| Your very first ride down the steep slopes of a | | | | roads these days, too. Most of the bikes seen |
| bona fide mountain on a rock strewn trail on an | | | | around town seem to be mountain bikes or some |
| old bike will undoubtedly leave you convinced to | | | | hybrid of the mountain bike. Fact is, mountain |
| the necessity of purchasing a strong and resilient | | | | bikes are made for comfort. What they add to |
| mountain bike frame! It, as your body will attest, | | | | genuine off-road riding (shock absorption, easy |
| is going to absorb a lot of shock. If you invest in | | | | gearing, and responsive handling) may be essential |
| a good mountain bike frame, it will do even more: | | | | but what they add to street riding (shock |
| it will actually absorb, into its metal and | | | | absorption, easy gearing, and responsive handling) |
| components, much of the shock that would | | | | is no less appreciated by the casual rider. You will |
| otherwise move readily into your own | | | | even find mountain bike riders on most any of |
| components! | | | | the long, multi-day road tours so increasingly |
| Design and construction of mountain bike frames | | | | popular. You will not, probably, find these riders |
| has advanced centuries in the last couple of | | | | among the front pack though: a mountain bike |
| decades, really. What is available today only | | | | frame is not made for efficient road usage, even |
| remotely resembles the first so-called mountain | | | | if it does add comfort. |
| bikes some of us rode in the early | | | | Getting a mountain bike frame that's right for you |
| nineteen-eighties. Today, mountain bike frames | | | | is possible either in person at a good bike store or |
| are available in geometries and materials | | | | online if you know your size and usage |
| unimagined two decades ago. What you need is | | | | requirements, but the vastly different frame |
| going to be a combination of your own body and | | | | geometries make riding a bike before buying it |
| your individual intentions. If you like the thrill of | | | | more important than ever. The traditional |
| high speed downhill rides, you will need a vastly | | | | triangular structure of a road bike frame is |
| different bike than if you ride on level trails. If | | | | frequently drastically skewed on today's mountain |
| your preference is to avoid going over rocks, you | | | | bike frames, rendering the triangle almost |
| will need a different bike than someone whose | | | | unrecognizable. Shopping at a good bike store will |
| eyes light up at the sight of a boulder strewn | | | | put you in touch with bike professionals who will |
| pathway. Think about what you enjoy before you | | | | be able to recommend the right geometry for |
| go shopping for a mountain bike. | | | | your unique physique and your own unique |
| Mountain bike frames spend a lot of time on | | | | preferences and strengths as a rider. |