Lifestyle Cycles
Custom Rides
First off, you want to be well equipped for a mountain bike ride. It is very important for both safety and performance reasons. You will need a fitted helmet to protect your head, good gloves for grip and also shoes that will give you a steady footing on your pedals.
A body suit is also recommended although it is not absolutely mandatory, especially on easy mountain biking trails. Whatever you do, please don’t wear loose clothing when going out for mountain biking. The last thing you want is to get your shirt or pants get caught in the drive train on in a tree somewhere along the trail.
Doing an ABC check on your bike
How to Choose Trail Mountain Bikes
We will quickly talk to you about how you can choose good trail mountain bikes. Mountain biking is the kind of sport where the quality and technical specifications of your equipment, in this case the bike, really makes a dramatic difference to how quickly you learn the sport and how well you excel at it.
Choosing between hardtails and full suspension bikes
Bikes that do not have any kind of suspension in the back are called hardtail mountain bikes. Though they might sound like an undesirable bike, the truth is that a hardtail mountain bike can actually be a great way for you to begin with trail mountain biking.
Since you don’t have any suspension in the back, you will be forced to use your body to balance and control the bike, thereby allowing you to gain precision control over your bike, as you use it several times. Hardtails are also great because they are generally cheaper, by several hundred dollars, since suspension systems are quite expensive. You can essentially buy a Grade A hardtail bike for the same amount of money that you will need to spend on a Grade B full suspension trail mountain bike. In that way, you have great value for money when you buy hardtail bikes.
Of course, some trails that have steep jumps will not be ideal for hardtail bikes, as suspension will become necessary. When you have reached an advanced level in terms of your mountain biking skills, you might want to look at full suspension mountain bikes that will allow you to take adventurous jumps and also generally ride for longer, without hurting too much.
Choosing a bike that will give you the best riding position
Mountain Biking Hartman Rocks
Trail mountain bikes come in a wide variety of styles, with each manufacturer incorporating a design element that is slightly unique. No two people have the same exact body. Hence, it is very important that you buy a bike that will offer you great riding position.
Here are a few tips that you can put to use while in the bike shop, when you shop for trail mountain bikes.
Stand Over height
The stand over height refers to the clearance that you have between the mountain bike’s frame and your butt, when you stand over the bike. Ideally, there should be at least 2 inches of clearance there.
Handlebar reach
When you sit on your saddle, your back should take on a 45 degree angle when you clutch the handlebar. It shouldn’t have you leaning forward or sitting too upright as it is very difficult to control a mountain bike in difficult conditions, if you are not at a precise 45 degree angle. If the bike’s reach doesn’t fit your needs right away, you can probably try to see if the handlebar stem can be adjusted to a better position, as most bikes will offer you that adjustment setting.
Pedal reach
Never buy a bike that will have you locking out your knees when you fully extend your legs. There should be at least a 10-15 degree bend at all times. Of course, easy seat adjustments will help you find this position quite quickly, when you shop for trail mountain bikes.
Before you roll out that brand new mountain bike from the store, make sure that the three riding position points mentioned above have been checked and ticked off.