Which brand of mountain bike is best?

Mountain biking in the CIS countries became popular in the 90s of the last century. Even then, the question arose, which mountain bike company is better. Currently, there are even more manufacturers, so the issue has become more relevant. , also called a mountain bike (MTB), has gained popularity because it is comfortable to ride on our roads due to the presence of shock absorbers and wide tires.

Which company to choose a bike

Today, there are many companies that produce mountain bikes. There are both domestic producers and foreign ones. The first order all the equipment, and we only collect. The latter can manufacture frames and some parts of the equipment on their own. Basically, all production facilities are located in Taiwan and China.

Among the well-known eminent manufacturers are the following:

• cannondale;
• Giant;

Buying a bike from these companies, you can be sure that it will serve you for a long time in all weather conditions.

Among the less well-known manufacturers are the following:

• cube;
• ghost;
• Drag;
• Vitus;
• Focus

These bikes are somewhat cheaper than the ones mentioned above, but they are no less hopeful and durable. For example, Drag gives a lifetime warranty on its frames.

All of the above brands specialize in bicycles from $500. If you just want a bike for cycling, then you can choose an inexpensive bike that, with good maintenance, will last you for many years. These brands include:

• fort;
• pride;
• Apollo

What to pay attention to?

A bicycle can be divided into the following parts: frame, fork, wheels and mechanics. Each of these parts consists of smaller elements. Before buying, you should familiarize yourself with the entire structure of the bike in order to understand what you can save on and what you can’t. For example, first of all, you need to pay attention to the frame and wheels, and only then only to the seat and pedals.

Below we will go into detail about all the important elements of the bike, so you know what to look for.

Frame

Frame and fork- the two most important elements of a bicycle, their choice must be taken very seriously. Almost any part can be replaced without too much difficulty, and replacing a frame is like changing a bike. The bike frame must be selected according to the following parameters:

• Size;
• frame geometry;
• Material.

Frames are made from:

• aluminum. This is an inexpensive material and moderately light.
• Carbon. This is the lightest material, but at the same time expensive. A carbon fiber frame weighs around 1000g on average.

suspension forks

The shock absorber is used for:

• Improved bike control by absorbing shocks that occur when hitting bumps in the road.
• Protect hands from fatigue and increase ride comfort.

Forks by type of construction are of the following types:

• Telescopic fork;
• Inverted telescopic fork (on bicycle slang "shifter");
• Lever fork.

According to the principle of operation of the fork, there are:

• With air springs;
• With twisted metal spring.

Disadvantages of shock absorbers include:

• high cost;
• Great weight;
• The need for regular maintenance.

Mechanics and wheels

The main parts of the bike after the frame- these are wheels and mechanics (equipment or groupset). The groupset has the main details:

• brakes;
• brake levers;
• Front stars (system);
• Gearshift knobs;
• Gear switches.

Non-core components are called “consumables” by cyclists. They got this name because during operation they wear out faster than others and they need to be replaced.

These include:

• Chain;
• Cassette(rear sprockets);
• Ropes switches and brakes;
• Tires;

When selling, the bike is sold with a certain level of equipment installed. There are two well-known brands that specialize in mountain bike mechanics: Shimano and Sram.

Now let's look at the wheels. Wheels are the most important part of a bike. the roll of the bike depends on them, as well as its weight. By replacing the old heavy wheels with hard and light ones, you will immediately feel the difference.

The wheel is made up of three components:

• Sleeve;
• spokes;
• Rim.

All these elements can be made from various materials. The most inexpensive is steel, from which I make spokes and bushings, and aluminum is the best in terms of price-quality ratio. All these components can be made from it. Aluminum wheels are lighter than steel wheels.

The average weight of a pair of aluminum wheels 2000 - 2500 gr. The most modern, light and rigid material is carbon. But it is used only for the production of premium wheels, which are used by professional athletes and advanced amateurs. The average weight of a pair of carbon MTB wheels is 1300 - 1700 gr.

Tires

The rolling of a bicycle depends on tires, as well as on wheels, in addition, tires are responsible for patency and handling in difficult conditions.

Tires are divided into the following types:

• With soft cord;
• With steel cord.

The former are more expensive and much lighter than the latter. Wheels can be either with tubeless tires or have cameras. In the first case, with a small protocol, the sealant that is inside the tire will seal the hole under pressure and you do not need to stop to seal the hole, as is the case with the camera. In amateur bicycles, conventional chamber wheels are mainly installed.

Depending on the weather conditions in which you have to ride, there are both rain tires, all-purpose tires and tires for dry weather. If you use MTB to move around the city on paved roads, you can put slicks and your speed will increase noticeably.

Sticks, pedals and seats

Bicycle pedals are of two types:

• contact, in which the leg is fixed;
• Contactless or in cycling slang "toptalki".

When using pedal contacts, your efficiency increases because you use more muscles, which allows you to go faster.

And now let's talk about the elements of the bike that need to be selected individually for each rider - this is the stem, saddle and handlebars. Each person is unique, people with the same height may have different lengths of arms and legs. Therefore, these elements have different sizes and can be easily replaced to set a comfortable fit.

The so-called "sticks" include:

• Steering wheel;
• Stem;
• Seat tube.

These components, like the wheels, can be made from the same materials. In inexpensive bikes, aluminum sticks are installed. In the cheapest ones, you can also find steel ones, but now this is already a rarity. Previously, very often the seatpost and handlebar stem were steel, and the handlebars were aluminum.

The saddle is an important part of the bike, on which your health and mood depend after long trips. Saddles are selected according to the following characteristics:

• Width- measured at the widest point of the saddle and should be 15-20 mm more than the distance between your sitting bones when you are sitting.
• Cruelty- saddles can be both soft and made of carbon without any wrapping, but this does not mean that such a saddle will be uncomfortable
• Form.

The choice of a saddle is an individual process for everyone, it is not certain that a saddle that your friend praises will suit you.

Comparison of mechanics

You already know that Sram or Shimano mechanics are installed on mountain bikes. Both manufacturers make expensive groupsets for racing bikes as well as equipment for budget bikes.

Sram produces the following groups:

• XX1, XX, X01, X0, X1 - mechanics groups for professionals;
• X5, X7, X9 - semi-professional groups;
• X3, X4 - inexpensive entry-level equipment.

Shimano has a similar situation, i.e. several groups of approximately the same level:

• XTR Di2, XTR, XT Deore 8000, Saint - professional equipment for various types of mountain bikes. Worth noting is the XTR Di2 group, the world's first mountain bike electronic drivetrain.
• XT Deore, Zee - semi-professional;
• Alvio, Acera - good amateur equipment;
• Tourney, Altus - entry-level bands.

Prices and brands

On the bicycle, as elsewhere, there are companies that have long gained a reputation:

• Specialized;
• Cannondale

Prices for bicycles of these companies will be above average. However, there are less promoted, but their products are no less high quality, for example:

• Schwinn;
• ghost;

Cons and pros of foreign brands

Pros:

• Release new products every year.
• They try to be competitive. Bicycles of the same level from different manufacturers are in the same price range.
• They test their equipment with professional athletes. This allows us to produce equipment thought out to the smallest detail.

Of the minuses can be noted that all prices are pegged to foreign currencies. Although, cyclists have no choice, because the domestic market does not produce bicycles and equipment of decent quality.