A Hardtail is a basic mountain bike with suspension or regular forks and a standard aluminium type frame. Although full suspension bikes are popular  , hardtails perform very well in cross country and trail riding. They have the added advantage of weight and are fairly useful as road bikes especially when you add slick tyres to the bike.

A full suspension bike has shocks for both the front and rear wheels – the suspension helps reduce the impact ftom bumpy terrain. Full suspension bikes are an advantage when going downhill. The downside of the full suspension bike is reduced speed and extra weight.

Choosing a hardtail or full suspension bike will largely depend on your requirements and the type of mountain biking that you are planning on doing – if you need speed for trail riding you opt for  a hardtail while downhill racers will do better with a full suspension bike.

Anatomy Of A Hardtail Bike

Frame – typically the frame is made from aluminium and provides lots of clearance for fat tyres.

Fork – Suspension forks provide for a smoother ride and you can set the shocks depending on the terrain you are cycling.

Wheels – Usually 26 inch wheels combined with 32 spokes – these wheels are smaller than a typical road bike.

Tyres – Thick and whit lots of tread to provide for grip and traction

Chainrings – A triple chainring provides for greater gear ratio selection

Sprockets – Up to nine depending on your model

Brakes – V-brakes for better stopping ability compared to standard callipers. More upscale models are starting to incorporate disc brakes as they are more effective in all weather conditions.

Gear Shifters – Thumb shifters for easier use.

Saddle – Comfortable and supportive , able to operate in all terrains.

Anatomy Of A Full Suspension Bike

Full Suspension Frame – Provides greater traction and control in rough terrain

Suspension Fork – Takes most of the imapct in the front forks

Brakes – Disc brakes for improved stopping performance in rough and muddy conditions

Wheels – 26 inch rims with 32 spokes to provide for durability. Tyers are between 1.9 and 2.1 inches wide

Tyres – Thck and knobbly to provide superior traction and control in rough conditions

Gears – Usually a nine-speed freewheel combined with triple chainrings

Pedals – reversible and clipless allowing the cyclists to easily clip in on bothe sides of the pedal

When you are enjoying a ride on a trail yo need to be prepeared for almost any emergency situation. Here are a couple of items that you should take with on a long trail ride:

• a hydration pack
• a waterproof jacket or raincoat
• a durable back pack
• enough food and energy bars to sustain your energy levels
• a bycycle pump – you will need a durable pump
• a pair of tyer levers
• A Set of spair tubes
• A carpet needle and thread to repair broken tyres
• Basic cycling toolkit
• A first aid kit containing all the essentials
• Some cash and a cellphone

These items will cover almost any potential emergency and should enable you to comfortably deal with any problems. Most experienced mountain bikers are prepared for these emergencies and being prepared can make the difference between an enjoyable ride on the trail and a day of total misery.

Here are some guidelines on making you a better climber ,

Stay In The Saddle

Successful climbing needs a rhythm and the best way to achieve this is by keeping relaxed and focused and remaining in the saddle. Firmly hold the handlebars and place you weight where it feels most comfortable and use that great rhythm to climb. You can stand in the saddle when you need to get some extra momentum or to stretch out your legs.

Bending Forward & Keep Weight Back

Rear wheel traction is vital when climbing , so you need to have you weight concentrated over your back wheel. This will prevent slipping , however by leaning forward you are also able to achieve a lower centre of gravity which helps provide better traction.

Using A Low Gear

This places less strain on your muscles and will also help you save more energy for later on in the climb. Gradient changes can also slow you down so you need to be in a lower gear to anticipate gradient changes.

Change The Numbers

The most important consideration in climbing is the power to weight ratio. If you are carrying some extra weigh – take the time and effort to lose that weight. You can also opt for a lighter bike if your budget allows for this. Try incorporating some hill climbing in your training schedule. This will help boost your climbing power.

Taking The Easiest Line

The easiest line may not be the most direct. Corners are typically steeper on the outside and the extra distance on a lower gradient will save energy on a difficult climb.

Mountain biking has become more popular over the years. More Bikes are available to buy in the shops or in online stores and the choice can be incredible. However, buying can be tricky because there are so many things to consider….

Buying a Mountain Bike is dependent on what you are searching for is the bike for a child or an adult? If its for a child then you need to make sure that the bike is of proper frame size, and not so big so that the child’s feet cannot touch the ground.

A frame is different too if its for a girl or a boy, because male riders has a slightly different shape to the female rider.

Here are some factors to look for while you decide which bike to buy…

1. The Frame Size
2. How many gears do you need?
3. Is the seat comfortable?
4. The Price of the bike
5. Where you are going to use the bike off road or on the road.

After completion of this article you will be able to understand which mountain bike to buy and to guide you to make the right decision when you make the purchase.

Frame size is critical when your buying a mountain bike, because if its too big then it can be dangerous as you can lose control of the bike if you need to make a emergency stop and its less stable. You will need to find a frame which suits the person’s height and adjusted accordingly.

Type of gearing is important too, especially if you intend to ride a lot, or just around town. If you only ride occasionally in the town then you will not need so many gears compared to someone who rides professionally or in the mountains.

There is nothing worse than getting a sore bottom is there? Well that’s when the careful selection of having the proper and comfortable seat is crucial when you are buying a mountain bike. Too hard and you will get sore, but softer is best especially for the female rider.

In the increasing need to save money the price of the bike you buy will be crucial to most people. Some bikes can cost over £100 / $150 and even up to $300 or more.  More bikes are available now and can be bought online for a fair price and these can be of a very good quality and reasonably cheap.

Another issue to consider if of course where are you going to use the bike is it for off road trailing or just for town use. Either way it can be crucial because trailing bikes are generally stronger and lighter than the less professional bikes which are generally used around town.

When you decide what to consider when you look for a bike, then  all the factors above are of equal importance. One other key concern would be safety and to make sure you wear a helmet when you decide to buy the bike.

In concluding, the main points above has demonstrated what should be considered when you are thinking of buying a new or second hand bike. All these points should be considered and thought about before buying a mountain bike but the most important point would be the price of the bike, as most people would like to buy a bike which will last for years rather than months.