Chances are, you loved biking when you were a kid. It was a way to be independent and have fun at the same time, as well as travel around to friends’ houses much faster than walking. Plus, biking together is a rewarding and exciting experience to share with your friends. You probably have countless memories of racing around your neighborhood or subdivision, flying from one house to the next. No doubt about it, learning to ride a bike and biking with friends are milestones in life. When you first learned how to ride a bike, you probably felt extremely independent and mature, and for good reason! Riding a bike alone for the first time is a big step in proving to your parents that you’re starting to grow up, and by letting you bike alone, you know that your parents are starting to trust you more and more. Knowing how to ride a bike is part of growing up, and even though you may have fallen a few times, once you get back on, it’s hard to ever get off.
In addition to biking as a great social activity, riding a bike is a great way to get exercise. As kids have limitless energy, many parents will recommend biking as frequently as possible. But as an adult, biking can play an important part in your daily fitness routine. Adults use bikes on their daily commutes to help save the planet as well as a way to stay healthy. People who bike regularly can boast of a higher metabolism, increased muscle percentage, and a healthier heart than sedentary adults, and since it’s exercise that actually gets you someplace, you should definitely consider biking as often as possible.
Click here to see the best selling mountain bike brand
Benefits of Riding a Mountain Bike
Even though commuting and riding a bike in the city are great ways to stay fit, they’re maybe not the most exciting way to bike. If you want to ride around in a way that really recalls the freedom you felt in your youth, you might have more success with mountain biking. Mountain biking has come and gone and come back again in popularity, and now it’s more accessible than ever. Plus, mountain bikes can be comfortably ridden for a short commute, so you’ll be able to enjoy your mountain bike year round! Plus, mountain biking has the advantage of being a relatively inexpensive thrill. Once you obtain your bike (and don’t forget a helmet!) you’re pretty much set, except for the occasional tune up or gear replacement. Some extreme sports are quite expensive to participate in, requiring all kinds of fees and equipment, so if you’re on a little bit of a budget, mountain biking would be a great idea. You can even save on gym fees because mountain biking provides such great exercise!
If you’re not interested by now, you will be soon. This article is going to cover all of the best mountain bike brands, and include exactly what you should be looking for. First, we’ll talk about all of the features that you’ll need in a mountain bike, regardless of whether you’re a beginner or an expert. Next, we’ll go over specific mountain bike brands, and discuss the pros and the cons of each. By the end of the article, you’ll be itching to go out and hit the trails, and we can’t say that we’ll be able to blame you!
What To Look For While Shopping On A Budget
When you’re looking for a mountain bike, you’re going to keep a few things in mind. First of all, before you think about buying a bike, determine your riding style. Your riding style means how often or how intensely you’re going to ride, as well was what kind of trails and terrain you’ll be biking on. If you’re having trouble with this, try thinking about it in different terms. What is motivating you to get a mountain bike? Are you an experience cyclist on the road and you’re looking for more variety in your life? Are you going to be biking alone, or with your friends like you used to as a kid? Is there a chance of family outings, or towing a child behind your bike? Considering these options will definitely narrow down what kind of mountain bike will be best for you. If you’re generally unsure about how often you’ll be riding, it’s best to pick a general trail bike. If you’re really fit and enjoy hard workouts, it might be better to go with a hardtail or a full-suspension bike. If you have any frequent joint pain or chronic injuries (or you just prefer a smoother ride), a full-suspension bike would also be the right choice for you.
The second thing you’ll think about when looking for a mountain bike is what kind of trails you’ll be riding. If you haven’t been to any local trails, do some research and find out what the terrain is like. If you’ll be riding on trails that are a mix of dirt and pavement, you should stick with a hardtail bike. If you’ll be riding on trails that are rough, rocky, and have small drops, you’ll want a full-suspension bike, in order to have the smoothest ride possible.
General trail bikes are all-purpose, and they’re great for all types of terrain, from dirt roads to single trails. Most mountain bikes are general trail bikes, since most people who ride do so on a variety of trails. There are also ‘all mountain’ bikes, which have stronger frames and longer suspension travel. These bikes are more practical for the more advanced and intense riders out there, so unless you’re thinking of going pro, you likely won’t need an all mountain bike.
Lastly, you’re going to consider wheel size when shopping for a mountain bike. It used to be that the standard for all mountain bike wheels was 26”, but now you’re equally likely to see 27.5” or 29” wheels sold along side the 26” standards. Larger wheels have become quite popular, because even though they’re slower to accelerate, they provide a much faster momentum when you’re moving, and they handle trail obstacles better than smaller wheels. Just like the bike types, you’ll probably want to think about what will suit your needs best when choosing a wheel size.
As an additional note, it’s a great idea to seek out a mountain bike brand that offers a solid warranty or customer service guarantee. Even though mountain biking is a fairly accessible sport, you’ll still be dropping a bit of money on your bike, and you want to make sure you’re getting a quality product. Also, even though mountain biking is a fun adrenaline rush, it can still be dangerous. Sticking with a brand that willingly stands behind their own products is a great way to make sure that you’ll be getting the safest ride possible. Plus, in case anything about the bike you buy is ever recalled, you’ll want to make sure that the company cares enough to notify you and replace the broken part for free.
Now, we’re going to look at some individual bike brands. Get ready to take some notes, because you’ll be getting a lot of new information!
All The Best Brands
- Trek: Trek bikes have been popular bestsellers for decades, thanks to their outstanding design and customer service. Trek is based in Wisconsin, and boasts of over 1,700 dealers in North America and subsidiaries in Asia and Europe. One of the many reasons why Trek climbed to fame was because they signed Lance Armstrong, at the peak of his career in the late 1990s. Trek also has a great record for women’s’ bikes, with their models winning lots of design and innovation awards. Trek is a trusted brand that will be around for a long time, and you’ll be getting one of the best mountain bikes ever if you go with them.
- Giant Bicycles: Giant Bicycles is another trusted brand, headquartered in Taiwan. They manufacture bicycles in Taiwan, the Netherlands, and China, and have been incredibly popular with users since the mid 1990s. Giant bicycles have been featured in the Tour de France, and are sure to remain popular for a long time.
- Diamondback Bicycles: Diamondback is another brand based in the U.S., headquartered in Washington State. They are produced in China, often providing quality mountain bikes at economical prices. If you’re just beginning to ride trails, try a Diamondback: the superior quality and affordability will be sure to win you over!
Let’s Go Hit The Pavement
Mountain biking is a great way to recapture the fun of youth while maintaining a healthy lifestyle, so it’s no surprise if you’re all geared up to go after reading this article. Before you hit the stores, remember that you’ll always need a helmet when biking—it is a sport, after all, and can be dangerous! You and your new mountain bike are sure to cover lots of ground together, so think about what suits your needs and choose carefully, and always remember to have fun! Happy trails!
Leave a Reply