What You Need to Get Started Mountain Biking
Mountain biking mixes exploring nature with high-speed fun. It’s a great way to conquer rugged trails, and it’s a lot quicker than going on foot.
“On a mountain bike, you can cover a lot of ground,” says Lea Davison, a cross-country mountain biker and two-time Olympian. “You can challenge yourself or have fun with friends, and you can set and achieve goals and overcome obstacles.”
Here are a few things you should know before buying a mountain bike.
MOUNTAIN BIKE BASICS
To get into mountain biking, you’ll need a knobby-tire, flat-bar bike, new or used. Most mountain bikes have front suspension, though many have rear suspension too. Suspension lets the wheels move independently, smoothing out the trail and cushioning the landing when you hop off an obstacle. Typically, front suspension-only bikes, called “hard tails,” cost less than full-suspension bikes, but full-suspension bikes offer smoother riding, making hard trails easier to handle.
Lea Davison, a cross-country mountain biker and two-time Olympian.
No matter what sort of bike you’re looking for, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
WHERE TO SHOP FOR A MOUNTAIN BIKE
If you’re buying a new bike, shop for sales. You can also consider a certified pre-owned used bike, like those listed on TheProsCloset.com. In addition to sales and used bikes, you can save some money by looking at bikes with fewer features.
Try shopping at your local bike shop. The salespeople there will be so much more knowledgeable. When talking to salespeople, be honest about your biking skills and where you plan to ride. That way, they can point you toward the best bike for your skill level.
One quality bike is MARIN BIKES’ RIFT ZONE 1 ($1,799, marinbikes.com) that comes with either 27.5- or 29-inch wheels.
QUALITY BIKES AND COMPONENTS
You may see a really cool-looking, full-suspension bicycle for a good price, but it could be really heavy and not very durable. Look for models that are lighter and more durable.
As you push the pedals, it’s the bike’s components (gears and other moving parts) that move you down the trail. If you buy a bike with poor-quality components, you probably won’t get very far. Make sure your bike is outfitted with higher quality gears and components.
CHECK THE FIT AND TEST DRIVE
Before purchasing any bike, be sure it fits. Someone at the shop should help you find the correct bike for your size.
You should be able to stand over the top tube with both feet flat on the ground. You should have at least a couple of inches of room, so you can hop on and off easily. It’ll also make the bike more maneuverable. And look for a bike with an adjustable-height seat so the bike can grow with you.
Test ride as many different models as you can. Try doing tight turns and sprinting on the bike. If you can, ride up a couple of curbs, too. Pay special attention to how the bike turns and shifts.
GIRO’S FIXTURE MIPS II HELMETS ($74.95, giro.com) are designed to move slightly, diverting the impact away from your head and reducing possible brain damage.
HELMET AND SHOES
You need a good helmet and closed-toed shoes. Buy a helmet with rotational protection, like MIPS, which stands for Multidirectional Impact Protection System. Do not buy a used helmet. Most helmets are designed to take a single impact, and then they need to be replaced.
Flat pedals are the way to go for beginners. Use the ones that come with the bike, or upgrade to pedals that have more aggressive spikes. They’ll keep your feet from slipping off.
You can ride in sneakers, but a bike-specific shoe will give you better control. Again, look for a shoe in your size that matches the shape of your foot.
RIDE CONCEPTS’ VICE ($100, rideconcepts.com)
SAFETY CHECK AND PRACTICE
Before you go mountain biking, do a safety check. Check that your tires are properly inflated, the brakes work and are adjusted, the chain is lubricated, and the saddle and handlebars fit.
Ride around your yard or a park before hitting mountain trails. You’ll get a feel for the bike and can practice shifting. If the bike has a dropper post for the seat, practice raising and lowering it until those actions become intuitive. Keep your eyes forward and your arms bent. It’s super important to look where you want to go and avoid looking where you don’t want to go.
Wear the proper safety equipment, and start with easier trails. Mountain biking is all about progression. Ease into it and build your skills, and every day on the bike can be a great one.
THE BIKER’S ESSENTIALS
Don’t leave home for a ride without these important pieces of biking gear:
- Helmet
- Water Bottle
- Tire pump
- Extra inner tube and/or patch kit
- Tire and chain tools
- Bike shorts (optional)
- Gloves
- Glasses/goggles (optional)
Ask the Gear Guy
Not sure which gear to buy? Need tips for maintaining your equipment? Click here to send in your questions for the Gear Guy. Selected questions will be answered here and in the printed magazine.
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get a tonka full suspension from walmart in 20in. I love mine and didnt have to spend alot of cash only 59.99!
For bicycle essentials for bikers who ride on roads with regular vehicle traffic, I’d include a flourescent orange zippered sweat shirt or a flourescent orange traffic triangle flag along with other bicycle reflectors that vehicle drivers can spot in low visibility situations from greater than fifty yards from a bicyclist–for the essence of bicycle safety.
my dad has a shwin sidewinder that is more than 10 years old but it is a great bike.
i think konas the best
I got a Schwinn spitfire from a department store and it works just fine, thabk you.
Got a Schwinn S-60–It’s awesome! I do all sorts of wheelies and bunnyhops on it!
I got a Trek 820… It’s nice. Konas are really amazing, too.
mountain bikes have great traction
Konas are the best types of bikes. If you get a kona, you’re reallly getting into the area of high performance and durable bikes, with great components.
I have a mongoose. I was on of those $100 Wal-Mart ones, but it’s good enough for me!
That’s weird. I cant find any boys’ bikes at walmart. I’m assuming you ride my size because if you were any bigger it would probably cost around $200.00, right?
One tip. unless you do SERIOUS riding, never spend too much on a cannondale.
You should never even consider getting a bike from a department. all it will do is break into pieces within a couple of days. Do yourself a favor and spend the extra $. I’m 17 and have purchased all of my bike from bike shops. They have better products and better customer service. I’ve been mountain biking for 6 years. I started out on a Trek 3700 for about $350. Now I have a Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo that cost me about $1500. Money well spent!!!
GARY FISHER is the way to go i have a green wahoo i plan to get disc brakes for it works great for beginners looking into mountain biking
$100.00 bikes from wal-mart are not a very good choice because they are very heavy, fragile, and the suspension is extremely stiff. If you want a good bike you will have to go above $250.00.
You cannot forget the mongoose mountain bikes. They are awesome! I went on a trail with my mongoose spark ( dual suspension, Dual disc brakes, Front and rear fenders, 21 speed and side handle bars and $259.00.) and it didn’t even creak.
By the way is $259.00 a good price?
Don’t have one yet but I want one.
I got a great schwiin mountain bike at target for $130
trek is without a doubt the probly the best moutain bike and road bike around. i have a trek and its a great bike to ride on trails and theings like that and it is a pretty good on the road to…..
No bob, a $104 wal-mart bike is not good. if you do anything more that ride around very easy trails or the streets it will break. Do yourself a favor and buy a nice bike from a shop. I have a Trek 4200…i think. Its very nice
Day before yesterday was my 11 bday so i got a trek 820 [16″] for $300 this guide is okay, but they should suggest some models.
Last year I bought my first mountain bike for $350.00 at Trails End. I now race with WVMBASS (west virginia mountain bike assoc) I also ride on the W AND O(WASHINGTNTON and Ohio rail road) i ride on my rode bike 21 mi in 1 hour to Purcellville to Washingston
21 mph that’s nothing.
slow poke
i have a specialized rochhopper. it cost 770.00. its a great bike, and comes in many sizes (im 6′ 4″)
I almost bought a schwinn but then went to a bike shop and for 150 more and got the more exspensive and is cooler looking lighter
and better
i found a dual suspension at wal-mart for 104.00 and its really good.
nice info, keep it up BL
that is some pretty good edvise.