London Cycling Campaign

Mountain biking is cycling that makes use of non-paved or rough-formed surfaces.

It can be broken down into four categories: cross country, downhill, freeride, and trials/street riding.

It's a sport that can require endurance, bike-handling skills and self-reliance, and can be practised almost anywhere, from a back yard to a secluded mountain top. 

Cross country

This, the most traditional form of mountain biking, involves navigation off-road trails consisting of country back roads, fire roads or single-track, the latter consisting of narrow trails that wind through fields, forests, mountains or even deserts.

• Parent Body: British Cycling
• How to get involved: Any off road route that's officially a bridleway can be ridden on a bike. You can find out more about these routes through locals clubs, bike shops or websites such as www.bikely.com. Hire bikes at purpose built trails such as Bedgebury.
• Bikes: Either front or full suspension mountain bike, with 4-6in travel, and relatively light frames.
• Status: Became an Olympic sport in 1996 at the Summer Olympics.

Downhill

Involves navigating steep and rugged downhill courses, in competition done against the clock, starting at intervals, on courses which typically take two to five minutes to complete.

• How to get involved: Local clubs
• Parent Body: British Cycling
• Bikes: Full suspension mountain bike, with over-built frame, wide double-walled tyres, double-crown fork, and up to 10 inches of suspension travel.  
• Other equipment: Kevlar-reinforced body armour, gloves and pads, and full-face motocross-style helmets.
• Sporting status: Downhill World Championship

Freeride

 Combining different aspects of the sport, but with emphasis on airborne skills such as dirt jumping.
How to get involved: Local clubs
Parent bodies or websites UK Free Riding, moredirt.co.uk
BikeS: Full suspension with ample travel and with lighter eight components to reduce overall weight, but with a strong frame.
Other equipment: Body armour, goggles and full-face helmets

Trials ('North Shore')

Negotiate man-made (often made from wood) and natural obstacles without your feet touching the ground. Made famous globally by Scottish rider Danny MacAskill. 

• How to get involved: Local clubs, purpose-built trails
• Parent Bodies: Bike Trial Federation UK, British Cycling
• Bikes: Very light bikes, without suspension, and often no seat (because the rider spends all of their time out of the saddle).
• Sporting status: World Championships

Cyclo-cross

Races are usually multi-lap events, held on short, grassy courses, generally in public parks or on school playing fields.

• How to get involved: Local clubs, leagues and events
• Bikes: The bike similar to road bikes, with dropped handlebars and lightweight frames, but also knobbled-tyres for grip, powerful brakes, lower gears and higher frame clearances.
• Other Equipment: Helmet, gloves, clipless shoes/pedals
• Sporting status: World Championships