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