Buying A Mountain Bike
Setting out to purchase a mountain bike can not only be time consuming but can be frustrating at times as well. This article will lay out a few things you should consider before pulling out your wallet to buy a mountain bike.
As you will find when you start looking for a mountain bike, there is a large range of prices attached to these things. Before you begin your search for a new mountain bike, you should determine your upper limit as to what you are willing to spend. With that said, you should stay away from the mass merchant stores such as K-Mart and Wal-Mart and concentrate instead on the local bike shops in your area. You will get much better service as well as a much better bike for your money.
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 that of the sale’s staff.
If your budget will allow, a full suspension mountain bike is always worth the extra cash. The much lighter alternative is the hard tail having no rear supension. Even though the hard tail is lighter and pedals more efficiently, the full suspension mountain bikes are more comfortable and provide better control. Again, you will want to base your decision on your riding style, type of terrain you will be encountering, and your price range.
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.
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 save a couple hundred dollars. Many bike shops will also offer discounts or other accessories if you buy from them.
Finding a good bike dealer is more important than finding the best price. You should always find a dealer that cares more about selling you a great bike than selling you a high priced one. A great dealer will have a clean repair shop and give you the impression that you can really trust them.
Make sure that you test ride as many mountain bikes as you can that fall within your riding style and price range. The more you get the chance to do this the easier it is going to be to determine the ones that feel right for you. Test rides also give you the opportunity to determine first hand what works for you and what does not.
Another area that you should make make use of is bike reviews and product reviews. These are some of the best ways to learn more about the overall performance and reliability of various mountain bikes. Reading about what other owners are saying about a particular bike before you make your final purchase may keep you from any unwanted surprises down the road.
Debbie Parkinson spends the majority of her time outdoors in addition to writing about exciting outdoor activities. Mountain biking is a tremendous outdoor activity but can be significantly improved with a pair of coolmax socks. These over the calf socks remove sweat away from your feet to make sure they stay dry and comfortable for a full days ride.
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