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Most people don’t start out in mountain biking with a £2,000 bike. That’s a lot to spend on something that you’re not sure whether you’ll enjoy using. Nearly every mountain biker got started on something considerably cheaper – off-road capable bikes start at around £400, and plenty of people took their first forays on to the trails on bikes even cheaper than that. You may not even realize that you’re going to become a mountain biker when you get that first bike - plenty of people buy MTBs for commuting or just for getting around, then head off-road on a whim and become hooked. Regardless of your intentions when you get that first mountain bike, eventually you’re going to feel the need for a newer and more expensive one.
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There are two strands to this. The first is the march of bike technology. Mountain bikes have come a long way in thirty years. Current models pack several inches of suspension travel at both ends, hydraulic disc brakes and an enormous gear range in a package that weighs considerably less than the original bikes. And just when you think that no further improvements are possible, bikes get lighter, stiffer and more efficient. This applies at all levels – if you bought an entry-level MTB a few years back, the equivalent model today will be better in every way. However, it’s worth remembering that the bike you’ve got won’t actually have got any worse (assuming you’ve looked after it!).
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Specialized S-Works 2010 MTB Team Helmet £129.99
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| The second strand is your own progress as a rider. The more you ride, the better – and more confident – you get. Your initial forays may be along towpaths or wide forest tracks, but it won’t be long before you’re seeking out steeper, narrower, twistier and rougher trails. Regardless of how it comes about, after a while you’ll be riding faster, harder and longer and starting to find the limits of your entry-level bike. The brakes that seemed fine around town begin to feel lacking on a rocky 1-in-3, the forks that took the sting out of potholes start to twist, bend and bind, towpath-friendly tyres struggle for grip. | |
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Both strands came together for Evans customer Richard Warren. See below for our two recommended full suspension bikes that we think offer maximum peformance on the trails.
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| Lapirre Zesty 214 2010 £1799.99 | Scott Genius 40 2010 £2599.99 |
