Buying a bicycle is one of the best possible investments that you can make in that price range. It is a fun means of commute, a great way to get in shape and an investment that could last you a lifetime. Getting a mountain bike is an even better idea, seeing as how it gives you all that, plus an opportunity for an adrenaline-infused activity that you will get to enjoy.
Now, while everyone had a bike as a kid, a lot of people don’t understand the subtle differences between getting a bicycle and buying a high-end mountain bike. Due to the unique nature of the terrain that the mountain bike is made for, it is incredibly important to find something that can withstand this pressure.
With that in mind and without further ado, here are several things you can focus on when buying a mountain bike.
Frame Geometry
The first thing you need to pay attention to is the frame geometry. This is important for both the type of riding that you have in mind and the aesthetics of the bike. Depending on the discipline that it is designed for, you may feel inclined to take one frame over the other. The most common mountain bike frames are:
- Sports
- Cross-country
- Trail
- Downhill
The name of each is pretty self-explanatory, however, we’ll try to provide a bit more insight.
Sports bike is designed for recreational riders. This means that it’s great for those who prefer to do some light off-roading or intend to use their bike mostly for the urban commute. The frame of the bike enables a comfortable ride, which a lot of people see as a first priority.
Cross-country bikes are intended for a mixture of terrains. For instance, if you’re unsure of whether you’ll mostly encounter single track, gravel roads or technical trails, the safest bet is to go for cross-country bikes. The gears on this bike are optimized for endurance riding. In other words, this is a bike that you would choose for a long ride.
Trail bikes are designed for the so-called bomb driving. In other words, people who really want to ride across the hills or over rocky terrain should get a trail bike. This is, beyond doubt, the only choice that makes sense. Now, the geometry of this bike is specially designed in order to transfer all the power to pedals.
Downhill bikes are mainly made for those who are interested in doing jumps and drops. This type of bike, however, is not well-suited for regular commute.
Suspension
When going through your selection of quality mountain bikes, getting one with adequate suspension is a priority. A suspension fork helps you tame the bike, which is incredibly important for a mountain bike, seeing as how you will constantly drive across the bumps.
Now, bikes without suspension are less expensive but this is a budget cut that you will probably regret every time you pass over a bump (which will happen a lot, make no mistake about it).
At the same time, a full-suspension design might not be the best of ideas. Extra complexity is not necessarily a good thing. First of all, it adds too much to the total cost and it doesn’t contribute that much to the overall riding comfort or control. So, when examining the value you’re getting for your money, things will be less than ideal.
Material
When buying a quality mountain bike, the biggest dilemma that you’ll face is whether to go with carbon or aluminum. In terms of physical properties, carbon is far superior but it comes at a higher cost. Also, it sometimes depends on the brand that you’re buying from. The advertised properties of the material and the quality that you get are not necessarily one and the same. This is why you might also want to look for manufacturer warranties.
Carbon bikes are much lighter than their aluminum counterparts. There is also a belief that they provide a much smoother, more comfortable ride. Now, this misconception came to exist several decades ago and aluminum frames have advanced so much (from the technical standpoint) since then. Carbon is also supposed to be stronger and more durable.
On the other hand, aluminum is rust resilient, stable and has a relatively low weight. Sure, carbon and titanium frames are superior in terms of physical properties but the cost of the aluminum frame is so much lower. Therefore, when just comparing performance, it wouldn’t look that great but in terms of cost-effectiveness, aluminum still looks quite formidable.
For some people, however, the cost is not nearly as big of an issue and they want to get the very best. If anything, this should be an opportunity for you to spend some of that money you earned by mining Bitcoin.
The Size
The size of a mountain bike depends, once again, on your intentions with it. First of all, you need to look at the wheel size. These sizes range from 26” for kids’ bikes, all the way to 29”, which provide better traction. This is incredibly important if you want to remain safe while traversing across rough terrain. Of course, there’s also the middle ground the 27.5”. This wheel size gives you more acceleration but doesn’t provide the same control as its 29” counterpart.
Other than this, you also need to pay attention to the frame size. The ideal frame size should be measured based on the height of the rider. For instance, a rider that is 5′ 7″ – 5′ 10″ tall, should pick the bike with the frame size of 17″ – 18″. It’s that simple. The simplest way to figure this one out is to find a mountain bike size chart, which would provide you with the necessary information.
In other words, other than just depending on your intentions, the frame of the bike also depends on your own dimensions. So, there’s no universal advice and you need to choose the bike that fits your own needs.
Aesthetics
There’s nothing wrong with choosing the bike that you like the most. Sure, riding experience is about more than just looks. Performance, weight, control and suspension are far more important in terms of your riding experience but if two bikes have similar performance reviews, why not go for the one that you like more? It’s a valuable asset, so why not get the most out of it?
Now, as we’ve already mentioned, it’s essential that you understand that the major part of the shape of the frame is suspension. On the other hand, when it comes to color or texture patterns, the choice is all yours.
In conclusion
In the end, getting a mountain bike is not just about buying a new asset or gadget. It’s about purchasing an entry to a whole new lifestyle. It gives you opportunities that you didn’t have before and, even if you did ride a bike, it now gives you a whole new experience. Still, it’s important that you do your research and set your priorities straight. For starters, make a list of all the criteria that your bicycle needs to fulfill. Second, make sure to commit to a purchase only after you’re 100% sure that this is what you really want.