Tips for Picking out a Mountain bike
HELP FOR PARENTS TRY TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD OF MOUNTAIN BIKE TERMINOLOGY
Not all mountain bikes are the same. When you are looking at a bike for you or your child there are a variety of options available for you. If you are in a cycling store, you may be asked – do you want a Hardtail or Dual Suspension? What kind of trails are you going to be riding? Are you going to do Downhill, Enduro? It is our hope this will help to break through some of the sometimes confusing language heard in the sport of mountain biking to provide some clarity.
First off, let’s begin with the type of biking. TeamMTB is cross-country (XC) mountain biking. XC courses and trails typically contain a mix of rough forest paths and singletrack (also referred to as doubletrack depending on width), smooth fire roads, and even paved paths connecting other trails. A cross-country mountain bike typically has a shorter wheelbase than other mountain bikes. This enables them to turn faster and be more nimble on the trail. XC bikes are at home on hard-packed, dusty trails as well as rock gardens and rooty sections. The Georgia Cycling Association is here to help introduce your child to the sport and as such, the trails will not be very aggressive.
Other types of riding include enduro, which combines trails with large climbs up followed by a trail down them. Downhill refers to a type of riding down fast and aggressive trails.
Can I consider used bikes? – Absolutely. There are ample opportunities to buy used bikes on many different marketplaces. Don’t be afraid to ask around your team for tips on where to get a used bike. This is a very welcoming community, and people are usually eager to share. If you opt for a used bike, consider investing in a tune-up at a local bike shop.
Hardtail – This makes sense when you look at the bike. There will be suspension forks on the front of the bike (see picture below) to help absorb the bumps on the trail, but the back end of the bicycle frame will have no mechanical features to absorb the bumps, except for the air in the tire. Depending on how challenging the trails are, this will likely be suitable. Something also to consider is the material of construction of the bicycle frame. These styles of bicycles will be made in either aluminum or carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is lighter and often more expensive.
The front forks have shocks that will absorb much of the bumps on the trails. These bikes are less expensive than the dual suspension.
Dual Suspension/Full Suspension – This is exactly what it says. There will be a shock in the front of the bicycle and there will be another in the back (see picture below). This will provide you with a very plush ride. These bikes are typically heavier and combined with a comfortable ride, they are more costly.
Do you notice the extra equipment in the middle of the bike compared to the hardtail? That is extra suspension to allow the rear wheel to move up and down making a smoother ride.
e-Bike – This is a bike that has a small motor to assist the rider for the more difficult sections of the ride. These bikes are not allowed for racing, although they may be ideal for a parent or coach looking to keep up with the riders.
Sizing – When looking at purchasing a bike consider the size of the bike and recognize this can affect the safety of the rider. We all know our children can have growth spurts and spending hard-earned money on a bike that will only last a couple of years is difficult. (Personally, my son grew 6 inches one year and outgrew the bike in 12 months). The tendency is to buy larger bikes with the hope your child will grow into it. Be aware, there is a risk in doing this. The bike will be too big at the beginning, and they will be more likely to have difficulty controlling it and possibly crash. The local bike shops will help you with this process and ensure you are sizing your bike properly.
Drivetrain – When looking at bikes this word will most likely be used when referencing the gears and chain parts ("components"). This refers to the chain, gears, derailleurs, and crankset. You might hear the term “1 by” or “1x” and possibly “2 by” or “2x”. This refers to the crankset, which the pedals attach to. Does it have one or two chainrings? If it has 2, then it is a “2 by”. (There are some 3 chainring cranksets out there, but they are fewer and fewer). At the back, we have the cassette with all the chainrings attached to the wheel. This can have 7 – 12 rings at the back varying in sizes. If it had 10, the bike might be advertised as a 1x10 drivetrain. The 1x format is becoming more and more common, as it reduces the mechanical requirements by eliminating the front derailleur, which is the equipment that helps to control the position of the chain.
Dropper Post – the seat of the bike – often referred to as the saddle – will be attached to the seat post. Sometimes these seat posts have a feature that allows them to “drop” and allows the rider a little more maneuvering room. Then, once they go over the element, they press the lever and it goes back up to the normal riding height. Take a look at the pictures below. The saddle on the left is the normal riding height, while the one on the right has lowered the saddle with the aid of the dropper post.
Saddles/Seat – It is quite common for the rear end of the rider to get sore when they first start to ride, but this should dissipate as they continue to ride. If your rider does complain about pain or numbness, please have someone check the alignment of the saddle; it might be angled up too much. It is possible you may need to replace the one on the bike. Comfortable bike saddles are not the ones with most padding, but the ones which fit correctly. Our sit bones are different and there are saddles which accommodate our body’s varying sizes. There are saddles which are narrow or wide, light padding or none, a cutout to help relieve some pressure and there also women specific saddles. Practices can last a couple hours a painful rear can reduce their enjoyment.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR: Michel van Musschenbroek has been a volunteer with the Georgia Cycling Association since 2015. He is currently one of the coach trainers in the state and is a former provincial champion and nationally ranked speed skater. Entering his first cycling race in 1974, he had success competing in Road Races, Criteriums, and Track and was regional Time Trial and Criterium champion.