- Buying guidesBeginner rider profile You are returning to the sport after a long gap or may have never ridden a mountain bike before. Your aim is to complete at least one 2-3 hour ride a week at your local woods or beginner graded trail at a trail centre. Hardtail or full suspension? Hardtail mountain bikes Hardtails offer you simplicity and affordability. They...
- Buying guidesIntermediate rider profile You will be an intermediate mountain biker. You ride your mountain bike across a wide variety of trails and surfaces and are looking for the next progression in your riding. You are quite comfortable on technical climbs and descents and probably own more than one mountain bike. Hardtail or full suspension? Hardtail...
- Buying guidesAdvanced rider profile If you're an advanced rider you will have been riding for a number of years and experienced many fantastic trails! You will have good technical skills and great trail reading abilities. You will be able to ride smoothly and in control on technical descents and climbs. Full suspension or hard tail? If you're an...
- Buying guidesA mountain bike shifter is the key mechanism for allowing on-the-move gear changes. This is extremely important when riding across technical terrain. Mountain bike shifters still operate by pulling cables to move the derailleurs, forcing the chain to move on to different sprockets or cogs.
- Buying guidesA road bike shifter is the key mechanism for allowing on-the-move gear changes. This is extremely important when riding varying gradients. Both mechanical and electronic shifters are available.
- Buying guidesA chainset is part of the drivetrain on a bike, providing the power that moves the bike forwards. It connects via the chain (or belt in some cases) to the drive wheel of the bike. Chainsets need to be strong and able to withstand the motions and stresses cycling puts them through.
- Buying guidesChainrings explained Chainrings are an integral drivetrain component for your bike. Chainrings are fixed to the spider of the crankarm. They can either be welded directly to the spider, or in most cases attached via chainring bolts to the spider arm mounting holes. They engage the bike chain to provide power to the drive wheel. A chainrings design...
- Buying guidesMountain bike wheels play a large part in determining your ride quality. In this guide we talk about the different kinds of wheels available and the performance characteristics of the various wheel sizes.
- Buying guidesWhat are disc brakes? Disc brakes are a powerful and progressive braking mechanism; a hydraulic or cable actuated caliper forces the disc brake pads onto a rotor to slow down or stop your bike. The vast majority of disc brakes on mountain bikes are hydraulically activated; brake fluid drives pressure to the caliper and this results in a clamping...
- Buying guidesBMX Bikes are compact heavy-duty stunt bikes that come with 20-inch wheels and wide tires. The bike design has an upright handlebar position with a steep head angle for quick steering. The small nature of the bike makes it very agile and is ideal for jumping, tricks and stunts