It can be a bit frustrating as well as time consuming
when you buy a mountain bike, particularly when you’re
new to this exciting outdoor pastime. Below, you’ll find
some tips and issues to be aware of before you lay
down the cash and buy a mountain bike.
Determining your Mountain Bike price
There is really no limit as to how much money you can
spend on a new mountain bike. To help you keep your
spending under control, you should figure out what
your price range is and how much you’re willing to pay
for a new bike. When you’ve decided that, it’s a good idea
to visit a local bike shop to get a general idea of what you’d
like and to try a few out.
Finding your bike 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. Smooth riding, cross country racing,
mountain cruising or lift accessed downhill is
something you need to figure out. Make sure that
the bike you select fits your personal style and not
just because you’ve seen it recommended somewhere.
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 a much lighter weight, more
durable due to there being less components to fail
and pedals more efficiently; although full suspensions
offer more comfort and overall better control. You’ll
want to make that decision based on your price range,
riding style and the type of terrain you’ll be riding on the most.
Narrowing down your favourite Mountain Bike
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 by
finding a few elements 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/gear mechanism.
Sales and seasons
During the year, the prices of mountain bikes can
fluctuate quite a bit. Spring through summer is the
main buying season. If you can wait until the right
price pops up, normally in the fall and winter, you can
sometimes save a couple of hundred pounds but most
online retailers have bargains throughout the year.
Finding a good dealer
Finding a good bike store is more important than finding
the best price. You should always find a seller that
cares more about selling you a great bike than pushing
a high priced one. The stores that we showcase on Mountain
Bike Centre, are all trusted and have great reviews so you
can buy with confidence.
Test ride and test ride again!
You should 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, the better you’ll understand
what works and what doesn’t.
Do your research
Product reviews and bike reviews are some of the best
ways to find out about a mountain bike’s reliability and
overall performance. You should always look at what
other owners and reviews think about a bike before you
make that final purchase.