Buying your first mountain bike? Find your home on the range.
Are you dreaming of gently rolling single track across open mountain meadows, or careening through banked hairpins down a rocky slope? A one-bike-rides-all option is nearly impossible to find, but pros suggest the best bike for you can be found if you get specific about what you most want to ride.
Elorie Slater, owner of Sports Garage, a full-service mountain bike shop in Boulder, says riders need to begin shopping by defining their specific riding range. Slater urges riders to consider the broad spectrum of trail types–from tame gravel to rocky alpine terrain–and find their range based on how fast, technical, and long they want to ride.
Other considerations include the time and effort needed to make it to the trail and haul your bike. Websites like MTBProject.com offer searchable trail maps with filters for terrain difficulty and length to scout trips, and Bustang service helps riders without racks or vehicles access terrain statewide.
Once your range is locked, Slater recommends a shop where you trust the mechanics and feel comfortable asking questions. Used bikes are another good option, and websites like theproscloset.com offer mechanic-certified pre-owned bikes.
Your new bike awaits, but before getting lost in the weeds, take the time to get a clear view of your own perfect ride.
—Lane Brown
Cover photo Courtesy Lane Brown
