What is Rear Travel on a Mountain Bike and Why Does it Matter?
Rear travel on a mountain bike refers to the amount of travel or suspension the rear wheel of the bike can absorb when encountering obstacles on the trail. This is measured in millimeters and refers to the distance the shock absorber or suspension system is able to compress and rebound. A mountain bike with greater rear travel is able to handle more technical terrain and absorb bigger hits without affecting the rider’s control and stability.