| Buying a mountain bike can seem like a big decision | | | | Shifters: |
| but you can help yourself by getting educated about | | | | Mountain bikes use two different types of shifters, |
| the important aspects of the bike. The following six | | | | the Gripfit and the Rapidfire shifters. The Rapidfire |
| areas should be thought about before you make | | | | shifters are located under the brake lever and Gripfit |
| your next mountain bike purchase. | | | | shifters are incorporated into the handlebars that |
| Six Points: | | | | work similar to a motorcycle. It does come down to |
| 1. Price | | | | a matter of preference but the better riders seem |
| 2. Frame | | | | to refer the Rapidfire shifters over the Gripfit |
| 3. Brakes | | | | shifters. |
| 4. Shifters | | | | Tires: |
| 5. Tires | | | | It is important to have the larger knobby tires if you |
| 6. Fit | | | | are going to be spending most of your time off road. |
| Price: | | | | You will get better traction and more control on the |
| The best mountain bikes can cost thousands of | | | | uneven terrain. If you are using the mountain bike for |
| dollars and can cost as little as several hundred dollars. | | | | mainly street use then you can get away with the |
| The first place to start your search is to determine | | | | smaller knobs for less resistance on the flatter paved |
| the price you are willing to pay. A good beginner | | | | surfaces. If you are going to use the mountain bike |
| mountain bike will cost between 400 and 800 dollars | | | | for off road and on road then look for a tire with a |
| depending on where you buy it. To insure that you | | | | ridge in the middle and medium sized knobs on the |
| won't be replacing your mountain bike in the near | | | | side of the tire. |
| future don't go the route of buying the Walmart | | | | Fit |
| specials. Many people make this very mistake when | | | | To get the best mountain bike that suits you well it |
| start out to buy a mountain bike. Rather than getting | | | | is important to get the right size bike. A good |
| the inexpensive mountain bike in the beginning and | | | | starting point would be to have a three inch |
| replacing it within a year, you would have been | | | | clearance above the top frame tube while you are |
| better off with the higher priced mountain from the | | | | straddling the bike. It does matter what terrain you |
| start. The Iron Horse Mountain Bike is a good | | | | will be ridding on. If you are going to be riding a bit |
| example of a popular mountain bike at an affordable | | | | more aggressively you can increase this to four to |
| price. | | | | six inches of clearance to allow for ease of operation |
| Brakes: | | | | over very uneven surfaces. As you are sitting on the |
| Obviously the best mountain bikes have the best | | | | bike and your feet on the pedals try and maintain a |
| brakes. The decision you have to make is whether to | | | | 30 degree angle with the leg at the bottom of the |
| use disk brakes or rim brakes. The cost of disk | | | | apex. Generally speaking 30 degrees of knee bend is |
| brakes are higher but the braking power is superior. | | | | a good place to start. |
| Rim brakes offer a lighter, lower cost alternative but | | | | That's the basics you need to know before buying |
| you will sacrifice some performance particularly in wet | | | | the best mountain bike for yourself. Choose wisely |
| conditions. The Diamondback Recoil Full Suspension | | | | when starting out and you can expect to get many |
| Mountain Bike is a fine example of a high quality | | | | miles out of your mountain bike. |
| mountain bike that incorporates dual disk brakes. | | | | |