Mountain biking is a thrilling sport. The first thing to know is what you are going to use it for. If you just want the bike for a ride around the block then getting an expensive one isn’t a wise use of money. Thus the first thing you need to know is about the various types and their uses. There are basically five types of mountain bikes. Each of them is designed to tackle different kinds of terrain and obstacles and has its own advantages and disadvantages. .
Cross country mountain bikes
They are designed for off-road trails with minimal to moderate obstacles. They can be also used for climbs and descents. They are made up of the most light weight material in order to go as fast as possible in all natural condition. Suspension often comes in the form of air shocks. These bikes are usually more rigid than those of other mountain bikes,
Trail mountain bikes
These are basically a modification to Cross Country Mountain Bikes, with softer suspension systems to handle harder and more technical obstacles. The only downside to this type is that pedalling may require more effort from the rider because of the increased suspension travel.
Downhill mountain bikes
They are designed for downhill trails and race courses with steep drops. They have more suspension travel than any other type. These tend to be heavier (over 40 pounds), but are made as light as possible to make them suitable for racing. Since they are built for fast downhill runs, they are very hard to use for climbs. They are often equipped with hydraulic disc brakes to help them stop during high speeds.
Free ride Mountain bikes
These look somewhat like Downhill Mountain Bikes, can weigh almost as much but are designed to be easier to pedal. They are made to function both as a Cross Country and a Downhill Mountain Bike, but may not perform as efficiently as the two when it comes to their respective features.
Dirt Jump mountain bikes
These bikes are used for hitting jumps as well as for street riding and slalom races. Some people refer to them as oversized BMX bikes that have front suspension. They are typically made of very strong materials to be able to take the impact of jumps and their suspension systems are just a tad softer than those of Cross Country Mountain Bikes.
Once you have figured out which bikes suits you or your terrain or your biking style, you can start allocating the budget. There is virtually no limits on how much you can spend but it is wise to figure out the price range you are wiling to pay or can pay. Entry level bikes would set you back around $250 to $300. Of course a high-end mountain bike could cost as much as $5000. If you want one that looks nice and go the distance, a mid range bike of around $1500 to $2000 would be ok. But don’t spend much on something you are going to ride to a grocery market. If you are low on budget it makes sense to buy a hard tail because they can do almost all of what mountain biking is all about.
Another thing, you should look for are the parts it is made of. These parts may be upgraded anytime. Parts may be upgraded one by one or as a group set.
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