| When you are ready to purchase a mountain | | | | a bike that you are interested in, take the |
| bike, if you are like most mountain bikers, | | | | time to talk to them. Tell them that you are |
| you start reading mountain bike reviews. You | | | | planning to purchase that particular bike, |
| may have found, however, that not all | | | | and ask them what they like about it, and |
| mountain bike reviews are accurate - or even | | | | what they don't like. Find groups of mountain |
| honest! The fact of the matter is that some | | | | bikers in the parks, and try to talk to them |
| dealers and even manufacturers actually pay | | | | when they are taking a break. This way, you |
| people to write good reviews - of bikes that | | | | won't be interfering with their ride, and you |
| the reviewer has never even had the | | | | can get several different 'in person' |
| opportunity to ride! | | | | reviews. |
| | | | |
| There are countless sites that carry reviews | | | | Ask as many questions as you possibly can - |
| of various mountain bikes. Some of the sites | | | | but try not to keep irritate them by keeping |
| are very dependable and others simply cannot | | | | them from enjoying their ride. After speaking |
| be counted on. It's hard for the average | | | | with them - or before - sit back and watch |
| mountain biker to know who to believe - | | | | them ride. You aren't watching their |
| beginner bikers who have yet to make their | | | | technique - although that may be interesting |
| first mountain bike purchase don't stand a | | | | - what you want to watch for is how well the |
| chance! | | | | bike handles. Seeing the bike in action is |
| | | | the second best review that you can possibly |
| If you are looking for reviews, stick to the | | | | have - the first best review you can get is |
| sites and publications that can be counted on | | | | your very own review! |
| for accurate and valuable information. Most | | | | |
| print publications have accurate reviews. | | | | As your interest in a particular bike grows, |
| When reading one of these reviews, it is | | | | you will want to try one out for yourself. |
| important to look on the edges of the page | | | | You can test ride bikes that are for sale in |
| for very tiny print that says | | | | bike shops, but you can't really put them |
| 'advertisement.' If you see that, you can be | | | | through the motions well enough in a 'test |
| sure that this is not a real review you are | | | | ride' situation to learn what you need to |
| reading. It is an advertisement disguised as | | | | know. Your best option is to test ride a |
| a review. Its purpose is to get you to buy | | | | friend's bike. Take it out for a day, and see |
| the bike - not to point out both the pros and | | | | what it can do in relation to what you can do |
| the cons! Move on! | | | | with it. Give it a great workout, and by the |
| | | | end of the day, you will know enough about |
| When looking for reviews online, stick to the | | | | the bike to write your very own review. |
| better known online magazines such as | | | | |
| Singletrack, GearHead, Mountain Bike Review, | | | | Do your part in the mountain biking community |
| and Mountain Bike. These are the online | | | | by contributing your own reviews to the |
| magazines that will give you the most | | | | websites that allow consumers to submit |
| accurate information in terms of reviews. You | | | | mountain bike reviews. Be clear in your |
| will also find the latest mountain biking | | | | writing, and honest in your opinions. Make |
| news, as well as quite a bit of information | | | | sure that you have your facts straight, and |
| on races and trails. These four websites are | | | | be sure that you distinguish between opinion |
| vitally important to serious bikers. | | | | and fact! You will be doing many other |
| | | | mountain bikers a huge favor by submitting |
| Of course the best reviews are the ones that | | | | your honest - and accurate - mountain bike |
| you get from other bikers, in person. When | | | | review! |
| you see a mountain biker on the trail riding | | | | |