| How To Choose A Mountain Bike That More Fits | | | | price, gears will be either Shimano or SRAM, |
| With Your Needs | | | | brakes could be V-brakes or cable disc |
| | | | brakes, both are very good and light, most of |
| How to choose a mountain bike depends on what | | | | the other MTB parts, of course will be |
| you are going to do with it, if all you want | | | | Shimano and as usual get the best you can |
| your new mountain bike for is going for a | | | | afford. There are many combinations of hubs |
| nice leisurely ride on the canal path or a | | | | and rims to make up your wheels; hubs from |
| ride in the woods with the dog, well you wont | | | | Shimano and rims form Mavic are the usual |
| need a full suspension downhill machine with | | | | mix. Then you have to choose which suspension |
| 4 inch travel on the forks and a fully | | | | forks to put on you bike, you may not get a |
| articulated rear end with damping and rebound | | | | choice, depending on which bike you buy, the |
| control. | | | | main ones are Suntour, Marzocchi, Manitou, |
| | | | Fox, RockShox and RST, buy any of these and |
| Where to Start From. | | | | you wont go far wrong. |
| | | | |
| If you do want to go for an easy ride in the | | | | Top Bikes, Top Money. |
| park you don't need to spend too much, if you | | | | |
| think you will do any off-road riding then | | | | If you want what the professionals ride you |
| big tread tires maybe all you need, but if | | | | will have to pay a lot of money a |
| you think you might try some rough stuff then | | | | professional MTB. As with road bike at the |
| you will need suspension. Gears will probably | | | | top of the range, you can specify what you |
| be Shimano, brakes must be V-brakes, but | | | | want to build up your dream bike. Top bikes |
| could be made by a few different | | | | frames to spend your money on could be Klien, |
| manufacturers, all the rest of the MTB | | | | Scott, Rocky Mountain, Gary Fisher, Santa |
| components will depend on how much you can | | | | Cruz and K2; these are some of the most |
| spend. If you go to your local bike shop or | | | | sought after bike frames in the world and |
| big sports store and see what they've got to | | | | would be the envy of your friends. Probably |
| offer, then buy it or have look on the | | | | the best forks to put on your frame would be |
| Internet and maybe you'll find the same thing | | | | RockShox SID's these are light and do all the |
| at a better price. | | | | things you need with control of all |
| | | | functions, there are many other to also to |
| The Next Step Up. | | | | consider, look at how much travel they have |
| | | | and the rebound and damping systems. Gears |
| So maybe you want to be a bit more | | | | again will be either SRAM or Shimano Rapid |
| adventurous, more off-road, more forest | | | | fire, XT or XTR, more money could be spent on |
| tracks and dry boulder river beds, then | | | | carbon or very light alloy cranks, the brakes |
| you'll need something a little lighter, with | | | | should be hydraulic discs from Hayes, Pace or |
| suspension forks. All this will cost you more | | | | Magura or stick to the trusted V-bakes. |
| money, but will be worth it for the extra | | | | Wheels from Shimano or Mavic or some fancy |
| enjoyment and adventure. With a better | | | | carbon wheels, but remember they will have to |
| mountain bike it will have a sportier | | | | take a lot of punishment, so maybe better to |
| handling and because it is lighter, it will | | | | go for reliability over light weight expense. |
| be easier to struggle up the hills before you | | | | Carbon handle bars, stem and seat pin and a |
| come flying down the other side. The | | | | light weight race saddle and Time or Shimano |
| components will again be Shimano and the | | | | SPD clipless pedals, then your choice of |
| quality will depend on how much money you can | | | | tires will depend on what terrain and ground |
| spend. V-brakes and Rapid-fire gear shifters, | | | | conditions you are going to ride on. |
| along with Shimano chain set, bottom bracket | | | | |
| and headset. Handle bars, stem and seat pin | | | | And Downhilling? |
| should be alloy and along with a comfortable | | | | |
| saddle you'll be set to take to the hills. | | | | Downhill bikes are very different, more like |
| | | | a cross country motor bike, but without the |
| More Money, More Bike. | | | | engine, low center of gravity and a lot of |
| | | | travel on the suspension on the forks and the |
| The next rung up on the mountain bike ladder | | | | rear end, disc brakes, wide rims and fat |
| would be good enough to race on. There are | | | | tires, gears are only at the back as usually |
| many to choose from, get on the net and surf | | | | a single chain set is used. Unless your going |
| the bike manufacturers sites and all the shop | | | | to do a lot of downhill racing then there |
| sites along with the magazines for juicy | | | | isn't much point in buying one as you have to |
| photos of the bikes. The top manufacturers in | | | | get up the hill first before you can come |
| this price range, I would say are: - Trek, | | | | down and as light weight is not an issue with |
| Giant, Specialized and Cannondale, these | | | | downhill bikes, they are very heavy to get up |
| companies make the nicest frames with the | | | | hill with out the use of a tow rope or a ski |
| best mountain bike parts available at the | | | | lift. |