Mountain Bikes

Full suspension mountain bikes
Choosing a full suspension mountain bike can be quite a task as there are so many options out there for you. So firstly what type of mountain biking are you doing?
If you are trail riding, training to keep fit and riding on the road or gravel paths too then you may be looking at a XC hardtail bike. If you are wanting to go over more serious technical terrain. Maybe try the black runs on your bike and fancy flying over some jumps but also want the freedom to pedal as well then an endure type bike with approx 120/130mm suspension travel could be an option for you. If you are not interested in peddling the bike and simply want to ride it downhill then you may want to look at full suspension bikes with at least 160mm travel. Most downhill bikes are over 180mm travel.
Secondly, you need to decide what wheel size you may want. This is a personal preference and there is no right or wrong answer to this.
Choose your size. The main things to look for are the standover height. And also the reach. Can you reach the bars ok when sat in the saddle. You may need to go to a bike shop to be sized up correctly
Choosing a hardtail.
If you are looking for a mountain bike there may be many reasons you are looking for a Hardtail mountain bike. You fancy getting into mountain bike? Looking for an upgrade or adding another bike to the collection.
The hardtail bike is great for the aspiring or avid trail rider who likes to fly through the trees, along the single track and up those difficult climbs as fast as possible. The hardtail mountain bike is fun, agile and robust.
There are many reasons for choosing a hardtail mountain bike, they are much lighter than a full suspension mountain bike as they don’t have the extra suspension parts on them. The frame build is often smaller and lighter. There is less to maintain and service, cheaper to purchase and also gives you a lower more racier position on the bike.
The Hardtail is a great choice for most MTB trail riding and are more than capable of taking on rough off-road terrain and give you the flexibility to work on your fitness and strength when riding on your local trails. If you are looking to tackle more serious downhill trails, then you may want to take a look at the full-suspension bike.
Hardtail Mountain bikes also come in different wheel sizes such as 26” 27.5” and 29”. This can be a difficult decision and all have their pros and cons. The 26” wheel is nippy, fun, fast of the mark and great for very tight twisty tracks and are still heavily used in Downhill mountain biking. The 27.5” sits in-between both sizes and is popular amongst the trail rider as it gives an best of both worlds ride. However, the 29er will have more efficient speed overall, better traction and easier to get over obstacles. They are also great for taller riders due to the wheel size. The 29er is widely used in Cross County racing, endurance mountain biking as they are overall faster.