How to choose a mountain bike? What criteria to consider when choosing?

The number of cyclists is increasing every day. But before you buy a two-wheeled friend, you need to know all the nuances and selection criteria. Especially this rule applies to certain species, for example, it is important for the choice of a mountain bike.

Advantages and disadvantages of a mountain bike

To understand how to choose a mountain bike, you should know its clear purpose. And it is necessary for walks on complex forest and mountain paths. The main characteristic of the mountain bike is its increased patency and stability on loose soils. The advantages of a mountain bike include:

• Versatility. Acquire such a bicycle usually for sports, walking on heavy tracks, as well as for ordinary trips.
• Comfortable riding.
• This kind can be equipped with any additional accessories and accessories, thereby improving its performance.

But, like every multifunctional unit, a mountain bike has its drawbacks:

• Speed. It is not intended for fast driving and is much inferior in this indicator to other types of bicycles.
• Almost complete absence of rolling.

The best mountain bikes by species

Because there are many types of mountain bikes, you need to know how to choose a mountain bike by its type. The first and most common is a high-speed mountain bike. They are divided according to the type of suspension: hardtails and two-podvesvesy. The first type has a rigid frame and a front shock-absorber fork. Two-pendants are equipped with shock-absorbing forks on two wheels.

Other types of mountain bikes include:

• Rigid rigidity - equipped with rigid frames and forks. In such bicycles, depreciation occurs either due to structural features of the frame, or thanks to an integrated shock absorber in the rear triangle of the frame.
• Crosscountry is the most versatile species, suitable for high-speed cross-country driving, as well as for driving around the city. For such MTV are characterized by low weight and high manufacturability.
• Trial - designed for extreme driving. This species is described as a teenage mountain bike, since its frame is light, sturdy and small, and one or two brakes are a guarantee of safety. Trials that are designed to perform tricks, have a certain design, namely: reduced wheels, no brake system, a movable steering wheel that rotates around the axis for 360 degrees.
• Downhill - the most expensive bike, which is designed for descent from the mountains at high speed.
• Freeride. Due to its design, this bike is designed for driving on very difficult mountain and forest roads. On it you can freely navigate the gullies.
• Dart-jumping. For these mountain bikes, artificial routes are created, because they do not have a brake system and speeds.

Accounting for pricing policy when choosing a mountain bike

Before choosing a mountain bike, you should pay attention to its price. You can buy cheap mountain bikes only during the period of discounts. Mostly it falls at the end of the summer season. It is at this time that almost all mountain bikes are given discounts. According to experts, a good mountain bike costs from $ 400. It is in this price category that bicycles from famous manufacturers perform.

Cheap mountain bikes, as a rule, have poor equipment, a poor-quality frame that can crack during driving. Mountain biking, whose price starts at $ 400, is quite easy to choose, because many manufacturers use the same equipment.

For example, in many models you can see the same transmissions, brakes or forks. But at the same time some copies will have a higher value than their counterparts. This trend is that many manufacturers increase the price for the brand.

That is why, the more popular the brand, the higher the fee. Knowing this feature, it is necessary to look for a less famous brand bicycle, but not inferior in terms of its characteristics. For example, the mountain bike "Stealth" - the ideal model, which has an adequate cost and good performance.

Technical characteristics of a good mountain bike - transmission

Another criterion for choosing a good mountain bike is its technical equipment. Particular attention must be paid to the transmission. It includes overruns (front and rear), switches on the handlebars (armpits), as well as front and rear stars.

The best producers of these components are "Shimano" and "Srem". These companies produce different lines that differ in price categories. It should be remembered that each manufacturer tries, while remaining in the same price for the entire model, to install one expensive part and cheaper remaining components. Experienced users know that all bicycle parts must be either equally expensive or cheap.

Also pay attention to the number of speeds. If there are 27 of them, then the speed of movement from this will not change. The most optimal option is the availability of 24-speed. In this case, the bicycle is equipped with 3 stars in the front and 8 in the rear. It is from this distribution of speeds that you should start off by choosing a mountain adult bike.

Types of brake system

As for choosing a bicycle with a brake system, then companies offer two options - disc brakes or vie-breaks. Disc brakes significantly prevail in price, but they show good performance in rain and mud due to their independence from damage to the rim. Hydraulic disc brakes are easy to operate, but difficult to adjust unlike mechanical models.

W-breaks do not work well in rainy weather, often their wheels must be kept evenly. In the rest they are not inferior to disc brakes and are much cheaper.

The rest of the components do not need a picky examination, because their impact on the quality of the bike is minimal. Also, they do not differ in principle from all manufacturers, and the best example is the mountain bike "Stealth". In addition, other parts can be replaced by better ones.

The choice of a bicycle according to the ratio of height and frame size

In order for cycling to be comfortable, first of all it is necessary to choose the correct height of the frame according to its growth. In general, stores offer models of standard growth, but they do not fit all styles of riding. It should be taken into account that the aggressive form of motion requires a low frame fit.

To pick up a bike for yourself, you need to become with him on a flat surface. Put him between the legs so that the saddle is under the buttocks. Based on the type of chosen ride, you need to measure the distance between the upper frame tube and the body. It is not necessary to make measurements with a ruler, you can simply make several jumps, approximately the way it will be during the movement.

If the test manipulations are uncomfortable or cause pain, then a lower frame should be selected. For simple trips, you can use the frame above. Conditionally the distance from the pipe to the body is 10-15 centimeters, but it is not necessary to equal these figures, as it is necessary to take into account the degree of its comfort, as well as the manner of driving.

Determining the frame size based on the specified parameters

If you do not have the opportunity to try a mountain-bike, you should know that there are standard ratios of height and frame height. Basically, each manufacturer indicates the size of the seat tube from the top cut to the center of the carriage. If the measurements are done differently, then this should be indicated in the technical specifications.

As each firm designates measurements in own way, for a choice it is necessary to know the growth and to correlate it with length of a seat tube. Dimensions can be indicated in centimeters or inches, as well as in alphabetic order. The average distance can be determined from a table that is easy to find on the website of the issuing company.

Selection of a mountain bike by the diameter of the wheels

To date, manufacturers are producing wheels at 26 and 29 inches. Their choice should be determined by the purpose of the bicycle. Wheels with a diameter of 29 inches are slowly accelerated, but, thanks to a larger momentum, they have good grip and a significant number of points of contact. Negative qualities of such wheels, is the reduction in rolling due to the increased area, as well as the significant weight of the wheels, and hence the entire bicycle. In addition, for maneuverability, a bicycle with such wheels is not suitable.

26-inch wheels, too, will not be able to develop a significant speed, but at the same time increases the roll. This diameter allows the bicycle to be rigid, maneuverable and lightweight. That's why professionals advise for safer riding to purchase mountain bikes with wheels of 29 inches. Performing tricks and faster rides require the use of 26-inch wheels.

Alternative to massive mountain bikes - folding bicycles

Recently, cyclists are increasingly purchasing folding mainbikes for themselves. Folding mountain bike is a very convenient model, as it is very easy to transport, without removing the wheels. And in terms of comfort, such instances are not inferior to monolithic structures.

As for the merits of folding models - everything is simple, but they have drawbacks. The first and main thing is limitation. It is difficult to carry out various maneuvers on it, as well as carry out long trips. Many professionals, of course, can make a round trip on the folding bicycle in the forest, but the amateur is difficult to do it.

The second disadvantage is the low speed. Despite being equipped with 24-inch wheels, the speed is very small. But most folding models have a wheel size of 20 inches, which also significantly limits speed development.

But everyone knows that such specimens are not acquired for sporting achievements or conquering mountain peaks, but for the sake of a unique folding system. Virtually all models have a small frame with a movable hinge in the middle. As a bonus to the hinges, the bike can have telescopic steering rails and saddles, which makes it even more comfortable. This is usually what they pay attention to when buying.

Mountain bike comfort in detail

For those who do not like folding mountain bikes, and he is a happy owner of modern MTV, many shops offer a wide range of accessories that can make the trip more thoughtful.

1. A cycling computer. It is needed to calculate the speed of travel, the kilometers traveled, and also the travel time.
2. Wings. This is a necessary accessory when driving on wet asphalt.
3. Flashlight. This is an indispensable acquisition, especially if you often have to travel in the dark.
4. Flashers. This is another irreplaceable object for traffic at night, because the bicycle, like other vehicles, should be lit by a white lantern in front and red from behind.
5. Pump. For home use it is necessary to purchase a stationary pump, but to maintain the pressure in the tires on the way you need to get a portable device that is attached to the frame.
6. Instruments. A set of necessary keys must have in their arsenal every enthusiast.

The best mountain bike companies

The companies that make bicycles are huge. Some of them have a significant segment in the market due to advertising, others are less well-known, but they produce high-quality models in an acceptable value category.

The most famous for today are:

1. "Cannondale" (Cannondale). Identify bikes firm allows their frame with invisible seams, as well as a unique front suspension system. The most popular line of the company is Gemini, which can be used in bikercross and freeride. Bicycles of this company have never been cheap, but always differed by high quality indicators.

2. "Track" (TREK). Despite popularity, brand bikes have very democratic prices. Lovers and professionals get steel and aluminum models for beginners and rating sports items. The company is famous for its high-quality carbon frames.

3. "Scott" (Scott). Are presented by various assortment for wide application. Fans choose budget models, and professional racers crosscountry draw their attention to the racing series. Bicycles of this company are operated by the St. Petersburg Scott-Racing team.

4. "Gary Fisher" (Gary Fisher). The brand belongs to one well-known brand, under the aegis of which many collections are produced. The same firm produces bicycles of different levels of professionalism. The brand is well-known, besides it has powerful advertising, that's why the price policy is considerably overstated.

Conclusion

To buy the best mountain bikes, represented by the modern market, is quite simple. To do this, you need to clearly define your goals and driving style, as well as budgetary means. But before you buy a certain model, you need to know how to choose a mountain bike for permanent use.