Top of the Line Mountain Bikes
Much of the time, you get what you pay for when it comes to mountain bikes. While buying the best bike you can afford is a good idea, figuring out which top of the line mountain bike really is a good buy can be harder. In general, it’s best to look at the quality of the components, and the way the bike fits you and the way you ride to decide on the right model.
At base, a mountain bike is a bicycle with a sturdy frame, wider tires with large treads, horizontal handlebars, and gearing. They offer better traction and stability off road than a street bike’s narrow tires and lightweight frame can. While these bikes are called mountain bikes, that’s not all they’re for. They can also be ridden on trails with gravel or no surfacing, and cross country. They’re even good for city streets that have uneven or broken paving. Just watch out for roots and large rocks. Choose a mountain bike for any application where you’ll need strength and stability. If you do most of your cycling on flat areas with smooth pavement, these bikes are probably heavier than you’re looking for.
Mountain Bike Construction and Materials
Top of the line mountain bikes will offer quality construction, as well as using good materials. While many manufacturers will try to sell you components and frames bases solely on the materials that make them up, don’t be fooled. It’s possible to make a bad bike frame from titanium, just as it’s possible to make a good one from steel or aluminum. While prestigious materials certainly command a higher price tag, quality of manufacture is more important, whether you’re buying a frame, some gears, or new wheels. Look for bikes with good suspension and higher quality disc brakes, instead of rim brakes like the ones on road bikes.
Mountain Bike Frames and Suspension
Lighter frames mean there’s less for you to have to pull up steep slopes. In some materials, however, lightweight frames and wheels also mean that you sacrifice strength. They also require a certain loss of stability. That’s why mountain bikes are generally heavier built than road bikes. Good suspension can reduce the “whippiness” that sometimes occurs with lighter materials like aluminum and titanium. High end mountain bikes are available with front only or both front and rear suspension. When you choose your bike, be sure to try it out to make sure that you have the right fit, and that the weight feels good to you. If you decide you want to have a bike put together elsewhere, such as an online order, make certain you know exactly what you’re getting, in terms of frame size, weight, and materials.
Tags: bicycle, bike frames, bike gears, Mountain Bikes
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[...] Once you know what your size and ideal frame type is, start looking at mountain bike brands and features you like. These days there are a great deal of options available, and learning about these is essential. Decide what kind of frame material you like best (steel, aluminum, titanium, and carbon are the most common, with steel and aluminum often being the best deal). You can find much useful information about mountain bike purchases at this discussion about top mountain bikes. [...]
Shop Online For A Mountain Bike - Blog Snob on 10 Feb 2008 at 9:18 am #
[...] When you’ve finished with determining the sort of frame and size you need, you’ll want to begin looking at mountain bike brands and the variety of features offered. Browse a lot, and learn as much about every kind of bike as you can. Decide what kind of frame material you like best (steel, aluminum, titanium, and carbon are the most common, with steel and aluminum often being the best deal). You can find much useful information about mountain bike purchases at this discussion about top mountain bikes. [...]