| Honestly, even if you're new to biking - how do you | | | | founded his company in 1974, with the intent to "give |
| think you can go wrong with a name like | | | | everyone the best ride of their life." Since then the |
| "Specialized"? Mountain bikes under this label have | | | | professional mountain bikes turned out by the |
| been patronized by discriminating cycling enthusiasts - | | | | company have made the top picks, and in the past |
| and not just because the name is catchy, but | | | | years the company's success in developng its |
| because this brand has a performance history that's | | | | mountain bike lines was driven by the presence of its |
| no less than good and solid.Specialized mountain bikes | | | | independent suspension FSR frame.Specialized is also |
| of the Rockhopper line, for example, have remained | | | | known for producing quality "budget" bikes - and by |
| at the top of consumer rankings for a long time, | | | | this, we mean trail bicycles that are slightly cheaper |
| contending with equally popular classics like the Trek | | | | than industry standard, for their caliber. They're still |
| 4500 and the Gary Fisher Marin. These "hardtail" bikes | | | | more expensive than you could expect a regular bike |
| are lightweight and perfect for use by cyclists with | | | | to be - for example, a "cheap" competition-grade |
| different body types, which makes it a favorite for | | | | Specialized model could still cost a little over $1000. |
| most kinds of rugged trails.The average weight of a | | | | Before you balk at this price, you must remember |
| Specialized bike is 30 pounds. The aluminum frame | | | | that Specialized bikes are known to compete with |
| helps greatly in reducing weight and increasing speed. | | | | big-name brands like Marin, Trek and Giant, some of |
| And because aluminum is tried and tested for its | | | | which definitely sell their "budget" models at much |
| durability, it is also the material of choice by | | | | higher costs! But you could look forward to top of |
| Specialized manufacturers. You can test the worth of | | | | the line service and performance from Specialized |
| a bike of this name by putting it through a trail bike | | | | mountain bikes. You could save a little more if you |
| test; see how well it performs and how easily it is to | | | | buy previous years' models, which almost invariably |
| transport during normally arduous uphill climbs.Mike | | | | drop in prices as new and shinier models enter the |
| Sinyard, creator of Specialized Bicycle Components, | | | | market. |