Notes When Buying a
Mountain Bike
There are several things that are to be
considered when buying a mountain bike.
To the uninitiated, mountain bikes appear the same. High
riding position, horizontal handle bars, wider tires, sturdier
frames. There are however several variables to a mountain bike.
While they may look basically the same, the components and the
general build will determine the terrain that it will be best
suited to.
What is Your Riding Style?
There are so many variables and small alteration in mountain
bike configuration but the general rule is that first you will
have to determine the kind of riding that you intend to do.
- Will the mountain bike be used in riding smooth
trails?
- Is the bike to be used in cross country cruising?
- Do you enjoy the back woods and mountain cruising?
- Are you thrilled most at the challenge of rocky
trails?
- Or do you look forward to the adrenaline rush of rugged
downhill riding?
Mountain bikes are not exactly cheap. Good mountain bikes
come with a price tag. It will be very frustrating to shell out
hard saved money only to end up with a good but wrong bike.
Find a Good Dealer
When sure of your riding style, find a good dealer. Good
dealers offer good advice. Many mountain bike dealers care
about the bike that is sold to you. They could also give you
alternative choices when the cost is a question? They often
speak the same language as the buyer. In the same manner,
refrain from buying mass retailed bikes. There may also be good
bikes on their display, but seldom will the sales pitch be of
use when you want a serious bike that will suit you.
Get Good Deal
Like anything that is sold in the market, mountain bike
prices are driven by supply and demand and so the prices
fluctuate during the year. Sales for mountain bikes are up
during spring until summer. If you are willing to wait, the
prices of mountain bikes are significantly lower during fall
and winter. During this time of the year, discounts are offered
including those for the accessories and services. Technology in
mountain bike design does not change so significantly every
year and so it is okay to ride the previous year's model.
Set a Price Limit
Mountain bikes are one of those things that you will hate
setting a price tag to. Just like buying a car you would as
much as possible, want to have only the best and the temptation
to pamper a bike is really great. However, just like buying a
car, there is virtually no limit to the money that you could
shell out for a bike. Take titanium frames for example. Anybody
would want that in a bike but if the price is prohibitive, you
will never start owning one if you wait for the right moment to
come up with enough budget for a titanium framed bike. So set a
price limit, upgrades could come later.
Test Ride …
…and test ride some more. Different bikes feel differently.
The more bikes you try, the more likely that you will arrive at
the best bike that will suit your riding style.
Remember that more you will be stuck with the bike that you
choose today for quite a while. Your planned upgrades will also
depend much on the kind of bike that is chosen.
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