Mountain Bike » Riding Cross Country

Mountain Bike Considerations

Admin — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:51:42 +0000

There are some things that you need to consider when you buy a mountain bike. You need to learn more about mountain bikes so that you can make the best decision for you.

Purchasing a mountain bike can be very overwhelming and can consume quite a bit of your extra time if you are not prepared. This article contains some hints that will help to make the process of buying a mountain bike less frustrating.

Your Mountain Bike Budget

You can spend thousands of dollars on a mountain bike if you want to, but for most of us, we have to set a budget so that we do not overspend. To do this, you need to determine how much that you can afford to spend and then stick with that budgeted amount. You will get much better service and a better bike if you purchase from a bike shop, rather than a mass-merchandiser like Wal-Mart. If you stick you’re your budget, then you will be much happier with your purchase in the long run.

What Style Of Bike?

Mountain bikes come in several different designs that correspond to the different terrains that you might be riding on and your particular riding style. You first need to determine where you will be riding your mountain bike the most. Are you going to be mountain cruising, smooth riding, cross-country racing, or doing lift accessed downhill riding? Determining this will enable to salesman at the bike shop to help you find the right bike for you and your needs.

Hard Tail or Full Suspension?

If your budget will allow it, you will want to choose a full suspension bike. The hard tail bike that comes without suspension in the rear will weigh less and allow you to get more efficiency from your pedaling, but a full suspension bike will be more comfortable and easier to control. This decision will be determined by your budget, the terrain that you will be riding on, and your particular style of riding.

Your Favorite Things

When you begin trying to compare mountain bikes using components, you will quickly find that it will be overwhelming. Determine what components are the ones that you cannot live without and then compare based on this to find the bike that meets your needs and your budget. In this way, you will not be paying for a lot of components that you do not feel are important.

Watch For Seasonal Sales

You will find that mountain bike prices can go up and down quite a bit over the course of a year. The main time that mountain bikes are purchased is during the spring and summer. If you can wait until it grows colder during the fall and winter, then you can save quite a bit of money. Local bike shops may even offer incentives on other components if you purchase a mountain bike from them, rather than from a mass-merchandiser.

Locating the Right Dealer

Even more important than the cheapest price is finding a trustworthy dealer to buy your bike from. You can always find a good price, but it is hard to find a bike shop that offers you good service and information that is more relating to your bike riding than their sales. If you find one, then you need to support them in your purchasing.

Take a Test Ride

Test ride the bikes the fit your budget and your particular riding style to find the bike that has the right fit for you. You will know when a bike feels right. The more bikes that you test out, the easier it will be to make this decision.

Research, Research, Research

Reading mountain bike reviews and other product reviews will help you to learn more about your choices and the pros and cons of them. Reading mountain bike reviews that are written by other owners will help you to determine the right bike for you and your needs. Researching is the best way to make the most of your mountain bike budget.

By: Alastair Hamilton

Mountain Bike Purchasing

Admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:19:02 +0000

Purchasing a mountain bike can be very overwhelming and can consume quite a bit of your extra time if you are not prepared. This article contains some hints that will help to make the process of buying a mountain bike less frustrating.

Your Mountain Bike Budget

You can spend thousands of dollars on a mountain bike if you want to, but for most of us, we have to set a budget so that we do not overspend. To do this, you need to determine how much that you can afford to spend and then stick with that budgeted amount. You will get much better service and a better bike if you purchase from a bike shop, rather than a mass-merchandiser like Wal-Mart. If you stick you’re your budget, then you will be much happier with your purchase in the long run.

What Style Of Bike? Mountain bikes come in several different designs that correspond to the different terrains that you might be riding on and your particular riding style. You first need to determine where you will be riding your mountain bike the most. Are you going to be mountain cruising, smooth riding, cross-country racing, or doing lift accessed downhill riding? Determining this will enable to salesman at the bike shop to help you find the right bike for you and your needs.

Hard Tail or Full Suspension? If your budget will allow it, you will want to choose a full suspension bike. The hard tail bike that comes without suspension in the rear will weigh less and allow you to get more efficiency from your pedaling, but a full suspension bike will be more comfortable and easier to control. This decision will be determined by your budget, the terrain that you will be riding on, and your particular style of riding.

Your Favorite Things

When you begin trying to compare mountain bikes using components, you will quickly find that it will be overwhelming. Determine what components are the ones that you cannot live without and then compare based on this to find the bike that meets your needs and your budget. In this way, you will not be paying for a lot of components that you do not feel are important.

Watch For Seasonal Sales

You will find that mountain bike prices can go up and down quite a bit over the course of a year. The main time that mountain bikes are purchased is during the spring and summer. If you can wait until it grows colder during the fall and winter, then you can save quite a bit of money. Local bike shops may even offer incentives on other components if you purchase a mountain bike from them, rather than from a mass-merchandiser.

Locating the Right Dealer

Even more important than the cheapest price is finding a trustworthy dealer to buy your bike from. You can always find a good price, but it is hard to find a bike shop that offers you good service and information that is more relating to your bike riding than their sales. If you find one, then you need to support them in your purchasing.

Take a Test Ride

Test ride the bikes the fit your budget and your particular riding style to find the bike that has the right fit for you. You will know when a bike feels right. The more bikes that you test out, the easier it will be to make this decision.

Research, Research, Research

Reading mountain bike reviews and other product reviews will help you to learn more about your choices and the pros and cons of them. Reading mountain bike reviews that are written by other owners will help you to determine the right bike for you and your needs. Researching is the best way to make the most of your mountain bike budget.

Buying A Mountain Bike

Admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:54:24 +0000

It can be a bit frustrating as well as time consuming when you buy a mountain bike. Below, you’ll find some tips and things to be aware of before you lay down the cash and buy a mountain bike.

Determining your price

There is really no limit as to how much money you can spend on a new mountain bike. To help you keep your spending under control, you should figure out what your price range is and how much your willing to pay for a new bike. When you buy, you shouldn’t buy from mass merchant stores such as Wal-Mart. You should instead support your local bike shop and get a much better bike and much better service.

Finding your style.

All mountain bikes are designed with several different riding styles and terrain types in mind. You’ll need to figure out what type of riding you will be doing the most. Smooth riding, cross country racing, mountain cruising, or lift accessed downhill is something you need to figure out. Make sure that the bike you select fits your personal style and not that of the sale’s staff.

Full suspension or hard tail.

If you can afford it, a full suspension mountain bike is always worth the purchase. A hard tail, without rear suspension, is much lighter weight and pedal more efficiently, although full suspensions offer more comfort and overall better control. You’ll want to make that decision based on your price range, riding style, and the type of terrain you’ll be riding on the most.

Finding your favorites.

Comparing mountain bikes component to component is nearly impossible, as there are far too many combinations available. The best way to go about doing this is finding a few components that are the most important to you and making sure the rest or the minimums fall within your price range. You can start with the fork then look at the wheels and rear derailleur.

Sales and seasons.

During the year, the prices of mountain bikes can fluctuate quite a bit. Spring through summer is the main buying season. If you can wait until the right price pops up, normally in the fall and winter, you can save a couple hundred dollars. Many bike shops will also offer discounts or other accessories if you buy from them.

Finding a good dealer.

Finding a good bike dealer is more important than finding the best price. You should always find a dealer that cares more about selling you a great bike than selling you a high priced one. A great dealer will have a clean repair shop and give you the impression that you can really trust them.

Test ride.

You should test ride as many bikes as you can within your price range and riding style. You’ll find that some bikes will feel right, while others won’t. The more bikes you can test drive, you better you’ll understand what works and what doesn’t.

Doing the research Product reviews and bike reviews are some of the best ways to find out about a mountain bikes reliability and overall performance. You should always look at what other owners and reviews think about a bike before you make that final purchase.

By: Andrew Manifield