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MOUNTAIN BIKES AT CYCLEPATH KELOWNA

Kelowna is lucky to have incredible mountain biking trails just minutes from the Downtown area. You don’t have to travel far to find yourself away from the roads to find yourself amongst any of the diverse terrains on offer in our incredible region. 

It’s little wonder that mountain biking means different things to different people. 

For some, it’s tackling the gnarly terrain in Rose Valley and Gillard or racing downhill on the epic runs at Big White and Silverstar. For others, it’s the simple pleasure of getting off-road and hitting the gravel along Mission Greenway.

Different terrain demands different features from your bike. So, it’s important to choose the right type of mountain bike for your favourite trails and your style of riding. That way, you’ll be well set up to get the most out of your bike (and your investment).

TYPES OF MOUNTAIN BIKES


Unless you're keen to get your hands on a custom build (or you're building something yourself), you'll probably get a mountain bike that falls into one of these categories:

Cross Counry (XC) Mountain Bike

CROSS COUNTRY (XC)

Cross-country mountain bikes are lighter weight (21 to 26lbs); incorporate steeper geometry and more aerodynamic riding positions to allow the rider to be the fastest and most efficient that they can be.

Examples of XC bikes: Giant Anthem, Santa Cruz Chameleon


HARDTAIL MOUNTAIN BIKES


Hardtail mountain bikes have a front suspension fork but no suspension in the rear. They make great adventure bikes and can be fitted out for bikepacking or ripping up the local trails. 

The absence of rear suspension means they’re more affordable than full-suspension bikes and easier/cheaper to maintain. They’re also a bit more responsive on climbs, since the suspension doesn’t mute your output. 

There are some drawbacks too. They’ll feel bumpier and sluggish on technical terrain - in fact, they’re generally less capable, so beginners will want to stick to smooth trails to build up confidence before heading anywhere technical on a hardtail.

Check out our range of hard tail MTBs

$959.99
$1,199.99
$649.99
$729.99
$599.99
$689.99
$839.99 - $1,199.99
$1,199.99
$1,599.99 - $2,199.99
$1,999.99 - $2,199.99
$1,699.99
$1,799.99
$1,099.99 - $1,399.99
$1,399.99

FULL SUSPENSION MOUNTAIN BIKES

Full-suspension trail mountain bikes are fitted out with front and rear suspension, so they’re ready to help you confidently tackle technical terrain - rocks, roots, dirt, and all. 

These highly capable mountain bikes have the gear range for comfortable ascents and the suspension and geometry that’ll give you confidence on any descent. Riding rocks will feel smoother and more controlled on these than they will on a hard tail. 

Check out our range of full suspension MTBs


THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FULL-SUSPENSION MOUNTAIN BIKE

Trail Mountain Bike

FULL-SUSPENSION TRAIL MOUNTAIN BIKES

Trail bikes are the workhorse of off road biking. They’re a good choice for anyone getting into mountain biking since they’ve got such broad range. But don’t let their entry-level appeal fool you, they’re beloved by recreational riders of all abilities. 

TRAIL BIKE GEOMETRY

Trail bikes have more relaxed geometry and are typically slightly burlier (24 – 27lbs) than their twitchy, race-oriented, cross-country brethren. They’re designed to typify what a mountain bike is: an efficient, all-purpose bike you can take almost anywhere.

Perfect for: Getting your bearings at Knox, Crawford, Conkle Bonk, and beyond. You can even get your confidence up on the blue trails at Silverstar, Revelstoke Mountain Park, and Big White on a trail bike with capable travel. 

Examples of Trail bikes: Santa Cruz 5010Santa Cruz HightowerSanta Cruz TallboyGiant Trance

All Mountain / Enduro Mountain Bike

ALL MOUNTAIN / ENDURO MTB

All mountain & enduro bikes are generally mid weight (27 to 32lbs), slacker geometry, longer travel (suspension) versions of trail bikes. They allow the rider to tackle more technical terrain confidently but do add a ‘penalty’ to the climb up with extra weight and slacker angles.

These bikes are perfect for anyone wanting to descend hard at Knox, Crawford, or Gillard - but who's not afraid of the pain cave during the pedal up. Intermediate to Advanced riders often use these bikes as their 'one bike quiver'.

Examples of All Mountain bikes: Giant ReignSanta Cruz NomadSanta Cruz BronsonSanta Cruz Hightower LT

Downhill Mountain Bike

DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKES

Downhill mountain bikes and big travel freeride mountain bikes are heavier (35 to 45lbs), much slacker geometry, long travel suspension bikes. They are built strong and incorporate larger brakes to allow the rider to tackle steep, rugged downhill terrain and big jumps. These bikes are much more difficult to climb with and are generally used at lift access ski areas or in shuttle assisted riding areas. 

They're perfect for shuttling Gillard or hitting the slopes at Silverstar, Sun Peaks, and Big White.

Examples of Downhill bikes: Santa Cruz V10Giant Glory

ELECTRIC MOUNTAIN BIKES

Electric mountain bikes (or e-MTB) have taken off over the last few years. They're the quiet, powerful trail-slaying weapons you want on your side on long or steep rides. You'll conquer new trails and master old ones as you gain new skills and confidence.

We stock electric-assist mountain bikes that feature trail geometry and burlier models with enduro geometry. With today's tech, the battery is so well integrated you'll barely see it there. 

Examples of Electric Mountain Bikes:  Liv Intrigue E+ 1 Pro, Giant Reign E1+ Pro 29 2, Santa Cruz Heckler

Learn More About Mountain Bike Helmets


Wheel SizeS FOR MOUNTAIN BIKES

Back in the day mountain bike wheels came in one size. 26 inch. Nowadays the 26-inch mountain bike has been almost completely dropped in favour of more modern wheel sizes. There’s not just one! We have 27.5, 29, mullets and even 27.5+ and 29+. Here’s a quick guide to today’s wheel sizes.

26"

These were the standard mountain bike wheels for years. Tried and tested they were the most widely used wheel size and worked well in all situations.

Benefit: It’s also a very manageable wheel, easy to twist, turn and flow through the trails.

27.5" / 650B

Don’t be fooled by the double barrelled name. This wheel size has a single purpose. To be the best all round wheel imaginable. Forgive us if we spare you with science, suffice to say that an increase in diameter over the standard 26" wheel makes the 25.7" size roll well over bumps, rocks and whatever gets in its way. The size is big enough to ride smoothly over trails but small enough that it remains quick to control.

Benefit: Great over rough stuff, lighter than a comparable 29" wheel and they retain much of the nimbleness historically associated with 26" wheels.

29" WHEEL FOR MOUNTAIN BIKES

The wheel that re-invented the wheel. 

The 29" wheel bikes, or 29ers as they are called, have wheels that look oversized - and are affectionately called 'wagon wheels' by those in the know. 

On the trails, they handle straight lines like nothing else out there.

The first generation of 29ers were quickly adopted by XC racers due to their incredible ability to roll quickly over rough terrain and carry speed.

In the past few years, a new breed of 29er has surfaced with new, long, low and slack geometry that makes them well suited for anything from aggressive trail riding to enduro racing and even World Cup Downhill racing. Plus, they’re way more fun to ride than they used to be!

Are 29 inch wheels better?

29" wheels smooth the trail and carry speed better than any other tire size. They're a great choice for beginners looking to get some confidence on technical climbs and descents and for intermediate-advanced riders looking to get rowdy. 

The drawbacks: the added circumference does mean that 29" wheels don't corner quite as easily as 26er and 27.5" wheels. They're also heavier, though this is often offset by their increased rolling capabilities. 

PLUS [+] SIZES

27.5+ and 29+ tires are now a major market segment. These tires have the same diameter at the rim as standard sizes but are much fatter and taller. They do require wider rims and bike frames specifically designed to accommodate the extra girth of these wheels.

Plus sized tires are quickly gaining popularity among new and intermediate riders because the added traction provided by their wide contact patch boosts confidence and they smooth out the trail like no other. They’re also a hoot to ride!!

Benefit: Smoothest ride out there! Great for novice and intermediate riders.