If you are planning on riding on rough terrain and mountain trails, you will want to choose the right mountain bike. Most mountain bikes out on the market are made with similar materials, but where they differ is in the type of handlebars, pedal types, suspension and saddle shape. Choosing what is right for you will be very personal and can depend on a wide range of factors, from body type to the amount of riding you plan on doing.
Step 1
Choose a mountain bike with dual suspension if you plan on using it in very rough terrains. The front and back suspension will make you feel as though your are floating over obstacles, such as rocks. Fully rigid mountain bikes offer no suspension, are very hard to find and are impractical. The other two options are a soft tail mountain bike, which has minimal rear suspension, and a hardtail, which offers front suspension only.
Step 2
Pick a pedal that has clips that are easy to pull out of because you are more likely to need to do so while riding on rough terrains on your mountain bike. Clips that clip on all four ends of your foot are the easiest to clip on an off. You may also choose clip-less pedals if you prefer to ride without them.
Step 3
Measure the crank length of the bikes to make sure they are the right size for your height. Typically you want your crank length to be 18.5 percent of the distance from the top of your femur to the ground when you are standing barefoot. The top of your femur is roughly five to six inches below your hip bone.
Step 4
Check the handlebar position options of the bikes you are considering. The lower your handlebar position, the more aerodynamic you will be; however, if you are looking for a feeling of security rather than speed, higher handlebars will make you feel more in control, especially when you are going downhill. That being said, your handlebar should never end up higher than your saddle height.
Step 5
Test ride all the bikes you like until you begin to narrow down your options, and ask the bike professional you are dealing with as many questions as you can think of before you commit to investing in your mountain bike. Your budget may be one of the key factors that will help you narrow it down to begin with.
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