| Honestly, even if you're new to biking - how do | | | | Components, founded his company in 1974, with |
| you think you can go wrong with a name like | | | | the intent to "give everyone the best ride of their |
| "Specialized"? Mountain bikes under this label have | | | | life." Since then the professional mountain bikes |
| been patronized by discriminating cycling | | | | turned out by the company have made the top |
| enthusiasts - and not just because the name is | | | | picks, and in the past years the company's |
| catchy, but because this brand has a performance | | | | success in developng its mountain bike lines was |
| history that's no less than good and | | | | driven by the presence of its independent |
| solid.Specialized mountain bikes of the Rockhopper | | | | suspension FSR frame.Specialized is also known |
| line, for example, have remained at the top of | | | | for producing quality "budget" bikes - and by this, |
| consumer rankings for a long time, contending | | | | we mean trail bicycles that are slightly cheaper |
| with equally popular classics like the Trek 4500 | | | | than industry standard, for their caliber. They're |
| and the Gary Fisher Marin. These "hardtail" bikes | | | | still more expensive than you could expect a |
| are lightweight and perfect for use by cyclists | | | | regular bike to be - for example, a "cheap" |
| with different body types, which makes it a | | | | competition-grade Specialized model could still cost |
| favorite for most kinds of rugged trails.The | | | | a little over $1000. Before you balk at this price, |
| average weight of a Specialized bike is 30 pounds. | | | | you must remember that Specialized bikes are |
| The aluminum frame helps greatly in reducing | | | | known to compete with big-name brands like |
| weight and increasing speed. And because | | | | Marin, Trek and Giant, some of which definitely |
| aluminum is tried and tested for its durability, it is | | | | sell their "budget" models at much higher costs! |
| also the material of choice by Specialized | | | | But you could look forward to top of the line |
| manufacturers. You can test the worth of a bike | | | | service and performance from Specialized |
| of this name by putting it through a trail bike test; | | | | mountain bikes. You could save a little more if you |
| see how well it performs and how easily it is to | | | | buy previous years' models, which almost |
| transport during normally arduous uphill climbs.Mike | | | | invariably drop in prices as new and shinier models |
| Sinyard, creator of Specialized Bicycle | | | | enter the market. |