So Many Bikes So Little Time
So you want to buy a mountain bike but don’t know where to start?
I got you!
With all the different types of bikes, different brands, different price points, etc. out there, buying your first mountain bike can be a lengthy and confusing process. I’m going to break it down for you and by the end of this you’ll have a lot more info your head and a lot less money in your wallet. For a more in depth idea on components on bike check out this post with great info by Parallax on mountain bike components to save you money. Now, here are the steps to follow:
1. Picking a Discipline
- Downhill
- Enduro
- Trail
- Down Country
- Cross Country
Now, you might be saying, “Hey, that’s a lot of categories, why are there so many?”. Well, I’ll tell you something the industry doesn’t want you to know. They made a lot of those up to sell more bikes. Let me explain.
Downhill
Downhill is its own beast, the bikes are tough, have tons of suspension, and tons of braking power. These bikes are really only made for bike parks where you either take a shuttle or chair lift up.
If you don’t plan on spending MOST of your time at the bike park this NOT the bike for you.
Enduro/Trail
Next up we have Enduro and Trail, which are pretty much the same thing.
Enduro/Trail bikes are designed to go up just as well as they go down. These bikes are for those who want to pedal up and absolutely blast back down.
If you want a do-it-all bike this groups for you. Climbing, descending, rocks, jumps, and everything in between, Enduro/Trail bikes can handle it.
Down/Cross Country
Last but not least we have Down and Cross Country
These bikes are light, pedal really well, but lack the suspension and braking power you’d find on the bikes above. This group is for those who want to go just as fast on the uphill as they do on the down. This is also the easiest bike category to recommend to a friend that you’re trying to convert from a roadie!
2. Picking a Price Point
- High End ($5,000 – $15,000)
- Middle of the Road ($2,500 – $5,000)
- Budget Bike ($1,000 – $2,500)
- Used (???)
Lets start this off with, THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY USED. You can find amazing deals on lightly used bikes and you’ll end up with much much better bang for your buck.
Otherwise, the truth of the matter is even “budget” bikes have gotten incredible in the last few years. The lines between the price points have become increasingly blurred. For instance take a look at the Polygon Siskiu range of bikes. You can now get a bike at nearly half the price of big name bike brands that performs just as well if not better.
If you like nice things and have a lot of money, go ahead and get the high end bikes though, there’s nothing wrong with having the best of the best. Things like carbon fiber, lighter and lighter components, fancy colored suspension and beyond probably won’t do much for you when you’re starting out…but you’ll be able to flex on your buddies!
3. Picking a Brand
- Retail (Car Dealer-esque)
- Direct to Consumer
Now that you know what discipline you want to pursue and how much you want to spend, its time to look at brands. They can be broken down into 2 categories, each with their own pros and cons.
Retail Brands
These are your traditional bike dealers like Trek, Giant, Yeti, Specialized, etc. You can buy these from your local bike shop depending on who they have a contract with. The pros of these bikes is that they are tied to a dealer so things like warranties, returns, set up help, and the like can all by handled through the bike shop. The cons of these brands is that they are more expensive.
If you want someone there to help you out when you have questions, and don’t want to deal with customer supports or shipping, this is the route for you!
Direct to Consumer Brands
These are the brands like Canyon, Polygon, YT, and Evil. These brands let you order on their site and have the bike delivered (mostly) assembled to your door. These bikes are typically the best bang for your buck in terms of components. However, what they offer in savings and quality, they sometimes lack in customer support.
If you’re the type of person who likes to work on their own stuff, doesn’t mind learning, and can be patient when your emails go unanswered for hours or days than I highly recommend going the direct to consumer route!
4. Buy Your Bike!
That’s pretty much it, a lot of companies have several bikes in similar categories and price ranges. Personally, I’d just go for what looks the coolest to you. Once you know what category you want, how much you want to spend, and what brand you’re going with, just go with your gut! At the end of the day, its sport that’s meant to be fun, don’t overthink it. A lot of companies have generous return policies, the big thing is to just pull the trigger and get the wheels rolling.