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Mountain Bicycle
Mountain bikes are used for off-road riding. They are strong
and made to withstand abuse from rocks, dirt, mud, water,
hills, mountains, etc. Mountain bikes have large wheels
(26” or 27”), fat tires with large treads, flat
handlebars and some sort of suspension mechanism. Large
wheels and flat handlebars allow for greater stability while
riding over and around obstacles. Large treads provide a
better grip to the terrain. The suspension mechanism is
important to compensate for the harsh riding conditions.
Mountain bikes allow the rider to have great stability,
control and speed that cannot be found on other bikes, but
they do force the body into an unnatural position. The forward
leaning of the body strains the lower back, shoulders, arms
and wrists, which can cause pain due to inflammation of
the muscles, tendons and ligaments. Arm and wrist pain stem
from bearing too much weight. The forward leaning position
forces the arms and wrists to support the weight of the
whole upper body. The more upright the back is, the less
strain and discomfort. Simply adjusting the height of the
seat and handlebars can lessen the stress.
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