Buying a Mountain Bike

Buying a mountain bike can be time consuming — even frustrating — if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Listed below are some tips and things to be aware of before you lay down your cash on a mountain bike.

• Determine your price
  There is really no limit on how much money you can spend on a new mountain bike. That’s why it’s important to figure out what your price range is and how much your willing to pay for a new bike before you go shopping. Avoid buying your mountain bike from mass merchant stores, such as Wal-Mart. Instead, support your local bike shop. You’ll get a much better bike and much better service, not to mention good advice.

• Find 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. Will you be doing smooth riding, cross country racing, mountain cruising, or lift-accessed downhill? This is an important step in making your selection. The bike you select needs to fit 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 pedals more efficiently, but full suspensions offer more comfort and overall better control. You’ll want to make your decision based on your price range, riding style, and the type of terrain you’ll be riding on the most.

• Find your favorite
  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, prices of mountain bikes can fluctuate quite a bit. Spring through summer is the main buying season. If you can wait, you will probably get a better price in the fall or winter — and may even save as much as a couple hundred dollars. Many bike shops will also offer discounts or other accessories if you buy from them. 

• Find a good dealer
  Finding a good bike dealer is more important than finding the best price.  Make sure the dealer is interested in selling you a great bike that’s suited for you — not just a high-priced one. Also, a good dealer will have a clean repair shop.  If you get the impression you can really trust the dealer, you probably can.

• Test ride
  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 for you and what doesn’t.

• Do the research
  Product reviews and bike reviews are some of the best ways to find out about a mountain bike’s reliability and overall performance. Always look at what other owners have to say about a bike before you make that final purchase.

Related posts:

1. Mountain Biking Safety Tips As with any sport, safety is a main concern when you go mountain biking. One...
2. Mountain Biking for Beginners Mountain biking is an exciting sport that can be enjoyed by anyone who knows how...