How to choose the right mountain bike for you

Mountain bikes are hard to buy

You love the idea of ​​buying your own mountain bike, but it can get overwhelming when you start researching which bike is best for you. Some of the things you consider are price (of course), bike size, color, and maybe even ease of use. You’ve been to a sporting goods store before and have noticed that some mountain bikes seem harder to ride than others. But when it comes to shopping for the perfect mountain bike for you, this article has all the details you’ll need.

Things to consider to help you decide

1) Determine how much you are willing to spend. As with any major new purchase, you must first establish a price range for your new mountain bike. These bikes can cost anywhere from over $ 100 to over $ 1000.

2) Never buy from a major retailer. As good as these mountain bikes look at Wal-Mart, Sears, or Target, you should buy your bike from a smaller bike store because they will be more informed and have better service for when something goes wrong.

3) What will you use the bicycle for? There are several ways to use a bicycle. You may want one to ride on the beach. You may want one to travel with your dog running alongside. You may want one to ride on dirt roads in the middle of the country. Here are some simple tips to help you:

* If you only want one for an easy walk in the park, then you don’t need to spend a lot of money.

* If you plan to drive off-road, tires become a problem. You should consider buying a bike with large treads.

* If you plan to ride in difficult conditions, you will need a suspension bike. By visiting a local bike shop, they will be able to help you find the perfect bike based on how you answer the questions above. Otherwise, you may choose the wrong bike from a major retailer.

Comfort vs. Efficiency

The issue of comfort versus efficiency really leads to the issue of suspension versus stiff.

You should think about choosing a suspension bike if your wallet can afford it. Suspension bikes are much more comfortable and enjoyable to ride. They are also more controllable. The downside of suspension bikes is that they weigh more and are less efficient.

Hardtail bikes, on the other hand, pedal more efficiently (especially on smooth terrain). These bikes weigh less and are easier to maintain. Hardtail bikes are popular with the dirt jump stunt crowd and a good number of cross country riders.

The decision between comfort and efficiency is difficult. Full suspension mountain bikes are more expensive than their hardtail counterparts. In the end, this may be all the leverage you need when choosing a hardtail. But as mentioned above, because of the bike’s overall comfort and control, a full suspension bike is the way to go.

When to find a good deal

As with many consumer products, bicycles change in price depending on the time of year. Clearly, the main shopping season lasts from early spring and throughout the summer. If you’re patient and wait until fall or winter, the price of the bike you’re interested in can drop by a few hundred dollars. And one more tip: never be afraid to buy last year’s model. There is nothing wrong with that.

Find a good local dealer

Finding a local dealer will be very beneficial. By shopping at a local bike shop, they will be able to match you with the perfect bike based on your needs. Sure, you may run into that commission-hungry salesperson who will try to convince you to step out of their price range, but just stay on track to get the bike you want.

The great thing about local dealers is that they will send you maintenance reminders, send you information about new offers and discounts, and always know how to repair your bike when something goes wrong. Let’s face it, bikes are like everything we buy. After a while of use, things will start to break down. It will be very important to have an experienced local bike shop handle the repairs. You are also more likely to find discounted mountain bikes at a local bike shop compared to a major retailer.

Test, test, test and test again

It’s human nature to find the perfect item and want to buy it right away without trying it. Maybe it’s the perfect color or it’s not too big or the price is right. Regardless of these factors, you should always try all the bikes in your price range.

As you try out these discounted mountain bikes, you will easily notice that some bikes “feel” better than others. Whether it’s the amount of force it takes to pedal or the amount of force it takes to stop, bikes will differ from model to model. The more bikes you try, the more you begin to determine which bike is right for you.

Do your research

After you’ve narrowed your decision down to a few bikes, now is the time to do some consumer research. The internet is full of customer reviews, especially on Amazon.com. Find the bikes you are interested in buying and see what other buyers have to say.

The great thing about Amazon.com is that both positive and negative buyers will post reviews. When you visit another site and every review is negative, you don’t really learn anything. So do your research and you will most likely find the same bike that interests you at a lower price.

But what about all that talk about buying from a local dealer? Well, you have actually visited the dealership and took the opportunity to test drive their bikes. So now you know which bike you would like to buy so you don’t risk anything when placing your order online. But what I would recommend is that you let the local bike shop handle the warranty and maintenance work in the future.

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