Over the past two decades or so, alpine mountain biking has gone from being a niche sport enjoyed by semi-serious hobbyists and competitive cyclists to broadening its appeal considerably to include other demographics. Some well-timed marketing campaigns, coupled with the natural charm of the area, have turned many people to the French and Swiss mountains as a potential destination for active holidays with family or couples.
With this rise in popularity came, of course, a parallel boom in the sales of sports bikes, that is, mountain bikes. Alpine mountain biking is considerably more demanding, in terms of sturdiness and technical characteristics, than road biking, and many potential enthusiasts who want to participate in this activity are forced to buy a new and better bike. And that is usually where the doubts begin.
The reason why 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 looks 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 can choose from who simply want to enjoy an active holiday before hitting the French or Swiss slopes.
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 worldwide, visitors to the Alps can also opt for a hybrid bike for good track performance. .
As the name suggests, a hybrid is suitable for both road and track riding, as well as off-road cycling. While there has yet to be a bike made 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 considerable speed advantage over their clunkier mountain-specific counterparts. However, this type of bike still manages to be considerably stronger 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 what type of bike best suits their needs. In doing so, they should take into account, for example, what type of alpine mountain biking they will be participating in: for a mix of road and off-road cycling, a hybrid bike will be better, while easier downhill or track riding might be better. better with a ‘pure’ mountain bike. However, whatever the final decision, it’s important for riders to know what they’re buying (and why) before setting out to find the perfect bike.