If you’re wondering how to pick out a mountain bike, you’ll be pleased to realize that it’s not as complicated as it might seem. Perhaps the most important thing to consider before you shop is what you intend to do with your bike. If you’re just going to ride it down the street for occasional exercise, your requirements will be a lot different than if you were going to do some serious off road racing or touring.

Cost

Although many brands of mountain bike exist, the primary differentiation between bikes is by cost. You’ll find that bikes made from similar materials and with similar features will usually fall in a similar price range.

For the most part, it doesn’t pay to skimp on a mountain bike. Frequently, people who buy the cheapest model end up disappointed in its performance and end up buying another one. By spending just a little bit more up front, you’ll be surprised at how much better of a bike you can get, so try not to allow low cost to be your primary determinant factor as you shop.

Frame

The core of the bike is its frame; it’s the most expensive part of it too. Frames made from light but rugged materials will cost more than heavier frames.

The bikes with heavier frames are usually made from high tensile steel. These bikes are heavy because the more of the cheaper material is needed to make the bike rigid enough for use. Chromoly steel is steel with molybdenum and chromium added to it for strength. Small diameter, un-heat-treated bike frames can be found in the $400 range, while the larger diameter heat treated variety can cost well over $1,000.

Aluminum frames have a lot of the same attributes as chromoly, but they are stiffer and can fracture sooner.
Finally, titanium frames can be lightweight, durable, and compliant, but work best on bikes that have rigid rear suspensions.

Wheels

Even a low end mountain bike can benefit from good mountain bike wheels. The lighter the wheels are and the lighter your tires are, the better your bike’s performance will be. One thing you’ll want to do as you shop is look for bikes with light rims and tires. The rotational forces represent a lot of weight to the wheels of your bike, so you’ll want to get something that can handle the stress without needlessly slowing you down.

Other parts

Look for derailleurs, brakes, and shifters that will suit your needs. The more parts you get made from aluminum and titanium will add to your cost, but you’ll find that their lower tolerances add a lot to the bikes performance.

Bike size

Getting the right size bike is of extreme importance. You’re not going to get much help with proper sizing from a mass merchandise stores, so if you go there, you’ll need an idea about what to look for.

A good way to measure inseam clearance is to straddle the bike and then lift it up at the handlebar until the bike touches you. Have someone measure the distance the front wheel is from the floor at this point to get the inseam clearance value. Any bike should be from 4” to 6” with this measurement.

You also need to check the positioning of your legs and feet to be sure the bike is the right size for you. Your thighs should never rise above horizontal and your legs when extended toward 6:00 position should be bent slightly at the knee.

Where to buy

Where you buy your mountain bike can make a difference. You can get mountain bikes from big box stores and discount stores, but you have to keep in mind that they are not always assembled by people who know what they’re doing, so if it needs work, you have to either do it yourself or pay a local shop to fix it for you. The advantage of buying from a bike shop is that they will help you get the right size bike and they will also make adjustments to their bikes for free either for a certain time period or for the entire time you own the bike.