How To Buy Your First Mountain Bike

If you look online for the cheapest possible mountain bikes, you can find something that looks like a mountain bike for as little as £100. Although these bikes are a tempting choice for first time mountain bikers, they simply sre not up to the job of off road riding. The cheapest mountain bikes have a weak frame, made from heavy but low quality steel - which is likely to crack when it encounters off road terrain. Another issue with these low budget mountain bikes is the poor level of components they are fitted with, gearing, brakes and suspension at the lowest end of the price range is not suitable for off road use.

The ideal budget for a starter mountain bike should be no less than around £500. It’s at this price point where a mountain bike becomes able to handle a range of off-road terrain, without dropping to bits. Spending more money on a bike will also make it easier to ride,these bikes will be lighter than cheaper bikes - so the bike will be easier to ride across terrain, especially uphills. At the £500 plus price point, the components of the bike will also be of a higher quality - meaning a smoother, more reliable ride.

Should I buy a Hardtail for the first bike?

Bikes at this price point should be hardtail in their design, meaning that they have a front suspension fork, but no suspension at the rear of the bike. At the sub £1,000 price point at least - we always recommend purchasing a hardtail mountain bike, as full suspension bikes at these low price points will be heavy, and poorly made.

A hardtail mountain bike, though, still provides suspension - as your first mountain bike, suspension travel of between 80mm to 120mm is more than enough, to smooth out rough off road terrain. Remember, it’s not just the maximum amount of travel that you are after here, it’s about how well the suspension fork is damped - which allows for control across the full range of travel.

First Mountain Bike Size

The simplest way to choose the height of your first mountain bike, is to consult the manufacturers size guide - these guides will list different frame sizes, alongside the corresponding height of the rider. Although it may be tempting to buy a bike frame which is too big for you, as you can grow into it as a young rider - riding a bike with a frame which is too large makes for an uncomfortable and nerve wracking riding experience. Get a frame which is big enough to last, but safe enough and comfortable enough to ride.

First Mountain Bike Wheel Size

Traditionally , only 26 inch mountain bike wheels were available - that is until 29 inch wheels were introduced - with advantages such as being able to roll over bumps more smoothly, and less likely to dip into small holes when riding across off road terrain. Both choices are still available, as are 27.5 inch wheels which split the difference between the 29 inch and 26 inch mountain bike wheels. Today, there are relativelty few 26 inch mountain bike wheels available - but they are found most often on budget models.

Best First Mountain Bike Models

Some of the bikes that we recommend as the best choices for beginner mountain bikers include the Giant Talon 5, the Scott Aspect 970 & 770 as well as the Cannondale Trail 7.