Getting Started
Buying
a Mountain Bike
This
section is for those of you who have no idea where to start in
the world of Mountain Biking. It may also help those who are looking
to upgrade orupgrade their bikes.
There is
a fair amount of information you should know before buying, and
that is the aim of this page - to help you do some research and
make a balanced choice.
Background Research
and Planning for your Budget
Budget is normally the main factor in any purchase, so pick your
initial budget now and then review it once you have learned all
the facts. Consider the type of riding you will use your bike
for and how often you plan to ride it. You should try to plan
ahead a little too. Is there a particular style of mountain biking
that motivates you?
If you think you are going to get into jumping or doing large
drops then try to buy a bike that will be up to the task. Really
lightweight XC (cross country) bikes are great for XC won't be
strong enough to ride North Shore and the geometry will not be
great for this type of riding either.
There is more
to cycling than just the bike so budget for some of the other
essential equipment that goes with it, the essentials being a
helmet, gloves , eyewear and clothing. The list of accessories
can be extensive, but it is important to get the basics in first
and then move onto the 'nice to have' extras.
Buying mountain
bikes is a bit of a minefield. There are literally hundreds of
different bikes in different styles and budgets. Obviously, you
will want to get the best bike for your money, so it will pay
to buy a couple of mountain bike magazines to scan the advertisements
to see what's out there.
UK magazines that
cover XC and Aggressive XC are What Mountain Bike and MBR (Mountain
Bike Rider) and MBUK for dirt jumping, freeride and trials.
Check the adverts for last years models and discounted bikes.
The most important
part of the bike is the frame. There are two types of frame -
hardtail and full-suspension.
Hardtails- these
bikes have no rear suspension, as a result they are generally
cheaper. As a general rule "you get what you pay for"
so the more you can afford, generally speaking, the better the
quality of frame and components you are going to get. A quality
entry level mountain bike will cost you approximately £300-400.
This should get you a solid frame with basic front suspension.
Buying a bike
is a bit like buying a car, try lots of them out. Visit different
shops and try different bikes in the range. Try bikes above your
price range as well as many shops can do discounts on new equipment.
You should be looking at bikes made by the big mountain bike manufacturers
such as
Cannondale, Gary
Fisher, Giant, Klein, Kona, Marin, Rocky Mountain, Scott, Orange,
Santa Cruz, Ellsworth, Specialized and Trek.
As you move up
the price brackets you will see the addition of new components,
disk brakes and less manufacturer own components. You should also
get a better quality of frame, better forks etc.
Generally speaking you will find that the high end hard tails
are designed for competition racing and will be very light weight
with carbon or titanium frames.
Some
minimum specification advice
Full Suspension
(Full suss) - You are not likely to find quality full suspension
bikes below the £800 mark. Again the quality and components
go up as the price does.
If you are not
intending spending more than £800 on a bike then I would
recommend you always go for a hardtail. Better to have a good
quality hard tail than a poor quality full suspension bike. You
will also lean more on a hardtail and if the bug bites, then you
can always upgrade later.
Look for branded
components. The big names in gears and drive chains are Shimano
and SRAM.
Look at the manufacturer websites and familiarise yourself with
their range.
Generally you
will find that cheaper components don't last as long, maintenance
of your equipment is crucial but plan to spend money on keeping
your bike in top condition and therefore maximising your enjoyment.
Test ride as many
bikes as you can before you buy. Shop around for good deals and
buy from a specialist mountain bike dealer whenever possible.
Always try and haggle, if the shop won't come down on the price
of the bike you should try and get as many accessories as you
can, try for lots of cheaper accessories rather than one big one.
Things to ask
for:
Cycle computer, spare inner tubes, pump, puncture repair kit,
helmets, locks, lights, water bottles and carriers.
Sizing
Sizing trends
come and go, at one point you wouldn't dream of riding a small
frame, and if you speak to some older generation bike shops they
will try and sell you a bike with very little clearance between
your groin and the top tube (standover). The trend has since changed
to a smaller frame with more standover clearance. The trick is
to get a sensible balance; ideally you want between 2-3 inches
of clearance (5cm - 7.5cm) between your groin and the top tube
when you have your feet flat on the floor. This will give you
ample room so that you don't injure some very delicate areas if
you come off.
All manufacturers use different sizing, so try several different
sizes in the same model. Don't be tempted to buy the wrong size
just because the bike is on sale, it will only ruin your riding
later on. Don't assume that a medium in one manufacturer is the
same size medium from another manufacturer.
Personally I tend to go for a longer frame, as I prefer a short
stem and stems are easy to replace where as frames are not.
Any good mountain bike shop will be able to advise you of the
correct sizing for the type of riding you want to do.
