Step one is to determine your budget. There is virtually no limit to how much money you can spend on a new mountain bike.
To keep your spending under control, figure out what price range you are willing to pay for your new bicycle and try to only look at bicycles within that price range. Instead of going to Wal-Mart or Costco, support your local bicycle shop and get a better product and much better service.
Mountain bikes are designed for several different riding styles and terrain. You will need to figure out what type of riding you will be doing most of the time.
Would you rather get into smooth trail riding, cross-country racing, all mountain cruising or lift accessed gravity mayhem? Make sure the bikes you look at fit your riding style and not the sales staff's.
Decide if you need full suspension or hard tail. Hard tails, without rear suspension, are lighter weight and pedal more efficiently but full suspension designs offer more comfort and better control.
You will want to decide based on your price range, riding style and terrain. It is nearly impossible to compare mountain bikes component to component.
There are simply too many combinations. Find a few components that are most important to you for comparison and make sure the rest fall within some sort of minimums for your price range.
Start with the fork and then look at the wheels and rear derailleur. Mountain bike prices can fluctuate significantly during the year.
The main buying season is from spring through summer. If you are lucky enough to be able to wait until the right price comes up, usually in the fall and winter, you can save a few hundred dollars.
You will also find that a lot of bicycle shops will offer discounts on accessories or other products and services when you buy from them. There is nothing wrong with buying last year's model if it fits your needs.
Finding a good dealer can be more important than getting a good price. Find a dealer that cares more about selling you the right wheels than selling you the more expensive one.
A good dealer should have a clean repair shop and you should feel like you can trust them. Test ride as many wheels as you can in your price range and riding style category.
You will find that some bikes will just feel right while others don't. The more wheels you ride the better feel you will have for what you like and what you don't.
Product reviews are a great way to find out about a mountain bikes performance and reliability. Look your bicycle up before you buy it and make sure there isn't anything someone else discovered that you might not like.
The people who run your local store are your best resource on bike buying. These folks are knowledgeable, and can offer tips, advice and service that you can never get over the internet.
Tell the salesman exactly what you will be using it for. You may have one set of wheels in mind, but something else will really fit your needs best.
You can also consider buying used if the bicycle is in good condition. The best way to get decent wheels without forking out a whole bunch of money, particularly if you're still wondering if you'll stick with it for a while, is to buy a used bicycle rather than purchasing one new.
And sources abound, from sites like Craigslist to the classified ads in the newspaper to a swap board carried by your local bicycle shop on its website. While shopping for a used bike on your own, the opportunity to take the bike for a test ride coupled with a little online research should be enough to tell you about the suitability of your purchase.
After you've thought thoroughly about the type of riding you'll be doing, and taken a several different types out for test rides, go get the very best bicycle you can afford. It will be money well spent.
Author Resource:-
Jack R. Landry is a personal trainer and has authored hundreds of articles relating to physical training and recumbent exercise bike. He has been a health expert and physical trainer for over 15 years.
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