What To Look For In A Mountain Bike
Choose The Best Mountain Bike
Buying a mountain bike can seem like a big decision but you can help yourself by getting educated about the important aspects of the bike. When looking to buy your next mountain bike consider the following six points of interest.
Six Points:
1. Price
2. Frame
3. Brakes
4. Shifters
5. Tires
6. Size/Fit
Price:
The best mountain bikes can cost thousands of dollars and can cost as little as several hundred dollars. The first place to start your search is to determine the price you are willing to pay. A good beginner mountain bike will cost between 400 and 800 dollars depending on where you buy it. 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. Many people make this very mistake when start out to buy a mountain bike. In the long run you would have been better off getting a more expensive mountain bike and keeping it for years rather than buying the cheap mountain bike and replacing it every year. The Iron Horse Mountain Bike is a great example of a quality mountain bike at an affordable price.
Brakes:
Obviously the best mountain bikes have the best brakes. It’s up to you whether to get rim or disk brakes. You will get the best braking with disk brakes but the cost will be a bit higher. Rim brakes are generally lighter and cost less but there is a performance consideration to take into effect in wet weather. The Diamondback Mountain Bike is a good example of a top notch mountain bike that uses 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. When it comes to choosing the shifters for your bike it should be noted that the more experienced riders seem to like the Rapifire shifters better.
Tires:
If you are going to do a lot of off-road riding then you will want to have tires that are designed with the larger knobs. You will get better traction and more control on the uneven terrain. If you are using the mountain bike for mainly street use then you can get away with the smaller knobs for less resistance on the flatter paved surfaces. There are mountain bikes that are designed for off road and on road riding and have specific tires that compliment this style.
Fit
For the mountain bike to suit you well it must fit you well. A good rule of thumb is to have at least two to three inches of clearance above the top tube while you are standing, straddling the bike. It does matter what terrain you will be ridding on. If you are going to be riding a bit more aggressively you can increase this to four to six inches of clearance to allow for ease of operation over very uneven surfaces. 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. If you choose wisely you will enjoy many miles of riding. If you are looking for a popular mountain bike that matches the strictest standards of many advanced riders than you must checkout the Smith & Wesson Custom Police Mountain Bike