Choosing the right mountain bike necessitates a basic understanding of mountain bikes. You may not know much about mountain bikes if you are a beginner. You’ll need some background information before you can figure out which one is best for you.

Based on Cool Mountainbikes, a blog about mountain biking, this article will explicitly guide you on how to choose the right mountain bike. There are three important things you need to consider when choosing the right one for you. They are:

1. The bike style – Because different riding habits need different bike models, the first thing you should think about is where and how you want to ride.
2. The main features – Suspension, wheel size, frame materials, gears, and brakes are the major considerations.
3. Fitness – You must consider whether or not the bicycle is appropriate for you.

After reviewing the above features, you should be aware that there are various varieties of mountain bikes, each with its own set of specs, speed, and set of benefits and drawbacks. They include:

1. Trail bikes – Because the category isn’t based on any single form of racing, this is likely the most popular mountain biking style. This is the style for you if you want to meet up with buddies at a local trailhead and ride a variety of peaks and descents. Bikes in this category prioritize fun, efficiency, and manageable overall weight.
2. Cross-country bikes – Fast riding with a focus on climbing prowess is typical of this style of riding. Distances range from a few miles to over twenty miles, and bikes are designed to be efficient and light. If you are thinking about getting competitive or just want a faster ride on your local trails, these bikes are a wonderful option.
3. All-mountain bikes – Consider all-mountain riding to be trail riding on steroids, with longer, scarier descents, and more technical terrain, both man-made and natural. Bikes built for all-mountain riding are light and nimble enough to pedal uphill while also performing well on steep descents.
4. Downhill bikes – Downhill bikes are designed for steep, gnarly terrain, speed, big drops, and jumps. These bikes, which are mostly used at lift-served bike parks, aren’t sold by REI. Riders wear full-face helmets and body armor as they navigate jumps, berms, rock gardens, and wooden ladders on downhill bikes.

1. Fat bikes – their tires are very fat, they are designed for riding on snows, on sands, and anywhere you’d need fat tires.

As a newbie, you should take certain factors into account when buying a mountain bike; this will help you select the exact bike that you require. Continue reading as I go over the points you should think about.

What to Consider When Choosing Different Types of Mountain Bikes:

1. What kind of bike riding do you do? – It’s important to know the answer to this question before purchasing a mountain bike. If you are a newbie, you have to know the kind of bike riding you’d do before buying it.

It’s important to determine early on what types of trails you want to ride and what terrain your bike will flourish on.

This will assist you in determining which bike type you require, ranging from short-travel, lightweight cross-country bikes to strong, chunky downhill race bikes.

1. Full suspension or hardtail? – you have to determine which is best for you between these two. A hardtail mountain bike has a front suspension fork, but a full-suspension bike has both front and rear suspension.

Though they both have advantages and disadvantages. You’ll get a better-specked hardtail for your money if you have a limited budget, yet an entry-level full-suspension bike may still be more capable on rougher trails.

It all boils down to the type of riding you prefer. When comparing climbing performance between a hardtail and a full-suspension bike, a hardtail tends to win since it has a direct connection from the crank to the axle, which provides a more efficient response to pedaling while also being a little lighter.

Hardtails are also easier to maintain, requiring less frequent servicing and being more cost-effective.

1. How much suspension travel do I need? – When uphill, a bike with less suspension travel is usually lighter and faster. More travel equates to improved downhill performance. A mid-travel trail bike is the finest all-rounder if you’re new to the sport and want to experience a little bit of everything. In terms of the electric mountain bike, suspension systems are widely used on various bikes for a comfortable riding experience.

Other factors to consider include – 

1. What wheel size should I choose?
2. What frame material is best for me?

Final thought

Do not be obsessed about weight. Though it is important, power and strength are more requisite when off-road. 

Also, it is best to ride tracks you are already familiar with while demoing a mountain bike.