Exercise - Free Fitness Library
The right bike for you
The basic essentials
When choosing a bike, the main thing is to look for one that is suitable for you and the type of riding you want to do. Manufacturers normally put their bikes into different categories: entry level (bikes aimed at the first timer), mid-range bikes (bikes aimed at semi-serious enthusiasts) and pro racing (quality bikes aimed at people who want to compete). This bike shown here is fitted with the type of components you should expect to find on a mid-range bike.
Before You Buy A Bike
* Set yourself a budget so that you only look at bikes within your range. Do not forget there are some essentials that you will have to buy, such as a helmet, locks and lights.
* Consider how often you are going to ride the bike and what type of riding you intend to do.
* Collect sales literature on the current bikes to find out what models are on the market and the differences between similar models from different manufacturers.
* If you want a good second-hand bike ask a knowledgeable person to check a bike's roadworthyness. Ask the seller for original purchase receipts, to make sure that the bike is not stolen. Try to establish what type of riding the bike has been used for, to make sure it has not been thrashed.
Derailleurs
Shimano derailleurs currently offer the best quality gear shifts on the market. The bike should have the best derailleurs that can be fitted within it's price bracket.
Frame
The best mid-range mountain bike to get is on with chromoly tubing. Chromoly is very strong, quite light and relatively inexpensive. The two most common manufacturers of chromoly tubing are Tange and Truetemper.
Brakes
A mid-range mountain bike should have cantilever brakes. They are far more powerful than conventional caliper brakes. If possible, get M system pads because these are very good in the wet.
Gears
Look for indexed gears. These make gear shifting easy, because you have to just click the lever into the next position.
Contact points
As the name suggests, these parts are the ones with which you will be in contact when riding your bike, i.e. the saddle, handlebars, grips and pedals. Make sure that these are all comfortable for you.
Rims
It is very important that your bike has alloy wheel rims. These are much easier to restraighten, if necessary, than steel rims, are much lighter and offer much better braking performance in the wet.
Chain set
In order for your mountain bike to climb hills, it requires a triple chain set. This will give you a range of gearing that should make it possible to climb up anything.
Tyres
Check that the tyres are the right kind for the type of riding you will be doing. Road tyres are not suitable for off-road or vice-versa.