How to choose an All-Mountain bike suited to your riding style?

Sitting halfway between Hiking and Enduro, All-Mountain is a discipline enjoying growing success thanks to its fun and playful nature and the wide variety of terrain it allows. The range of bikes has logically expanded as a result, making the choice more complex. Here are a few pointers to help you see things more clearly.

What is All-Mountain?

Focused primarily on fun and riding enjoyment, allowing you to venture onto steeper slopes than in XC with a strong playful dimension, All-Mountain is to Enduro what Hiking is to Cross-Country: a leisure-oriented variant, more accessible both physically and technically thanks to comfortable, safe and easy-to-ride bikes.

Whether you want to tackle a traverse of the Alps or take on gravity on highly technical trails for an adrenaline rush, this is the type of MTB you need: a bike capable of climbing very well while also being at ease on descents, even steep ones.

WHICH FRAME FOR MY RIDING STYLE?

Since pure efficiency is not the top priority here, many All-Mountain-oriented frames are made from aluminium, which combines strength, lightness, reliability and liveliness without pushing prices through the roof. It should be noted, however, that manufacturers cater to all expectations with carbon models, particularly for riders who appreciate high-end kit or want the best, even for leisure riding.

In terms of geometry and kinematics, All-Mountain MTBs are characterised by a longer top tube and shorter chainstays, giving greater control and agility. While most models are full-suspension, each brand generally offers at least one hardtail MTB in its range, which will appeal to more technical riders looking for a fun and playful model.

Regarding wheel size, all options are viable here, although 27.5" is fairly common thanks to its excellent compromise between responsiveness and ease of handling. Driven by some professional riders, 29" is today the most widely used format thanks to new geometries and the Boost standard. It all comes down to personal preference and rider height — 29 inches can be advantageous for riders over 1.70 m. It is worth noting that 27.5+ (27.5" wheels allowing the fitting of very wide tyres) is a hybrid format particularly well-suited to All-Mountain riding as it brings more comfort, stability and versatility. Indeed, many 27.5+ models accept either 27.5+ or 29" wheels interchangeably.
Furthermore, some brands mix wheel sizes on the same bike, for example a 29-inch wheel at the front for rolling over obstacles and precise handling, and a 27.5+ wheel at the rear for traction and comfort.

WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU NEED?

Full-suspension MTBs designed for All-Mountain typically feature suspension travel of between 120 and 140 mm at the rear and 120 and 150 mm at the front, allowing you to tackle any terrain with ease and great enjoyment. Lockout options are often available, allowing you to tackle rolling, climbing or descending sections in the best conditions. This lockout can often be activated directly from the handlebar so you don't lose a single second.

In terms of drivetrain, the single-chainring system (1x11 or 1x12-speed) is tending to become the norm in this discipline, although a double or even triple chainset paired with a 10- or 11-speed cassette can reassure a rider who is more limited physically by offering greater versatility and confidence on climbs.

The rest of the components are generally fairly consistent across models, with 180 mm hydraulic disc brakes, Tubeless / Tubeless Ready wheels and a dropper seatpost to always maintain the ideal position.