| For the first time buyer, the choice of a mountain | | | | critical angles of the bike include the angle of its head |
| bike might be daunting. Mountain bikes are not your | | | | tube and the seat tube. These are to be measured |
| everyday bikes and are especially designed for | | | | as the distance from the horizontal axis. The angles |
| cycling on difficult terrain. You can use these types | | | | make a lot of difference to the rider's position on the |
| of bikes to navigate hilly areas, steep declines, rocky | | | | bike and the bike's characteristics. As a rule of thumb, |
| mountain and any other sort of unpaved road. Here | | | | steeper angles are helpful for pedaling uphill and |
| are a few important things you should know about | | | | better handling. Angles tending towards zero give |
| mountain bikes. | | | | higher speed and more stability on downhill courses. |
| • Mountain bikes are very different from regular | | | | • You will have to check the type of suspension |
| use cycles and racing cycles. They are built to | | | | on your mountain bike. This could be fully rigid, hard - |
| withstand the jerks and pressure of use on uneven | | | | tail, soft-tail or dual suspension. The suspension |
| terrain. You should ensure that the model you are | | | | essentially protects the bike and the rider from the |
| looking at is a genuine mountain bike. If you use | | | | shocks of a rough terrain. This is one of the most |
| regular bikes on hilly terrain the results could be | | | | important parts of the bike. There are many new |
| disastrous. | | | | variants in the mountain bike market offering buyers |
| • You can also choose your bike according to the | | | | different types of suspension, but most hard-core |
| type of terrain it is best suited for. Varieties like the | | | | bikers routinely prefer a hard-tail frame. |
| cross country bike have little suspension and a light | | | | • The final check on your mountain bike should |
| frame. All-mountain bikes are generally heavier and | | | | be its brakes. They may be standard V-brakes or |
| feature more suspension. You could also choose from | | | | the newer disc brakes. Disc brakes are generally |
| free ride or down hill bikes that differ from each | | | | preferred over older versions because they give the |
| other in terms of weight and strength. Both types | | | | rider more power under a variety of conditions. Disc |
| are basically used for racing on inclines. | | | | brakes are also easier to maintain and last longer than |
| • You will have to check the frame of your | | | | conventional brakes. |
| mountain bike to ascertain its critical angles. The | | | | |