When you were a kid, the anticipation of showing off on your shiny new bike was almost too much to bear. Then, on shopping day, you were on top of the world as you sped down the sidewalk in a blur of red enamel, chrome and handlebar tassels. Can buying a new bike be that exciting now that you're all grown up? It can be, if you know what to look for.
Shopping for a mountain bike can be time consuming, and a bit frustrating. But if you follow a few guidelines and make sensible choices, you'll make it the exciting experience it should be.
Set Your Price There is a vast price range for mountain bikes. You can spend under $100 for a bargain bike at a department store, or lay down thousands for a professional model. Set your budget and try to stick with it. There are good bikes available at reasonable prices, and there are some overpriced stinkers. Know how much you can afford, and keep your spending under control. Remember that in addition to the bike, you're also paying for quality and service. With this in mind, you should consider buying from a local bike shop, rather than a mass merchant store that can't provide follow up service or repairs.
Sales and seasons Like any product, prices will fluctuate based on the market demand. The price will naturally be higher during prime riding seasons in spring and summer. If you can wait until winter, you'll likely cash in with a lower tag price or even find a few good off-season sales. Waiting until the market quiets down can save you hundreds of dollars. To save more money, check to see if your bike shop offers discounts on additional parts and accessories purchased with your bike.
Find Your Style Mountain bikes are built to accommodate different riding styles and terrains. Before you can shop for a mountain bike, you need to know what type of riding you will be doing. Mountain cruising, cross-country racing, smooth riding or lift access downhill are all riding styles available to you. Decide how and where you want to ride, then choose a mountain bike that fits your personal style, rather than that of the sales staff.
Hard Tail or Suspension If you can afford it, a full suspension mountain bike is definitely worth the price. Lightweight hard tail bikes without rear suspension may pedal more efficiently, but full suspension models provide better control and more comfort. Your riding style, price range and choice of terrain will help you decide between suspension and hard tail bikes.
Pick a Few Favorites If you were to compare mountain component to component, you'd spend the entire biking season going over notes instead of taking on the trails. There are far too many combinations available. The best way to narrow down your options is to determine the components that are most important to you, such as the forks, rear derailleur and wheels. When you've created your wish list, find a few models that meet your needs and fall within your price range. Now do your comparison-shopping based on five or six available bikes.
Find a Good Dealer More often than not, dealing with a reliable bike shop is more important than saving a few bikes. Try to find a dealer that cares about helping you find the right bike for you, rather than just trying to sell you an expensive bike. Great bike dealers have friendly salespeople and a clean, organized repair shop. Sooner or later you will need a tune-up or repairs, so be sure to deal with someone you trust to provide dependable follow-up service.
Try it before you buy it Test-ride as many different bikes as possible to find your comfort zone. Even if you're not crazy about the way one model looks, it might be a dream to ride. If a bike is in your price range, take it for a spin. The more bikes you test, the better you'll understand what works and what doesn't. Again, choose a reputable dealer that will allow you to try the bikes before you buy. Mega department and hardware stores will not give you this option.
Do your Research There are many great resources to help you compare and choose a mountain bike. Read product reviews and cycling magazines, research online, and ask for advice at your local bike shop. Find out as much as you can about the reliability and performance of each model. Look at what other riders appreciate about their bikes. Know your options and understand the differences before you make your final purchase.
Take the time to think before you shop for a mountain bike. Making the right choice may take longer, but will pay off when you have a bike that suits your perfectly and will perform season after season. You'll be on top of the world as you speed down a mountainside in a blur of red enamel, chrome and toe clips.
Apart from providing an expert advice and better selection, personnel of bike shop also help you in getting bike of right size fitted. You might not enjoy much if the size of your bike is either too small or too big. Considering few points would aid you in having mountain bike of perfect size and fit.
Standover height or the inseam clearance would be the first things to be checked when you plan to check the fitting for yourself. You might require enough space between the top tube and yourself when you halt the bike. The sufficient clearance would be nearby four to six inches from the inseam top to the top of the top tube.
You have an effective formula to determine the position of leg while riding a mountain bike. The terrain or the path is not consistent and hence while you ride your mountain bike, it might constantly raise you off the seat or slightly move or sometimes completely off the seat.
Hence, you might require to set your seat little lower than you would do on other kinds of bike. When you consider the frame size, ensure to take into effect a little lower seat height position.
Compartment layout for the rider should be your next point of check which is the handle bars and the seat distance. Once you determine the correct leg positions make sure to have the handler bar to below the saddle height by one or two inches. Handle bars should never be higher than the saddle, unless you have an upper body problem.
Having the suspensions on both the ends, you might want to have your weight to be more in the middle part of the bike that would distribute evenly the weight between the rear and front suspension units. Thus, this allows the rear and front suspension to work as one unit.
This can be easily achieved with the help of either a shorter or higher stem for raising the hand height which in turn would move the weight to the rear and the upper body moves up. This increase in the height should be less than 3 inches, later there should not be more than two inches decrease in reach.
After having all the points considered, take a test drive of the bike. Do wear a helmet though you are going for a test ride for a short span of time. Check your tires for the right pressure and also if the shop has made the bike to fit you properly.
Have an employee of the shop notice your body position and height of the ride when you ride further determining any adjustments that need to be made. Ride the bike for a while for a hands-on the new equipment and its handling. Start slowly initially and give some time of the bike to show its personality.
You might feel that the bike isn't normal or something is working incorrectly. If you feel uncomfortable, get back to the shop to have the problem sorted out before you decide to rule out the bike. Now a days are fitted to it which makes it easier in handling tough situations.
More rides you have on the bikes, the more easier it would be to identify the difference in the type of rides. Remember that it might take few months or years to praise the bike handling way. Talk to people who ride and inquire if they ride those bikes that they sell. This would help you understand more about the mountain bikes that you love the most!!!
Both Nancy Jackson & Alison Addy are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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