A mountain bike, mountain bicycle (aka MTB) or ATB (All Terrain Bicycle) is a bicycle designed for mountain biking, either on dirt trails or other unpaved environments. In contrast, road bicycles aren't rugged enough for such terrain. Mountain bikes have fat, knobby tires for extra traction and shock absorption. In recent years front suspension has become the norm and full front and rear suspension is becoming increasingly common. Some mountain bikes are also fitted with bar ends on the handlebars, but with a recent trend in riser handlebars (as opposed to a flat straight handlebar) fewer riders use bar end extensions. Part of the thrill of this sport, besides the beauty of being in the country, is the risk of a spectacular wipe-out. This can be due to equipment failure or mis-judgement on the rider's part. Many companies (Fox, RaceFace, Dainese, 661 etc...) now produce protective gear, often referred to as "armor," to protect against injury from crashes, mostly aimed at downhill, freeride and dirtjump riders. Armor ranges from simple knee and elbow pads to full body padding. Some companies market full body armor suits or jackets that allow the rider to remove some of the padding and/or plastic plates that protect the rider's arms. Most upper body protectors also include a spine protector that is comprised of plastic plates joined together, with foam padding underneath. Full face helmets, often resembling motocross helmets (but usually considerably lighter and with more ...
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