Find out 3 basic principles to look out for first when choosing a mountain bike. Mountain bikes are becoming more and more popular every day. Manufacturers quickly reacted to the high demand and were actively engaged in improving this vehicle. Today mountain bikes are a fast off-road vehicle equipped with quality shock absorbers and an excellent braking system. Today we will tell you how to choose a mountain bike and not be disappointed with your purchase.
What is a mountain bike?
On a mountain bike, you can travel with the same comfort, both on city roads and on difficult terrain. However, this is not its only advantage, and today mountain bikes can be found quite often. Bicycles of this class are equipped with a reinforced frame, rims and other elements. As a result, the safety margin increases dramatically.
Thanks to the increased clearance between the road and the carriage, you can easily tackle the toughest sections of the track. The tires have a deep tread, which allows you to control the bike well while riding on any surface. However, you should remember that mountain bikes are primarily intended for off-road riding and some positive qualities while driving on asphalt can be a disadvantage. At the same time, the quality of ours is expensive in most cases leaves much to be desired. Let's take a look at the mountain bike varieties.
Cross country
These bikes are designed for light off-road riding. Perhaps it is cross-country that is the most practical and common solution. Moreover, such bicycles have a relatively low cost.
Double suspension
The cost is slightly higher than the previous version of the mountain bike. The dual suspension is equipped with front and rear shock absorbers for a more comfortable ride. However, this also increases the weight of the bike, which can be considered a disadvantage.
Downhill
Designed for downhill descents from steep mountain slopes. The safety margin of the bicycle is great and it is actively used by professional athletes in competitions.
More recently, 26-inch wheels were considered standard for mountain bikes. Recently, however, 27.5 and 29 inches are becoming more and more popular. Smaller wheel diameters make the bike more maneuverable, while larger wheels improve rolling and contribute to a more comfortable ride.
When do you need a mountain bike?
We have already noted that mountain bikes are primarily necessary for overcoming steep descents and ascents, as well as off-road. They thrive in rain, snow and ice-covered roads. You can also ride a mountain bike on an asphalt road, but here they are in some respects inferior to road and highway bikes. Among the reasons for this, we note:
- Due to the deep tread on the tires, the resistance increases significantly.
- Due to the peculiarities of the landing, the air flow increases.
- Shock absorbers slow down acceleration.
- A straight steering wheel on the track is not very comfortable and you will have to slow down.
Mountain bikes are actively used by cyclists, freeriders, trialists and downhillers. If you often have to move over rough terrain, then definitely pay attention to the mountain bike. Below we will tell you how to choose a mountain bike.
Mountain bike selection rules: general guidelines
Now we will talk about the general rules for choosing a mountain bike for men and women.
Riding style
- Cross-country driving in urban or suburban areas - inflated frame, wide tires, rim brakes and front shock absorbers.
- Cycling - light bike weight, increased structural strength, front and rear shock absorbers, reliable disc or hydraulic braking system. The main requirement for a bicycle in such conditions is the ability to withstand prolonged loads and sudden changes in travel conditions.
- Trial - minimum weight, increased structural strength and ability to withstand jumping loads, compact small frame, rigid fork.
- Downhill - double suspension, maximum strength of the main elements and the entire structure, shock absorbers travel from 150 millimeters.
- Freeride - Robust and lightweight construction, front shocks with a minimum of 100mm travel.
- XC - Light weight, rigid construction. The main requirement for a bicycle in such a situation is the ability to develop high speed and overcome light off-road well. Shock absorber travel should be 80-100 millimeters, high-quality braking system and a large number of gears.
Price
For many people, this very criterion is decisive. However, we recommend that you make a budget with some margin, because you will need some accessories, spare parts, etc. Also, its purpose depends on the cost of the bike. Let's say mountain bikes are significantly cheaper compared to downhills.
Rostovka
This concept defines the correspondence of the frame size to the athlete's height. Bicycle dimensions are measured from the center of the carriage to the end of the seat tube in inches. For the selection of the size, we recommend using special tables.
How to choose a mountain bike for a man?
We've already covered the general selection criteria, and it's time to figure out how to choose a mountain bike based on gender. A mountain bike for a man should correspond not only to height, but also to physiological characteristics. Here are the main parameters to watch out for:
- Free rack.
- Frame length.
- Straightened leg.
Start your bike selection from a free rack. Place the bike between your legs and in this position the minimum distance from the top tube of the frame should be 4 to 5 centimeters. However, we recommend choosing a bike with a margin, and in this case, this figure will already be 7-10 centimeters. We do not recommend taking a bike strictly in size, as during the trip, emergency situations are possible, for example, sudden braking. To minimize the risks of injury and it is worth having a stock.
It is possible, but not necessary, to select the size of the bike according to the tables. If you know the length of your legs, then the following formula works great: the height of the leg (in centimeters) is divided by 0.56, and the result is multiplied by 2.54.
Once you've decided on a frame, you can start adjusting the seat height. It should be positioned so that the foot on the pedal at the lowest point of the trajectory of movement is almost completely extended. In this case, both feet should reach the ground. If you are mistaken in choosing a frame, you will not be able to adjust the saddle well either.
Also pay attention to the length of the frame. The standard seat-to-handlebar distance should provide an approximate fit. If you are forced to slouch or lean back at the selection stage, look for another bike. The final tip for choosing a male model concerns the physique of the athlete. For lean cyclists, large frames are great, while full ones should focus on low ones.
How to choose a mountain bike for a woman?
A bike for representatives of the beautiful half of humanity should be chosen in accordance with the anatomical structure. Here I would like to note that although mountain bikes are becoming more and more popular among girls, they are still better demanded by men. We recommend that you pay attention to the following criteria when choosing a mountain bike for a girl:
- Low weight.
- Correspondence of the frame size to the athlete's height.
- Shortened and lowered frame.
Of course, you can take a closer look at universal bikes, but the rides on them will not be entirely comfortable. Most often, manufacturers guess the optimal parameters of bicycles, and in this case, for a comfortable ride, you only have to make a small adjustment. The frame height for girls will be one size smaller compared to men's bikes.
A comfortable and safe ride primarily depends on the fit. When applied to a mountain bike, this corresponds to an inclination of the body at an angle of about 45 degrees. Since the length of the back of girls is shorter than that of men, the front tubes should also be shorter. The saddle, on the other hand, should be wider and more comfortable. Also remember about the “straight leg” rule, which no one has canceled.
It is quite obvious that a woman's bike does not have to be heavy. Remember, you will surely come across situations when you have to carry the bike in your hands. We recommend that girls pay attention to lightweight models equipped with compact frames.
Design features: brake system and wheels
Since the use of a mountain bike requires serious loads, the wheels must be strong and the brakes must be reliable. We have already talked about the features of wheels and tires above. However, it should be warned. That with frequent trips on the highways, it is worth stopping the choice on semi-slick. Otherwise, aggressive protectors will squeeze all the strength out of you. If you are not limited in finances, you can take replacement kits of rubber and thus turn your mountain bike into a real SUV.
We recommend paying attention to the rims. If steel was used to make them, look for another bike. Aluminum alloy rims are the best choice. Anodized ones, which differ in black, will cost you a little more. We do not recommend saving on a mountain bike and purchasing a model equipped with a double rim. If we talk about brakes, then each of the two types has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Rim brake system
Easier to operate and repair, and the reliability of the brakes is highly dependent on exposure to water and dirt. Since we are talking about a mountain bike, which should easily overcome off-road, this is quite important. If the wheel gets a figure eight, then the rim brakes become less effective. If you decide to opt for this brake system, then pay attention to v-brake - brakes with parallel pad travel.
Disc brake system
Due to some advantages recently disc brakes are actively replacing rim brakes from the market. They have high braking efficiency, better perceive the magnitude of the pressing force on the brake lever, do not depend on weather conditions, are not able to increase rim wear, and are insensitive to wheel deformations. Among the disadvantages of a disc brake system, we note the higher cost, increased weight and some risks of damage to the discs at the moment the wheel breaks off the obstacle.
More tips for choosing a mountain bike in the following video:
