Characteristics of Top of the Line Mountain Bikes
Posted in Fly Fishing Gear on the April 29, 2010
As with most other things, you get what you pay for in the case of mountain bikes. While investing in the best bike you can afford is a good idea, figuring out which top of the line mountain bike brand really is a good buy can be harder. Usually, it’s best to look at the quality of the components, and how the bike fits you and the way you ride to decide on the right model.
Basically, a mountain bike is a bicycle with a strong frame, broader tires with large treads, horizontal handlebars, and gearing. They offer much better traction and stability off road than a street bike’s narrow tires and lightweight frame can. While these bikes are called mountain bikes, that’s not all they’re for. They can also be ridden on trails with gravel or no surfacing, and cross country. City streets that have uneven or broken paving are also suitable for these bikes. Just watch out for roots and large rocks. For any application where you’ll need robustness and stability, choose a mountain bike. If you do most of your cycling on flat areas with smooth pavement, these bikes are probably heavier than you’re looking for.
Look for High Quality Construction
As well as using good materials, top of the line mountain bikes will offer quality construction. Don’t be fooled, even if many merchants will try to sell you components and frames based exclusively on the materials that make them up. It’s feasible to make a bad bike frame from titanium, just as it’s possible to make a good one from steel or aluminum. Whether you’re buying a frame, some gears, or new wheels, quality of manufacture is more important, even though prestigious materials certainly cost a great deal more. In place of of rim brakes like the ones on road bikes, look for bikes with higher quality disc brakes and good suspension.
Light-weight Frames are In
There is less for you to pull up steep slopes, with lighter frames. However, lightweight frames and wheels also mean that you sacrifice robustness, in some materials. A certain loss of stability is also unavoidable. Mountain bikes are nearly always heavier-built than road bikes, for these reasons. Composite materials like Kevlar (the same material used for bulletproof vests) and carbon fiber are the newest and hottest composites used to make trail bicycle frames. These materials are also made use of for other parts of the bike, as they are intensely light-weight and very robust. However, it is exceedingly difficult to repair bike frames made with carbon fiber and Kevlar when they are damaged.
Combining the light weight of carbon fiber with strength that may surpass that of the toughest steel alloy frames, titanium is the best and most costly material for bike frames. It’s also the most rust-proof material for bike frames. All these benefits come with an extremely high price ticket, as you would expect.
Solid Suspension is a Must-Have
Good suspension can reduce the “whippiness” you sometimes encounter with lighter materials like titanium and aluminum. Front only or both front and rear supension are available on high-end mountain bikes. When you choose your bike, be sure to try it out to ensure that that you have the right fit, and that the weight feels good to you. If you decide you want to have a bike made elsewhere, such as an online order, make certain you know exactly what you’re getting, in terms of materials, weight and frame size.