Outdoors

Pick the Best Mountain Bike

Finding the best mountain bike isn’t as hard as you may think, but there are some things to look at that will help you to make a better educated decision. The following six areas should be thought about before you make your next mountain bike purchase.

Six Points:
1.  Price
2.  Frame
3.  Brakes
4.  Shifters
5.  Tires
6.  Fit

Price:
The best mountain bikes can cost thousands of dollars and can cost as little as several hundred dollars. Set a price limit for your new bike and then find the best quality bike for the price. A good beginner mountain bike will cost between 400 and 800 dollars depending on where you buy it. You can find a cheaper bike at one of the local retail stores but chances are the bike will not hold up and you will be finding yourself replacing parts or even a new bike in a relatively short amount of time. Many people make this very mistake when start out to buy a mountain bike. Rather than getting the inexpensive mountain bike in the beginning and replacing it within a year, you would have been better off with the higher priced mountain from the start. The Iron Horse Mountain Bike is a great example of a quality mountain bike at an affordable price.

Brakes:
The higher the quality of the bike the higher the quality of the brakes. It’s up to you whether to get rim or disk brakes. The cost of disk brakes are higher but the braking power is superior. The low cost alternative would be the rim brakes but they don’t perform as well in adverse conditions. The Overdrive Mountain Bike is a great example of a superior mountain bike that utilizes dual disk brakes.

Shifters:
There are basically two types of shifters on mountain bikes, Rapidfire shifters and Gripfit shifters. The difference between the Rapidfire shifters and the Gripfit shifters is in their location on the bike, the Rapidfires shifters are under the brake lever and the Gripfit shifters are designed in conjunction with the handle bar grips. The more experienced riders seem to like the Rapidfire shifters better but ultimately it will be a matter of choice.

Tires:
If you will be riding primarily off road then you will want to make sure that you get the more aggressive off road tire with the large knobs. This will give you more traction and control on uneven terrain. The smaller knobs on the tires will allow for a smoother ride on a paved surface. There are mountain bikes that are designed for off road and on road riding and have specific tires that compliment this style.

Size/Fit:
To get the best mountain bike that suits you well it is important to get the right size bike. A good rule of thumb is to have at least two to three inches of clearance above the top tube while you are standing, straddling the bike. The terrain you are traveling will be a determining factor. The more aggressive riders may want to allow for four to six inches of clearance to the top tube to allow for the more aggressive terrain you will be riding on. A 30 degree angle with your feet on the pedals is a good starting point for the lower leg while sitting upright on the bike. Although a matter of personal preference a thirty degree bend at the knee is a fine starting point.

These are just a few of the basics when deciding on the best mountain bike for yourself. Choose wisely when starting out and you can expect to get many miles out of your mountain bike. If you are looking to purchase a reliable mountain bike that exceeds the highest qualifications of many discerning riders than you gotta checkout the Smith & Wesson Custom Police Mountain Bike