Help ..How Do I Choose A Mountain Bike

Oct
30
2009

Choose The Best Mountain Bike

Finding the best mountain bike isn’t as hard as you may think, but there are some things to look at that will help you to make a better educated decision. When looking to buy your next mountain bike consider the following six points of interest.

6 Points:
1. Price
2. Frame
3. Brakes
4. Shifters
5. Tires
6. Fit

Price:
The best mountain bikes can cost thousands of dollars and can cost as little as several hundred dollars. It is a good idea to determine your price range before you begin your search. You can expect to pay somewhere between 300 and 800 dollars for an entry level mountain bike. You can find a cheaper bike at one of the local retail stores but chances are the bike will not hold up and you will be finding yourself replacing parts or even a new bike in a relatively short amount of time. I see this mistake being made when people buy a mountain bike. All things being considered buying the higher priced mountain bike would have been a wiser decision because you wouldn’t be replacing it or the parts as often as you would with a cheaper mountain bikes. The Iron Horse MK Sport Mountain Bike is a good example of a quality mountain bike at an affordable price.

Brakes:
The best brakes can be found on the best mountain bikes. It’s up to you whether to get rim or disk brakes. The cost of disk brakes are higher but the braking power is superior. The low cost alternative would be the rim brakes but they don’t perform as well in adverse conditions. The Diamondback Overdrive Mountain Bike is a great example of a well designed mountain bike that utilizes dual disk brakes.

Shifters:
Mountain bikes use two different types of shifters, the Gripfit and the Rapidfire shifters. Similar to a motorcycle the Gripfit shifters are designed into the hand grips and the Rapidfire shifters are positioned just under the brake lever. The more experienced riders seem to like the Rapidfire shifters better but ultimately it will be a matter of choice.

Tires:
If you will be riding primarily off road then you will want to make sure that you get the more aggressive off road tire with the large knobs. This will give you more traction and control on uneven terrain. The smaller knobs on the tires will allow for a smoother ride on a paved surface. If you are going to use the mountain bike for off road and on road then look for a tire with a ridge in the middle and medium sized knobs on the side of the tire.

Fit
The best mountain bike for you will not only depend on price but on size also. A good starting point would be to have a three inch clearance above the top frame tube while you are straddling the bike. The terrain you are traveling will be a determining factor. The more aggressive riders may want to allow for four to six inches of clearance to the top tube to allow for the more aggressive terrain you will be riding on. As you are sitting on the bike and your feet on the pedals try and maintain a 30 degree angle with the leg at the bottom of the apex. Generally speaking 30 degrees of knee bend is a good place to start.

That’s the basics you need to know before buying the best mountain bike for yourself. Choose wisely when starting out and you can expect to get many miles out of your mountain bike. If you are looking to buy a reliable mountain bike that matches the highest qualifications of many experienced riders than you gotta checkout the Smith & Wesson Custom Police Mountain Bike