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