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.
Price:
It will cost several thousand dollars to get the best mountain bike. It is a good idea to determine your price range before you begin your search. A good beginner mountain bike will cost between 400 and 800 dollars depending on where you buy it. To insure that you won't be replacing your mountain bike in the near future don't go the route of buying the Walmart specials. This is one of the biggest mistakes I see people make when they buy a mountain bike or any bike for that matter. 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 Sachem Mountain Bike is a good example of a quality mountain bike at an affordable price.
Brakes:
Obviously the best mountain bikes have the best brakes. The choice of rim brakes or disk brakes is a decision you will have to make. Disk brakes will give the best braking efficiency, however the cost will be a bit higher. Rim brakes offer a lighter, lower cost alternative but you will sacrifice some performance particularly in wet conditions. The Diamondback Overdrive Mountain Bike is a good example of a well designed mountain bike that has dual disk brakes.
Shifters:
Mountain bikes use two different types of shifters, the Gripfit and the Rapidfire shifters. The Rapidfire shifters are located under the brake lever and Gripfit shifters are incorporated into the handlebars that work similar to a motorcycle. 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 will be riding primarily off road then you will want to make sure that you get the more aggressive off road tire with the large knobs. You will find that you will have more control on the more aggressive surfaces. 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. Some mountain bikes have tires that will perform well off road and on road, these generally have medium size knobs on the outside of the tire.
Size/Fit:
The best mountain bike for you will not only depend on price but on size also. While straddling the bike try and maintain a two to three inch clearance above the top tube. This also depends on the terrain you will be ridding over. The more aggressive riders may want to allow for four to six inches of clearance to the top tube to allow for the more aggressive terrain you will be riding on. While sitting on the bike adjust it so your down leg has a slight bend at the knee. Generally speaking 30 degrees of knee bend is a good place to start.
These are several considerations to think about before you purchase your next mountain bike. Choose wisely when starting out and you can expect to get many miles out of your mountain bike. If you are looking to purchase a durable mountain bike that exceeds the highest standards of many discerning riders than you have to checkout the Smith & Wesson Scout Mountain Bike.
When I ride on the road I ride a quality road bike. When I want to take it off road I ride a quality mountain bike. There are several mountain bikes I can recommend. One of them is the Iron Horse Sachem Mountain Bike and another is the Smith & Wesson Scout
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