Why downhill bikes?

[mobi]

I don't understand why downhill bike is separate. Why there is no uphill bike? How do these downhill bikes go uphill first?

What's wrong using MTB as downhill bike?

 

[MikeW-71]

They go uphill by hitching a lift on a trailer or by pushing. A DH bike is even beefier built than regular MTB's and has very long travel suspension, making them heavier (not an issue going downhill only). They need that as they have to take some very big hits that more normal MTB's just cannot absorb.

A trail MTB needs to be rather lighter than that so that they can be pedalled uphill too, though the best uphill bikes tend to be hardtails.

 

[Acesand8s]

I agree, though shuttle rides are common, you usually can still ride uphill, and often the gearing on gravity bikes makes it possible.