Things to Consider Before Buying a Mountain Bike

Buying a mountain bike can be a bit frustrating not to mention time consuming. In this article we will be discussing a few things to consider before plunking down your hard earned cash on a mountain bike.

There is really no limit as to how much money you can spend on a new mountain bike. To help you keep your spending under control, you should figure out what your price range is and how much your willing to pay for a new bike. When you buy, you shouldn't buy from mass merchant stores such as Wal-Mart. You should instead support your local bike shop and get a much better bike and much better service.

As you begin your search for your mountain bike, you will soon learn that mountain bikes are designed for different types of terrains and riding styles. You want to decide beforehand what types of riding you will be doing the most of. Will you be doing smooth riding, cross country racing, mountain cruising, or lift accessed downhill? By determining what style of riding you will doing, you will be ensuring that the mountain bike you eventually select will be a best fit for your situation.

A full suspension mountain bike is always worth the extra price if your wallet will allow it. The hard tail without the rear suspension is a much lighter bike and pedals more efficiently. However the full suspension mountain bikes are more comfortable as well as giving you better overall control. But again, you will want to factor in your price range, type of terrain, and riding style before finalizing your purchase.

Comparing mountain bikes component to component is nearly impossible, as there are far too many combinations available. The best way to go about doing this is finding a few components that are the most important to you and making sure the rest or the minimums fall within your price range. You can start with the fork then look at the wheels and rear derailleur.

Oftentimes the price of mountain bikes rise and fall with the seasons. With spring and summer being the prime buying season, you might expect to shell out a bit more during these times. If you can hold off on your purchase until the fall and winter months, you might find yourself saving a couple of hundred bucks on your purchase. If you shop around and are not afraid to let your local bike shops know you are doing so, you might find one or two of them ready to offer you incentives, special discounts, or even throwing in some extra accessories just to reel in your business.

Ranking up there alongside finding a good price on your mountain bike is finding a good bike dealer. Finding a dealer who cares more about making sure you end up with a great bike as opposed to simply a high priced one may be a bit tricky but can be done. You will find that a top notch mountain bike dealer will keep keep a clean repair shop along with giving you the impression that they can be trusted.

You want to make sure that you get out and test ride the bikes that fall within your price range as well as your riding style. Doing this as often as you can will give you a hands on feel for the mountain bikes that work for you and the ones that don't.

Make sure you avail yourself of any product reviews that you find online or elsewhere concerning the bike you have identified for purchase. Product reviews are some of the best ways to learn first hand from the horse's mouth so to speak, about the performance and reliability of a particular mountain bike before committing to your final purchase.

Debbie Parkinson spends the majority of her time outdoors in addition to writing about exciting outdoor activities. Mountain biking is a fabulous outdoor activity but can be significantly enhanced with a pair of coolmax socks. These over the calf socks wick sweat away from your feet to insure they stay dry and comfortable all day long.

Tags: Cycling, exercise, fitness, health, leisure, Mountain Bikes, outdoor activities, recreation, sports