| I guess that, with the development of the Internet | | | | communities, from bearings to bike meccas. And of |
| from a bunch of computers strung along a small | | | | course, with the spurt of the e-commerce trend, it |
| network to a worldwide network of millions and | | | | cannot be avoided that shops catering to the |
| millions of PCs and Macs, you can find anything you | | | | specialized needs of mountain bikers have sprouted |
| want online with just a few keywords and Google | | | | online as well. |
| (or Yahoo!, or MSN, or AOL, whichever you prefer). I | | | | But is this a bad thing we're talking about? I don't |
| have been a Netizen for almost 6 years now; enough | | | | think so. Online bike shops offer unequaled |
| to have observed and experienced several of the | | | | convenience and an excellent array of products that |
| significant developments and changes that the cyber | | | | your local bike shop cannot hope to match. Unless, of |
| world has gone through. | | | | course, your local bike shop has established an online |
| So why was I surprised when I found out that | | | | presence as well. Mountain bikers are benefiting from |
| mountain biking has found a new home on the | | | | the wide range of products and services that are |
| Internet? And not just a sport, but a burgeoning | | | | available from the Internet. Whether you just want |
| community of pedaling enthusiasts that spans the | | | | to find the best price for that disc brake you need, |
| globe. Going back to my self-imposed question, why | | | | or you're looking for brake pads for your ultimate |
| was I surprised to see this? Probably because in my | | | | mountain bike, shopping online can be the best way |
| privately-held and biased opinion, I've always thought | | | | to go. |
| that freewheeling mountain bikers who spend their | | | | You don't have to be a technical wizard to enjoy |
| time going up and down hills riding their two-wheeled | | | | online shopping for your bike gear. Most mountain |
| pedal machines wouldn't have the time nor the | | | | bike websites usually feature helpful hints and tips to |
| inclination to build a place on the Web. | | | | guide the less-than-expert shoppers make the most |
| I was certainly proven wrong, and how. Mountain | | | | out of their website. Are you looking for a particular |
| biking is definitely getting more and more exposure | | | | product for your specialized mountain bike? Or |
| on the Internet, and well-deserved exposure, I might | | | | perhaps you just want to see all available products |
| add. As I said, I have discovered that there is already | | | | from your favorite manufacturer? Online stores like |
| a booming population of closely-knit communities of | | | | LA Mountain Bikes help you to search for any item |
| mountain bikers in cyberspace. You can practically find | | | | you want using keywords. You can also shop by |
| hundreds of websites, blogs, and forums dedicated | | | | using the categorized menu. Everything is arranged |
| to the sport. A wide array of topics are being | | | | and laid out to enable shoppers to find and buy |
| discussed and presented at length in these | | | | products faster and easier. |