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Mountain Bike

Gender

<h1>Gender</h1>
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Most mountain bikes are unisex however there are a few models designed specifically for men or women.
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Experience Level

<h1>Experience Level</h1>
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Mountain bikes are designed for different levels of experience which will have substantial effect on the price. Bikes designed for better riders are built with higher quality components to allow the rider to push the bike to their limits. The main components that affect the experience level is the drivetrain. The drivetrain consists of all components used to push the bike along. These components include: the pedals, cranks, chainrings, chain, cassette and derailleur. As the price of these components increase, their performance and durability increase while their weight decreases.
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<strong>Entry ($2500 or less)</strong> - For anyone looking to get into mountain biking without breaking the bank. 
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<strong>Intermediate ($2,500 - $5,000)</strong> - For those into mountain biking looking to get a solid mountain bike.
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<strong>Advanced ($5,000 - $7,000)</strong> - For mountain bikers looking to push their skills to the max.
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<strong>Expert ($7,000+)</strong> - High-end professional level mountain bikes.
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Riding Type

<h1>Riding Type</h1>
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Mountain Bikes are designed for specific uses and different terrain types. There are two key terms that are major factors in the riding type:
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       <strong>Front Suspension Travel</strong> - The maximum distance that the front suspension of the mountain bike can compress before bottoming out. Having larger travel equates to a more comfortable ride on rougher terrain. 
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    <div class="section-flex-item"><strong>Head Tube Angle</strong> - The angle at which the head tube points towards the ground. Steeper head tube angles will have better handling, but will have less stability at speed.</div>
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<strong>Trail</strong> - Designed to weather a variety of terrain while still maintaining efficient pedaling on climbs.  These bikes have no problem riding over rocks and roots while navigating technical mountain terrain.  They usually feature slacker head tube angles. Trail bikes are most often dual suspension with travel between 120mm-170mm.  
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<strong>Enduro</strong> - Designed for steeper descents, all-mountain bikes feature even slacker head tube angles to increase stability. They also fall into the upper half of the suspension travel range (150-170mm). 
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<strong>Cross Country (XC)</strong> - Fast and efficient, made for riders who want to get good exercise and maintain a fast pace throughout their ride.  Just as good for climbing as descending.  Frames have steeper head tube angles and long reaches. XC bikes come in both hardtail or dual suspension designs with a suspension travel of 80-120mm.  Overall lightest bikes of the major categories which means less exertion on long rides and climbs.  
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<strong>Downhill</strong> - As the name suggests downhill bikes are made to be shuttled up the mountain and only ridden down the mountain.  They have the slackest head tube angles of all, which helps with safety and stability on steep descents.  They also have a large amount of suspension travel, generally between 180-200mm and are heavier than most other categories since uphill efficiency is not a priority.  
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Size

<h1>Size</h1>
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If you are unsure our sizing calculator is a good baseline for your typical size. However, it is always a good idea to check the manufacturer's sizing chart for a specific bike before purchasing.
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Wheel Size

<h1>Wheel Size</h1>
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 27.5 and 29 inches are the two most popular modern wheel sizes and there is a pretty even split between people preferring 29 inch wheels vs 27.5 inch wheels. 
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<strong>27.5"</strong> - Gives you better acceleration as well as better handling in tight spaces. This can be especially true for smaller riders (XS or S, frames).
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<strong>29"</strong> - Offers better traction, ability to roll over obstacles, and maintain speed and momentum.  The trade-off with larger wheels is slower acceleration and more difficulty initiating turns. Larger riders can experience less of the downsides of 29" while still benefiting from the larger wheels (L or XL frames).
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<strong>Mixed Wheel</strong> - New emerging option  It is believed that combining wheel sizes by putting a 29" wheel up front with a 27.5" wheel in the rear allows the best of both worlds.  The larger faster wheel helps roll over larger obstacles while the smaller rear wheel makes for better handling and easier acceleration.

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Rear Suspension

<h1>Rear Suspension</h1>

The maximum distance that the rear suspension can compress before bottoming out is known as the travel (measured in mm). The travel is what determines these different levels of rear suspension.

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<strong>Hardtail</strong> - Only have suspension in the front.  Best for smooth trails like gravel or single track.  Riders who are biking for exercise are generally better off with hardtail bikes.  Other advantages of hard tails are weight and price, both being lower than their full suspension counterparts.  
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<strong>Firm (<120mm)</strong> - Often designed to be racing mountain bikes for cross country rides.  Strong and efficient acceleration on smoother trails.
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<strong>Medium (121-160mm)</strong> - Most versatile, made for going both uphill and downhill.  Able to handle technical tracks and medium features.
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<strong>Soft (>161mm)</strong> - For All-Mountain riders who go on rather rough terrain. However, bikes with this much travel will be less efficient during the climb of the trail. The higher end of this range, as you approach 200mm, is made for downhill only.  Softer suspension sacrifices pedaling efficiency for ability to handle steep descents and extra large features.
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Frame Material

<h1>Frame Material</h1>
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<strong>Aluminum Alloy</strong> - Cheaper than Carbon Fiber but heavier. Aluminum is also stiffer meaning you will feel more of the trail while riding. 
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<strong>Carbon Fiber</strong> - Usually costs about $1,000-$1,500 more than an Aluminum frame depending on the model. However, Carbon Fiber is lighter and stronger. It also offers a better feel while riding. Carbon Fiber frames have a damping effect that lowers the harshness of the ride.
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Electronic Shifting

<h1>Electronic Shifting</h1>

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Electronic shifting is only found on high-end advanced and expert mountain bikes. Electronic shifting makes shifting performance more accurate, precise, and faster. Electronic shifting also eliminates the need for shifting cable adjustments or maintenance, but it will come at a steeper price than similar models with manual shifters.
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Mountain Bike Picker