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What to Look for in a Mountain Bike

By Mark Woodcock

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 01Jul2009
Word count: 411
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Although cycling dates back centuries, specialist mountain bike production has moved forwards considerably over the past 35 years. Mountain bike frames were originally based on road bikes, but the technology soon had to evolve to meet the unique demands of rough terrain and difficult conditions.

Nowadays mountain bikes are bristling with technological bits and bobs, all designed to make riding easier and more accessible. So now you can push yourself and your bike to the absolute limits by taking on tougher rides and experiencing the thrill of real extreme sports.

Gears - With up to 27 gears available even the steepest of hills can be taken on. More gears usually are available on more expensive mountain bikes and are not necessarily a requirement.

Suspension - Your bikes suspension lets you tackle those tricky obstacles with less effort and more control. As a minimum your bike will come fitted with front suspension which is great for bumpy downhill tracks. A full suspension bike provides greater control, comfort and agility when the ground is bumpy and rocky but probably is not needed if you only plan to cycle on light tracks.

Frames - Your bike is literally built around the frame and as your bikes gets put through its paces, so does your frame. Your frame must be able to take the increased demands so stronger materials are used along with new styles and designs. But it is no good having an indestructible frame if it is too heavy to use; it needs to be light enough for you to be able to respond quickly to those last minute detours.

Brakes - Today, disc brakes are commonplace on nearly all mountain bikes. By moving the braking system to the middle of the wheel they are much easier to keep clean as do not come into contact with the ground which will often be wet and muddy.

Tyres - Mountain bike tyres are thicker and more knobbly than on road bikes. This gives extra grip on muddy ground, better shock absorption and makes it easier to get over rough terrain at speed. You can change your tyres to deal with different conditions.

Women Specific - Womens requirements are catered for by specialist ladies bikes. That means smaller reach from seat to handlebars, smaller reach on brake handles and seats shaped for greater comfort. We recommend testing a number of ladies bikes from different manufacturers before making the decision to buy as many will have subtle differences.

Mark Woodcock is a webmaster of a number of different websites and has been a published author online for over 10+ years with site such as All Terrain Mountain Bikes.

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