Cycling is a popular outdoor sport for a variety of reasons. One of the most compelling is that it is one of the more versatile activities around. It can be used as a fun approach to fitness or simply for transportation. There are cycling races and kids riding their bikes around the block. Mountain biking is probably one of the most exciting and common uses of the bicycle though. For that reason you'll notice dozens of different styles and building materials used in mountain bikes.

Since the invention of the first bicycle in the early 19th century in Germany, bicycles have evolved and changed constantly. That first bike was made from a loose wooden frame and two loose wheels supporting the frame. Leather covered the frame for comfort's sake until much later in the century when tubular steel frames began to appear.

Because steel is so heavy, these bicycles were hard to control, regardless of how much stronger they were. Today you can find older bicycles with steel frames or steel parts. For the most part though, bicycles are made from lightweight metals like aluminum. The lighter and stronger a bike frame is, the more expensive it tends to be.

The kinds of materials you ultimately decide to use for your bicycle largely depend on what you'll be using your bike for. A mountain biking frame is considerably different from a standard road bicycle. It needs to be more durable and able to withstand harsher conditions.

Steel frames are rare but not unheard of. You'll often find frames with steel reinforcement in this day and age because of its strength and ability to withstand a crash. Steel is also easier to work with than many other metals. For those building their own bikes or having one built, the materials are cheaper as well as less prone to breaking.

For lightweight bike frames, aluminum is great but it also comes with its own set of problems. Aluminum is very malleable, meaning it can easily crumple under harsh conditions. Mountain bikers would be wary of any aluminum framed bikes lest they snap or bend in a crash or from hitting a rock or tree.

Titanium however, is the most popular option around because it manages to find a happy medium between strength and weight. It shines naturally, so your bike will look beautiful without constant cleaning and though it is the most expensive of the three metals listed, it is incredibly strong and durable, meaning you won't need to worry about a pretzeled bike after a crash.

One other common material used in bike frames is that of carbon fiber. For a long time used for car bodies and boats, carbon fiber is a fairly strong substance with a lot of weight bearing capacity. However, in terms of price, carbon fiber is the most expensive substance you could build a bike from and is often only seen used for professional level bicycles.

For anyone looking to build or purchase a custom built bike, understanding the materials used to build a bike is vital. Knowing the price of your materials along with the durability and strength of those materials in the case of a crash is also important, but you don't want to get stuck hefting around a 40 pound bike. Bikes range widely in size and materials. It's merely a matter of what you need it for.

About the Author

Tony Brian is a freelance writer for outdoor sports magazines and a contributing writer for paint ball guns specializing in Mountain biking, mountain biking frame, and tippmann.