What type of Mountain Bike is Right for You?
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Buying a used mountain bike in price sensitive times is a great way for beginners to enter the fantastic sport of mountain biking without breaking the bank. But the choice of mountain bikes available canbe over whelming so what kind of mountain bike is right for you? |
- Most mountain bikes will fit into the following categories: Cross Country (XC), All Terrain (Trail Bikes), Freeride, and Downhill (DH). It is important to figure out what type of cyclist you aspire to be
- Freeride Bikes are perfect for tricks, skills, and hard terrain. These bikes tend to be the heaviest of bunch so are not recommended if you will be spending the majority of your time riding along flat terrain. XC Bikes (Cross Country) are fantastically efficient bikes due to their lightweight construction. XC Bikes are not recommended for rougher terrain where comfort cab be found wanting. DH Bikes (Downhill) are the most specialized of mountain bikes specifically designed for downhill racing
- All Terrain mountain bikes are a great way to get started in the sport. A well made All Terrain bike will enable you to try out most of local trails available to you. I recommend that beginners especially start with an All Terrain Mountain Bike and once they become more efficient and have experienced various trails then go for one of the more specialized bikes described above
- Full Suspension or Hardtail? Arguably one of the most common questions when starting out. Full Suspension mountain bikes have front and rear suspension whereas Hardtail only have rear suspension. Hardtail bike tend to be lighter and require less maintenance and are often cheaper than full suspension. For beginners I totally recommend full suspension as these bikes are far more comfortable and consequently kinder to your bottom
- Where you live can have a big impact on what type of bike you end up buying. For instance, if you want to ride wild and exciting downhill but you live in a fairly flat area buying the latest DH bike will not be for you. If in any doubt visit online forums and your local dealer and check what the local mountain bike scene is like
Be realistic about what kind cyclist you are and how you will spend most of your valuable riding time and by using the guide above I am sure you will be the right bike to suit your needs.