| Buying a mountain bike can be majorly frustrating, | | | | too many combinations available. The best thing to |
| not to mention time consuming. Below is a guide to | | | | do is to find the components that are essential to |
| help you in your decision before you purchase your | | | | you and then make sure the everything else falls |
| mountain bike. | | | | within your budget. |
| Decide your budget | | | | Wait for the sales |
| There is no limit as to how much you can spend on a | | | | Throughout the year, the cost of buying a mountain |
| new bike so to help you keep your budget under | | | | bike fluctuates regularly. Between spring and summer |
| control, you need to work out what your price range | | | | is the main buying season when prices are at their |
| is and what will be the most you are willing to pay. | | | | highest so if you can wait until the fall you should |
| Try and support your local bike store rather than | | | | save a couple hundred dollars. Most bike stores will |
| from mass merchants like Wal-Mart. You'll get great | | | | also offer good discounts or free accessories if you |
| advice and a better bike too. | | | | buy from them. |
| Riding style - discovers yours | | | | Find a good dealer |
| Almost every mountain bike is designed to suit many | | | | Finding a good bike dealer is more important than |
| kinds of terrains and riding styles so you must first | | | | getting the cheapest price. You will always find that |
| decide on the particular kind of riding you will mainly | | | | dealers care more about selling you your perfect bike |
| be doing. Smooth riding, cross country racing, | | | | than selling you the most expensive one. |
| mountain cruising, this is something you need to | | | | Test ride |
| figure out. | | | | If possible test ride as many bikes as you can within |
| Go for full suspension if you can | | | | your budget and riding style. You'll discover that while |
| If your budget will allow it, a full suspension mountain | | | | some bikes will feel right, others won't. By test riding |
| bike is definitely worth buying. A hard tail, without | | | | the bikes first, you'll be able to understand what |
| rear suspension, weighs less and pedals more | | | | works for you and what doesn't. |
| efficiently but full suspensions offer greater comfort | | | | Do your research |
| and better control. | | | | Bike reviews offer one of the best ways to find out |
| Finding your favorites | | | | about a mountain bike's reliability and performance. |
| Trying to compare a mountain bike from component | | | | Always look at what other owners and reviewers |
| to component is almost impossible, as there are way | | | | think about a bike before youpart with your cash. |