The mountain biking scene is growing. More people realize it’s not only for those adrenaline junkies looking to ride the most extreme trails. It’s a fun and fairly easy-to-learn outdoor activity that can be suitable for almost anyone. Riding a mountain bike can be wonderful, and modern bikes are great for all-around use. So how do you choose a new mountain bike to get started? Here are some things you’ll want to consider.
What Style Ride are You Looking For
One of the first questions you have to answer is what kind of bike you want. Within the category of mountain bikes, there is a huge range of options still available, so you need to know what type of riding you want to do. Do you want to ride the rockiest hard trails out there? Or are you more interested in a mountain bike designed to handle smooth trails with the option of riding everyday roads?
What you plan to do most on your bike is a good portion of determining what kind of mountain bike you need.
Two of the primary categories are hardtail mountain bikes and full-suspension mountain bikes.
Advantages of a Hardtail
A hardtail mountain bike is a much simpler design than the full suspension counterpart.
Hardtail mountain bikes have a fork on the front that absorbs shock, but the back has no suspension. This gives the bike fewer moving parts and makes maintenance and repairs easier. They are generally set up so you can lock the front suspension and ride as if it were a rigid frame bike.
These bikes are designed for the transfer of power. You will do fine if you stay on smooth trails and ride it to the store or work. However, this isn’t the right choice if you live in steep terrain and areas that will make you bounce off the seat.
Full-Suspension Mountain Bike
Full suspension mountain bikes may be more fun to ride for some. There are tons of varieties for full suspension bikes, but they all have front and rear forks to take the bumps without breaking your rump.
A full-suspension mountain bike gives more traction and allows you to ride faster and more easily over even the roughest trails. They’re amazingly reliable but have one drawback: there are so many moving parts these bikes are more maintenance and more prone to mechanical problems.
Cross-Country Mountain Bikes
Cross-country mountain bikes are designed to be the most powerful, converting the most energy into distance. They are almost always hardtail bikes or have a very minimal suspension system. Cross-country bikes are built for cross-country riding and are most suited to any smooth pathways. This is not the common choice for most riders; they’re for those who want to ride the longest distances like old service roads.
Trail Bikes
A trail bike is a balanced design that can handle the more rough trails but still give you the power and distance. Many bikes fall within this, so you’ll want to check the bikes individually for their ability to climb or handle downhill. Some of them are truly almost equally balanced. These can be a good choice for someone undecided on what type of riding they want to do as these bikes can handle both smooth and rough but aren’t designed to excel at either.
Mountain Bike Price Range
Knowing what you want to spend on a mountain bike is important as the price range is huge. They can start around 1,000 and go up into the 10,000 range.
You’ll find the hardtail bikes at the lower end as fewer parts and mechanics are involved in their creation. However, you’ll also want to know that these bikes are stiff and more difficult to ride. They’re not going to have all the sleek new designs you’ll find in more expensive models. You don’t have to break the bank at the top end; however, if you can just go up to the next rung, which runs about $1500, you’ll get a much better bike. There is a world of difference between these two price points.
You will have a quality bike if you go up another step to the $2000 range. You can decide between a hardtail and a full suspension bike at this price. You won’t necessarily have the highest quality bike on the market. Still, it will be a well-set up cycle of either variety.
Once you start going above that, you’re into the higher-class bikes and should only be for serious riders. For those just looking for something for casual riding, the $2000-2500 range is completely reasonable. If you’re just starting, this is generally the price point you want to consider. Later, you can always upgrade to a better bike after learning more about your riding style and the type of riding you like.
Are Mountain Bikes Just for the Trails?
If you’re looking for a way to make your bike a multi-tasker, then mountain bikes are the way to go. Most mountain bikes can also be used as commuter bikes. Because most commutes are smooth and hardtail, bikes are generally less expensive; most people opt for a hardtail mountain bike for this use. Hardtail mountain bikes are something that will work as well for your commute as for your weekend plans.
It’s one way to justify the expense. If you change to riding instead of driving, you’ll save yourself and the planet. The average worker can spend from $200 to $800 a month on their commute. Think about that in just three months of riding. You’ll have made back the cost of your investment in gas savings alone. Just think about all the maintenance you won’t do on your car.
You will also be shrinking your carbon footprint. And with the current state of the environment, the plant needs every bit of help it can get. Regardless of which mountain bike style or price range, mountain bikes are a great way to get your feet wet in outdoor adventures.
