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Off-road cycling is as old as cycling itself, but it’s not until the 1970s that specialist mountain bike manufacture really took off. Mountain bike frames were originally based on road bikes, but the technology soon had to evolve to meet the unique demands of rough terrain and difficult conditions.

Major changes in bikes component production make riding more pleasurable than ever. This means you can take on harder trails, higher risk and a hell of a lot more fun.

Gears
Take as much of the strain away from your legs with up to 27 gears on many mountain bikes.

Suspension
One of the greatest leaps forwards has been the development of your bike’s suspension which makes the roughest of rides much more comfortable. Front suspension is a must and comes as standard on most decent mountain bikes. For the seriously rough stuff you will need a full suspension bike as this will be much easier to ride.

Frames
Tough terrain, heavy use and front-and-rear suspension puts a lot of strain on your mountain bike’s frame. This is why super-strong materials and specialised shapes are de rigueur. Your bikes frame has of course got to be strong but at the same time must be light weight for maximum performance.