Advantages and Disadvantages of a Mountain Bike

If you are in the market to buy a new bike, chances are that you are at least considering a mountain bike. This has consistently been one of the most popular bikes over the years. However, this isn't for everyone.

A mountain bike has the advantages of having a heavy duty construction. Its for this reason that many people want one because they think they will be able to go everywhere. Kind of like a SUV. They do offer a very good ride over rough terrain. Most have at least a front shock, and the large tires also soak up some of the shock and offer stability. They are also made to be manueverable, so a little practice can mean that you can get over obstacles such as rocks and small logs. It's pretty amazing what some riders are able to do on them.

There are two types of instances where this would be a good bike for you. One is obviously if you plan on going to trails that are not paved, or have a lot of obstacles on them. Another is if you live in an area that perhaps doesn't offer very good road conditions, for instance some very rural areas have a lot of gravel roads or the roads that are paved aren't in very good condition. The mountain bike in this kind of area is can be good because the tires will hold up better and the conditions may change from day to day, such as after a rainstorm where there could be more junk like sand on the road.

It's also important to know what the drawbacks of mountain bik are. It was designed for a specific purpose, just like the other types of bikes, so when it is used outside of the offroad world, it won't perform as well. When I bought mine I thought it would be good for everything, but the disadvantages quickly became obvious.

One is that it can be just plain uncomfortable to ride. The straight handlebars tend to be far away from the body so you're stretched out. Thhis is okay in real off terrain riding because you'll change your position often, but on a paved surface you stay in the same position for hours. You'll most likely notice it in your lower back and shoulder muscles if you ride a long way. There are some things that you can do with it such as swap for different handlebars and an extension that will bring them closer to you, but then you don't really have a mountain bike anymore, it's more of a hybrid.

Another disadvantage is that mountain bikes are slow. Those big knobby tires that are great in the dirt don't work so well on a paved surface. They require a lot of energy to keep them moving because there is so much road contact. Just listen to that hum when you ride. That's the sound of wasted energy. This may not seem like much of a disadvantage, but if you plan on riding for an hour or more, believe me, it really adds up. The solution is to have something with thinner tires, either a road bike or hybrid.

Weight can also be a factor, although a high quality mountain bike may weigh less than a low quality hybrid. The weight comes from the fact that everything is heavy duty. The frame is made out of big tubes, the rims are wider, and everything is made to take a beating. Again, great if your flying down a mountain and off drops, but kind of a waste in the energy department if you are riding anywhere else.

You may want to buy a mountain bike though just because they look cool. I bought a Giant Iguana six years ago and have been very happy with it, but now am looking for a road bike because I love to get into speed mode and use it more for transportation. There is no comparison if you look at it from that standpoint. But if you ride leisurely, buying a mountain can be a good option for that too.