With so many options, manufactures and opinions, it can be a bit frustrating as well as time consuming when you want to buy a mountain bike.  Below, you'll find some tips and things to be aware of when you have made the decision to buy, but before you lay down the cash and buy a mountain bike.

Determining your price

There is virtually no limit as to how much money you can spend when you buy a new mountain bike. You can get a pretty decent entry level bike for around $1000 and can easily pay upwards of $10,000. On the right you can see a picture of a full suspension mountain bike where the frame was constucted from a titanium lattice. The weight was way less than 20 pounds, but you could buy a car for the same price.

Mountain biking is a fantastic way to explore the outdoors, stay in shape, get the adrenalin moving, or just have fun. There is an element of danger involved, but if you ride within the your skill limits and stay in control, it can be enjoyed by the entire family.

Mountain Bike Styles

There are three main styles of mountain biking - cross country, downhill, and free riding. The styles have many similarities, but they do require different skills and different types of bikes. The style you choose will determine the type of bike you will buy.

The image on the right shows a hard tail cross country bike. It has about 4 inches of travel and weighs less than 25 pounds.