| How to choose a mountain bike depends on | | | | MTB parts, of course will be Shimano and |
| what you are going to do with it, if all | | | | as usual get the best you can afford. |
| you want your new mountain bike for is | | | | There are many combinations of hubs and |
| going for a nice leisurely ride on the | | | | rims to make up your wheels; hubs from |
| canal path or a ride in the woods with | | | | Shimano and rims form Mavic are the |
| the dog, well you wont need a full | | | | usual mix. Then you have to choose which |
| suspension downhill machine with 4 inch | | | | suspension forks to put on you bike, you |
| travel on the forks and a fully | | | | may not get a choice, depending on which |
| articulated rear end with damping and | | | | bike you buy, the main ones are Suntour, |
| rebound control. | | | | Marzocchi, Manitou, Fox, RockShox and |
| Where to Start From. | | | | RST, buy any of these and you wont go |
| If you do want to go for an easy ride in | | | | far wrong. |
| the park you don't need to spend too | | | | Top Bikes, Top Money. |
| much, if you think you will do any | | | | If you want what the professionals ride |
| off-road riding then big tread tires | | | | you will have to pay a lot of money a |
| maybe all you need, but if you think you | | | | professional MTB. As with road bike at |
| might try some rough stuff then you will | | | | the top of the range, you can specify |
| need suspension. Gears will probably be | | | | what you want to build up your dream |
| Shimano, brakes must be V-brakes, but | | | | bike. Top bikes frames to spend your |
| could be made by a few different | | | | money on could be Klien, Scott, Rocky |
| manufacturers, all the rest of the MTB | | | | Mountain, Gary Fisher, Santa Cruz and |
| components will depend on how much you | | | | K2; these are some of the most sought |
| can spend. If you go to your local bike | | | | after bike frames in the world and would |
| shop or big sports store and see what | | | | be the envy of your friends. Probably |
| they've got to offer, then buy it or | | | | the best forks to put on your frame |
| have look on the Internet and maybe | | | | would be RockShox SID's these are light |
| you'll find the same thing at a better | | | | and do all the things you need with |
| price. | | | | control of all functions, there are many |
| The Next Step Up. | | | | other to also to consider, look at how |
| So maybe you want to be a bit more | | | | much travel they have and the rebound |
| adventurous, more off-road, more forest | | | | and damping systems. Gears again will be |
| tracks and dry boulder river beds, then | | | | either SRAM or Shimano Rapid fire, XT or |
| you'll need something a little lighter, | | | | XTR, more money could be spent on carbon |
| with suspension forks. All this will | | | | or very light alloy cranks, the brakes |
| cost you more money, but will be worth | | | | should be hydraulic discs from Hayes, |
| it for the extra enjoyment and | | | | Pace or Magura or stick to the trusted |
| adventure. With a better mountain bike | | | | V-bakes. Wheels from Shimano or Mavic or |
| it will have a sportier handling and | | | | some fancy carbon wheels, but remember |
| because it is lighter, it will be easier | | | | they will have to take a lot of |
| to struggle up the hills before you come | | | | punishment, so maybe better to go for |
| flying down the other side. The | | | | reliability over light weight expense. |
| components will again be Shimano and the | | | | Carbon handle bars, stem and seat pin |
| quality will depend on how much money | | | | and a light weight race saddle and Time |
| you can spend. V-brakes and Rapid-fire | | | | or Shimano SPD clipless pedals, then |
| gear shifters, along with Shimano chain | | | | your choice of tires will depend on what |
| set, bottom bracket and headset. Handle | | | | terrain and ground conditions you are |
| bars, stem and seat pin should be alloy | | | | going to ride on. |
| and along with a comfortable saddle | | | | And Downhilling? |
| you'll be set to take to the hills. | | | | Downhill bikes are very different, more |
| More Money, More Bike. | | | | like a cross country motor bike, but |
| The next rung up on the mountain bike | | | | without the engine, low center of |
| ladder would be good enough to race on. | | | | gravity and a lot of travel on the |
| There are many to choose from, get on | | | | suspension on the forks and the rear |
| the net and surf the bike manufacturers | | | | end, disc brakes, wide rims and fat |
| sites and all the shop sites along with | | | | tires, gears are only at the back as |
| the magazines for juicy photos of the | | | | usually a single chain set is used. |
| bikes. The top manufacturers in this | | | | Unless your going to do a lot of |
| price range, I would say are: - Trek, | | | | downhill racing then there isn't much |
| Giant, Specialized and Cannondale, these | | | | point in buying one as you have to get |
| companies make the nicest frames with | | | | up the hill first before you can come |
| the best mountain bike parts available | | | | down and as light weight is not an issue |
| at the price, gears will be either | | | | with downhill bikes, they are very heavy |
| Shimano or SRAM, brakes could be | | | | to get up hill with out the use of a tow |
| V-brakes or cable disc brakes, both are | | | | rope or a ski lift. |
| very good and light, most of the other | | | | |