So you've decided you are going to buy a mountain bike. You've
been looking for awhile but each trip seems to frustrate you more.
With so many options, makes, and prices, how do you decide what
to buy? Follow these 8 tips to buying a mountain bike and you'll
shortly be the proud owner of a new mountain bike
1. Pick your price
The price you can pay for a mountain bikes is endless. You can
pay up into the high thousands if you want to. To keep yourself
on budget decide how much money you are willing to spend, then
only look at bikes in that price range.
2. Pick your style
What kind of riding are you planning to do? There are several
different types of mountain bikes available for different terrains
and different riding styles. First, you need to figure out what
you want to do with your mountain bike. Are you going to be
riding bmx style, are you going to be riding smooth trails,
mountain trails, or flats. Once you determine where you will
spend most of your time riding you can determine what style
of mountain bike you should buy
3. Pick your suspension
Full suspension and hardtail are both popular choices. Full
suspension cost more but if you are going to be doing some serious
riding it is well worth the money. Full suspension offers more
comfort and control. Hardtails do not have rear suspension,
weigh less and pedal more efficiently but they are tougher on
your body. Of course they are cheaper too.
4. Pick your components
There are so many components available on mountain bikes that
you really cannot compare them. What you need to do is find
a few components you think you must have then make sure the
rest meet the minimum requirements for the money you are planning
to spend.
5. Pick your season
Depending on the season can depend on the price you'll pay for
that mountain bike. Fall and winter are usually the best time
to get the best prices but you can also watch for sales throughout
the spring and summer seasons. You can often find deep discounts
on the previous years' models. There's nothing wrong with buying
last years model if it has all the features you want. It's actually
a pretty smart way to save some money
6. Pick your dealer
Find a reputable bike dealer in your area. Choose a dealer that
cares about the bikes he's selling. He'll be there to answer
your questions before you buy and make sure you buy the right
bike. He'll also be there to help you after you own the bike.
A good bike shop should also have a repair shop and if you are
doing some serious mountain biking I guarantee you are going
to need that repair shop at some point in your adventures.
7. Test ride
Be sure to take the bikes you've narrowed your search down to
for a test ride. It's the only way you'll know if you like the
feel and ride of the bike. You're not spending chump change
here. A mountain bike is a pretty big investment. Don't be afraid
to test some more. Once you've narrowed it down to a couple
of bikes, test and test again until you can decide which bike
is for you.
8. Research is your friend
Even before you start shopping do some research. Product reviews
are great way to find the bikes that rate well for both performance
and reliability. It's also a great way to find out which bikes
have had trouble and what those troubles were. It's a perfect
way to shorten your list in a hurry.
Buying a mountain bike can be a big decision that can cost you
a fair bit of money so make sure what you buy is what you want.
Follow these 8 tips to buying a mountain bike and you'll be smiling
all the way to the trail!
