Mountain bike hubs are the ones that keep you going even on the roughest terrains imaginable. They provide with strength and reliability, while allowing for a seamless rotation of the wheels.

There are several types of mountain bike hubs, specifically designed for a certain application. For example, heavy duty ones are designed to be as strong as possible, not keeping the weight in check at all. These mountain bike hubs are used most of the time in down hill bikes, in which the extra weight actually helps shave a few seconds off your time.

The second type of mountain bike hubs is the normal, street type. Not over engineered at all, these hubs are used in normal, cheap mountain bikes, and are made to be of medium strength, as well as weight. They will not last very long on rough terrain, especially when you ride the bike hard and fast, but instead, they provide with good street reliability, being everything you need for a day to day bike that can get you around in the city as fast as possible.

The third and last type of mountain bike hub is the one for trial bikes. Now, these bikes need to be as light and as strong as possible, their chassis being built usually out of carbon fiber, as well as a few other important components. The mountain bike hubs in these are made from new alloy materials, such as titanium alloys that provide with extreme durability as well as a very small weight, compared to other types of hubs. These hubs, being engineered in high tech laboratories and fabricated out of special alloys, are usually pretty expensive, especially if they really are as strong as the manufacturer says they are.

In general, mountain bike hubs are designed to hold the wheel in its place and not allow it to wobble. The hub also holds the gear of the back wheel and allows for them to spin freely in one direction, but when you push on the pedals, the hub connects with the gears and turns the wheel. For that simple action, the hub, especially the rear one, is considered a vital part of the bike and it is required to be in perfect condition at all times in order for the bike to work fine and be safe for the rider. Decide which one is best for you regarding the way you use your bike.