The whole of life is a quiz, it's always about decisions - less important and more important ones. Deciding which bike to buy is clearly one of the important questions. If you make the right choice here, you'll have fun for two. But for inexperienced beginners in particular, there are stumbling blocks and pitfalls lurking everywhere. Our beginners' special will guide you through the maze of options and make your first bike purchase a success. We show you which different bikes are available, which frame size is right for you and which material makes sense.
The bike alone is not enough
One of the most important points when buying a bike is, of course, the price. But be careful: in addition to the price of the bike, be sure to plan a budget for accessories. Depending on your requirements, you should set aside around 150 euros for the purchase of a helmet, goggles, trousers or shoes. You should never go on a tour without a helmet - and every bum will be happy to have a pair of special cycling shorts. Another tip for beginners: cycling shorts are always worn without underwear! At the beginning you can still ride with normal sports shoes, later we recommend clipless pedals and special stiff cycling shoes. Your trusted bike dealer will probably be able to put together a nice package of bike and accessories for you.
But before you buy a bike, you need to think carefully about what you want to do with it. Our categories (right) will help you choose the right area of use. For beginners on a tight budget, there is usually no way round a hardtail. These mountain bikes do not have suspension on the rear wheel. A suspension fork at the front is now standard everywhere. Don't buy a bike without front suspension, even in moderate terrain, on forest and woodland paths, suspension at the front offers significantly more control, more riding comfort and takes the strain off your arms and back.
The first hardtails worthy of the name mountain bike are available from 500 euros, and you should definitely not invest less. The frame of some 500-euro models is of high quality, but the manufacturers tend to save on the components. Heavy no-name parts are often used. The poor shifting components in particular have been criticised. You can find out more about these bikes from page 66 in our 500-euro bike test. The quality of the components increases with the price. Starting at 1000 euros, you can get really mature mountain bikes for a lot of fun off-road (Test in BIKE 3/10->).
For all those who can afford it and who are not looking for a career in cross-country racing, we definitely recommend a fully (full suspension). Fine touring bikes are available in the shops from 1500 euros. Rear suspension improves the handling considerably. The traction is far better than that of a rigid rear. At the same time, suspension relieves the body. With a hardtail, the rider has to get out of the saddle in the event of obstacles; with full suspension, the ride is more relaxed.
Sophisticated mountain bike suspension
The common misconception about suspension is that drive energy is wasted in the chassis while riding. This no longer applies to modern fully suspension systems. Clever designs have minimised these losses. The relaxed position on the bike compensates for these losses. Even top athletes nowadays opt for a fully on many race courses because it is faster despite the slightly higher weight. Aluminium is the frame material of choice for attractively priced bikes. Steel frames are too heavy and have all but disappeared from the market. Carbon only rarely makes it into the lower price regions. Most newcomers generally lack the capital. Bikes with carbon frames are available from around 2000 euros.
The range of disc brakes, suspension forks, saddles and seatposts, wheels and tyres is too much for a beginner to keep track of. There are only two options to avoid making the wrong choice when it comes to bike equipment: Either you inform yourself, read our BIKE magazine over a longer period of time and ask friends and acquaintances - or you find a competent dealer you trust who knows all the details about the latest equipment. This is also the main reason why we prefer to send beginners to shops instead of recommending them to buy from a mail order company: Trusting the seller is the be-all and end-all. But it's not always easy to find a good shop: Ask friends and acquaintances or take a look a few times before you buy to see for yourself.
The shop around the corner is a real help, especially for those new to mountain bike technology. They will be happy to answer any pressing questions and help you set up your suspension. If you don't rush things, buying a bike is not rocket science, even for beginners. Do a little research yourself first: Decide on one of the categories on page 61, measure your stride length and set yourself an upper budget limit. Then visit a few dealers in your neighbourhood and ask for detailed advice. Make sure you take a test ride. If you feel comfortable on the bike and you feel well looked after, you can go for it - where you have been advised, of course. Grab the appropriate accessories right away so that you can get started straight away. And then: Have fun with your new bike - and with the most beautiful sport in the world.
You can find the entire article on buying advice below as a PDF download. Here you will also find a driving report on the Billigrad McKenzie Hill 700.
