| A mountain bike is a moderately expensive purchase | | | | machine, and getting them to the top of the hill is |
| to make, with a lot of options to consider and the | | | | something you do with a truck, and then ride them |
| companies selling them don't make it much easier. | | | | down from there. They are the cycling equivalent of |
| Here's a guideline of what to keep in mind while you | | | | downhill skis, and are just as specialised. If you're |
| check out your new cycle. Firstly - where are you | | | | looking for "off-road touring", we recommend bikes, like |
| going to be riding it? While most mountain bike | | | | those made by Merlin, that are geared towards some |
| advertising shows extreme sports aficionados | | | | stiffness, and general durability and maintainability. Most |
| bounding over logs, rocks and canyons to punk rock | | | | mountain bikers, as mentioned above, don't ride as if |
| beats, the vast majority of mountain bikes, when ridden | | | | they're starring in a Mountain Dew ad; they're ridden on |
| at all, are ridden on prepared trails. If this is going to be | | | | trails to enjoy nature while getting some exercise and |
| how you're riding, you will want a bike that has got a | | | | most importantly comfort. Once you've got your bike, |
| moderately stiff frame, and a good shock absorber | | | | take the time to get it fitted properly to you - this |
| system. If you plan on doing competitive off-road | | | | means adjusting the seat height and the handlebars |
| racing, you will want a bike with stiffer construction. | | | | appropriately. The seat height is right if your knee is at |
| The stiffer the frame, the more efficiently it transfers | | | | a bit under a right angle when the pedals are parallel to |
| the power from your legs into the frame and into the | | | | the ground. The handlebars are set at the right height |
| rear wheel. You'll also want to forego most of the | | | | when there's a 45 degree angle from your shoulder to |
| extras - each one ads weight, and when you're | | | | your elbow. Most of the people who complain about |
| pedalling your bike up a hill, that extra weight adds up. | | | | back and hip pain from riding a bike are suffering |
| Most mountain bikes sold today have aluminium | | | | because the bike wasn't fitted to them properly. Once |
| frames; aluminium is lighter than steel (about 40% | | | | you've got the basics down - a mountain bike that's |
| lighter all told), and with aircraft grade and double | | | | comfortable to use, and suits the kind of riding you'll be |
| butted tubing, at least as stiff. High end mountain bikes | | | | doing, then it's time to look at added features, like |
| use carbon fibre frames, or other, more exotic | | | | stabilization controls, shock absorbers, and other details. |
| materials to reduce weight and keep stiffness up. | | | | Like most sporting equipment, the more you get into |
| There are specialist mountain bike designs out there, | | | | the competitive aspect of things, the higher the price |
| such as downhill models, and ruggedized versions. | | | | tends to climb. |
| Neither of these are suitable to general purpose riding. | | | | Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a |
| For example, downhill racers are heavy tanks of a | | | | number of UK businesses. |