road and off-road biking, a hybrid bike will be better, while easier track or downhill biking might be. better with a ‘pure’ mountain bike. However, whatever the final decision, it’s important that cyclists know what they’re buying (and why) before they set out to find the perfect bike.