Mountain bikes are bicycles built for riding off-road. Mountain bikes also have many gears and because of that, they have many speeds. Converting mountain bike to single speed can be done with some work. We will cover some of that in a later part.
- Part 1: Product Overview
- Part 2: The Best Mountain Bikes
- Part 3: Classification of Mountain Bikes
- Part 4: How to Conduct Mountain Bike Test
- Part 5: Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide
- Part 6: Conclusion
Part 1: Product Overview
As mentioned in the previous part, Mountain bikes are bikes designed for riding off-road and also on hard surfaces. They include a suspension fork, huge knobby tires, more powerful brakes, more durable wheels, straight, extra-wide handlebars to increase balance and comfort across rough terrain. Some of the rough surfaces such as mountain trails, single track, fire roads, and terrains like rocks, roots, loose dirt, and steep grades. Some of the trails have additional technical trail features or TTF including log piles, log rides, rock gardens, skinnies, gap jumps, and wallrides on many trails. Mountain bikes have a few different type descriptions such as Trail, All Mountain, Downhill, and Cross Country type. They may have differed by type, but they have common similarities such as off-road traction, shock absorption, and providing comfort on off-road riding.
Mountain biking is a high-intensity sport that gives your body intensive exercise compared to conventional biking. You are not only working out your legs and improving your heart and lungs when riding, but you also work out your upper body. Overall, cycling also improves riders’ coordination, balance, and stability. It is also a relaxing and stress-relieving activity because we are exploring outdoors and changing scenery on our way. Although the name of the bike is a mountain bike, it doesn’t mean that you have to be on a mountain. The trails can range from relaxing rides on wide, flowing logging roads to high-adrenaline singletrack.
Part 2: The Best Mountain Bikes
We conclude a few of the best mountain bikes you can consider.
Ibis Ripmo V2 XT
- Price: £5899
- Advantages: Very good for climbing, All-around performance, Good for descending
- Disadvantages: Quite expensive
- Specification
Wheel size: 29in
Rear Travel: 147mm
Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL
The Ripmo V2 is a fantastic aggressive trail bike that excels at both uphill and downhill riding. This bike is ideal for riders who want a bike that climbs well while not sacrificing speed on the way down. At this point, we’d recommend this bike to just about everyone because it’s so adaptable.
Vitus Sentier 27 VR
- Price: £1,199.99
- Advantages: Fast, Versatile, Lightweight
- Disadvantages: Needs to upgrade frame protection for a better one
- Specifications
Wheel size: 27.5in
Rear travel: 140mm
Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL
Vitus has swiftly established itself as the smart choice for anyone searching for a budget-friendly mountain bike that shreds hard and doesn’t cut corners. It’s also light, versatile, and quick, with a feature set that demonstrates a brand managed by undeniably true mountain bikers.
Giant Stance 29 2
- Price: £1,360.80
- Advantages: Very good for climbing, 12 speed, Balanced suspension
- Disadvantages: There is no dropper post included.
- Specifications
Wheel size: 29in
Front travel: 130mm
Rear travel: 120mm
Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL
Modern mountain bike tracks are enjoyable, flowing, and demanding. Stance 29 puts you in tune with the terrain, allowing you to ride with greater confidence and enjoyment. The FlexPoint rear suspension technology is built into the lightweight and sturdy ALUXX aluminum frame for a smooth, balanced ride that keeps you in control.
Whyte 629 V4
- Price: £1,799
- Advantages: Stable handling, Amazingly composed
- Disadvantages: Rear tire not suited on all conditions
- Specifications
Wheel size: 29in
Front travel: 120mm
Frame sizes: M, L, XL
It is a balanced, composed, stable, and precise bike. It is very good for beginner and also intermediate riders.
Nukeproof Reactor 290 Alloy Comp
- Price: £2,999
- Advantages: Versatile handling, Superb suspension
- Disadvantages: Seat tubes are too long,
- Specifications
Wheel size: 27.5in or 29in
Front travel: 140mm
Rear travel: 160mm
Frame sizes: S (27.5in only), M, L, XL
The Nukeproof Reactor 290 Comp Alloy Bike is a 29er mountain bike with a robust, yet lightweight aluminum/carbon frame that’s at home on any trail. A carbon frame and 27.5in wheels variant are also available.
Part 3: Classification of Mountain Bikes
Mountain bikes are available in a wide range of types. They are differed by their weight, suspension, geometry, tire sizes, seat posts, and rigidity. Each of them has a unique design that allows it to deliver a better ride for the condition and terrain it is used in. They are 4 basic types such as Trail, All-Mountain (Enduro), Downhill (DH), and Cross Country (XC).
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Trail
The most common sort of mountain bike is the trail bike, which is very ideal for everyday use. You can say that it is an all-around bike because of its versatile design, built to handle difficult routes while providing ample seed, a low weight, and increased comfort. Because of this, it is also referred to as the mountain bike with the broadest range of capabilities. These bikes are available with both front and full suspension, and prices range from very low to very high. They can descend well, but they are better suited to ascending and flatter terrain.
Though trail bikes use to be masters of none in the past, because of technological advancement, they have become masters of a lot.
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Cross country (XC)
Cross country bikes often called XC, are better suited to competitive cross-country riding. They are fast for uphill and also race tracks. Reflected from the bike’s design, they are more focused on speed and endurance for cross country riding. Cross country bikes are typically light, with a less aggressive frame shape that is better suited to climbs and flat terrain. Most of the cross country bikes include front suspension although the shock travel is typically limited to maintain pedaling economy and speed. Their geometry is designed to climb hills quickly and get around a racing course as fast as possible.
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Downhill (DH)
Downhill bikes are the bikes that are solely focusing on descending. They have a slack frame design that maintains the rider in a more comfortable and controllable posture thus making high-speed handling easier. That could mean going from top to bottom in your local downhill race, or riding laps around the local bike park. However, they weren’t built to climb or cross a mountain. They can bring you down a mountain safely or quickly, thanks to lengthy travel, an aggressive geometry, and their ultra-robust parts. Because of that, riders that attempt to use it other than downhill terrain will find it extremely difficult and inefficient to operate. Rather than riding up a course or path, most downhill bikers will walk or carry their bikes to the top.
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All-Mountain (Enduro)
The All-Mountain type or Enduro, as the name implies, is made for mountainous or hilly places, to handle a wide range of terrains, and also for long-travel journeys. Generally, you can say that they are a combination of trail bikes and downhill bikes. The bike’s frame is largely similar to that of a trail bike. The suspension, as well as the stem and handlebars, are the most significant distinctions. Their suspension travel is greater than that of a trail bike, and full suspension is nearly always present.
Part 4: How to Conduct Mountain Bike Test
Testing it’s one of the most important things before riding your bike. It is very different from choosing a car. You can say that before purchasing a mountain bike, it is more vital to test it than to test drive a car. Biker and the bike interaction is intimate. A car can get you there but not all bikes react the same way to your body. If you’re serious about riding, it’s worth the effort to discover the right one for you. We conclude some ways on how to conduct mountain bike tests.
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Choosing the bike shop
Firstly, there is plenty of bikes shop out there, but the best is the shop that is friendly and informative. They will help you to choose the bikes because they also love bikes too. We recommend you to look somewhere else only if can’t feel the vibe after some time in the shop.
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Try the demo bike
Generally, many shops now have demo bikes available to try. The makers provide these models so that you can try them before you buy. So far as we know, some of the shops will charge you for the demo fee.
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Prepare your gear
You can treat your test ride as it is a real one. Prepare and wear your riding gear because, with that, you can enjoy the full experience with the bike. You can bring some gear like a helmet, eyewear, water bottle, energy bars, shoes, and saddle. You might want to schedule your demo to make sure the shop prepares the bike for you beforehand.
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Adjust the bike
Now that you have prepared you gear, you can finally adjust your bike. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to adjust the bike. You can ask the shop to help you find comfortable settings for you. Some things you can adjust are the tire pressure, gear shift angle, handlebar, and shock sag.
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Ride the demo bike
After that, it is time for the demo to begin. Ride the demo bike like it is your bike to enjoy the full experience of it. We don’t mean you can crash the bike but ride it like it’s yours.
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Try different demo bike
Finally, to find the most comfortable one, you will need to try a different one. Then, consider it this way: If your present bike is mediocre, any improvement undoubtedly will make you happy. Shortly after that, you will find out what makes a bike better.
Part 5: Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide
Mountain bikes, like other bike types, have a lot to learn about how they work, how they differ, what to look for while shopping, and a range of other things. We conclude some ways to buy mountain bikes.
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Usage Scenarios
The first is to establish what type of riding will you use if for, what kind of routes you want to ride, and what kind of terrain you want your bike to perform well on. This will help you to choose which type of bike you need, from short-travel, downhill, cross country and also long-travel one.
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Wheel size selection
There are a few wheel size types you can choose such as 26in, 27.5in, and 29er. 26in is the standard size for mountain bikes, but they’ve been phased out in favor of larger, faster-rolling hoops, except for dirt-jump and slopestyle bikes. The wheels on any new adult bike will most likely be 27.5in. 29er wheels have the advantages of better momentum carrying, easier obstacle rolling, and more traction. The bigger wheel has some disadvantages such as it can take some effort to slow down, accelerate slower, and be difficult to turn. After you define what usage scenario you will use it to ride. Finally, you will know which wheel you want.
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Choice of bike structure
Mountain bike comes in any kind of structure such as suspension, brakes, and transmission.
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Suspension
They are two types of suspension the semi-rigid frame and full-suspension frame.
- The semi-rigid frame has only one front suspension and is a crucial component in mountain bike riding. TThe suspended fork makes it simple to absorb shocks and vibrations while keeping the wheel firmly planted on the ground. This frame is easier to clean, affordable, and less complex to build.
- The full-suspension frame as its name implies has front and rear suspension. It provides more comfort, shock absorption, and it is usually more expensive than a semi-rigid one. It is suitable for experienced riders.
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Brakes
There are three types of brakes Mechanical, Mechanical disc, and Hydraulic disc brakes
- Mechanical brakes are the most commonly use brake pads. They are light, have a simple operation, and are simple to maintain.
- The mechanical disc is a brake that is used for all weather conditions. It provides a powerful brake.
- Hydraulic disc brakes are used for sporty practice. It provides excellent control over your bike, but they are heavier and require more maintenance.
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Transmission
To choose a good handle or grip, you have to make sure it is comfortable, adapted to the size of your hand, and provides a good piloting sensation. They are a few types of this such as rubber, foam, and synthetic material. In case you want a simpler one, you can try converting to a single speed mountain bike.
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Men’s and women’s options
There are no differences between men’s and women’s bikes because body geometries are different for each human. You might need some adjustments that some women require such as wheel size, frame size, stem length, and also handlebar dimensions. You might be wondering, can women ride men’s bikes? The answer is yes as long as they feel comfortable. The most important thing is to make sure to test as many bikes as you want until you found the most comfortable one. If your bike has too many speeds, you might want to convert it down to a single speed. Converting mountain bike to single speed can be done by purchasing single speed conversion kit. After that, you can go to the local bikes shop to get it installed.
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It is convenient to buy
Nowadays, you can find mountain bikes in most bikes shop. You just need to find a good shop and choose a good bike. Just remember to test the bike to find out which one is a really good choice for you.
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Converting mountain bike to single speed
Converting mountain bike to single speed require a conversion kit. However, we recommend you to bring your bike to your local store. Benefits of converting mountain bike to single speed are efficient padding, better mountain biking, more lightweight because of its simplicity and lastly, it’s fast.
Part 6: Conclusion
Mountain bikes riding are a fun exercise to do. Before that, we have to choose the most suitable bike first before riding. Mountain bikes vary from types such as Downhill, Cross country, Enduro, and Trail. To find a suitable one, we may need to test ride the bike and do some adjustments. Converting mountain bike to single speed can be done with single speed conversion kit. After converting mtb to single speed, you should be able to enjoy a simpler version of your bike.
