| After spending a few minutes reading the specs for | | | | top tube length. No problem. Here is part of the |
| your new potential mountain bike you may have to | | | | equation you will need to figure out your |
| stop and make sure you aren't buying a high | | | | stand-over-height. Measure from the center of your |
| performance Indy race car. These bikes are not your | | | | fist to the end of your collarbone (the part that |
| grandpas take a ride around the block bike. These | | | | intersects your shoulder). Next, measure your torso by |
| things are made for endurance and some of the | | | | placing a book against your crotch with the spine |
| roughest territory any bike will endure. If you have | | | | facing up. Well there is more but you get the idea. |
| been around the sport for a while then this is old news | | | | Once you have that figured out you should decide on |
| to you. You can glance down at your skinned up | | | | the price range you want to look into. You'll need a |
| knees, scarred elbows and other mountain riding | | | | few more terms to arrive at this figure. Frame |
| trophies and realize just how tough these bikes need | | | | materials, bike weight, and component quality, entry |
| to be. However the novice mountain biker just might | | | | level, mid-range and high end racer. Doesn't sound too |
| be a little overwhelmed by all the terms used for the | | | | tough. A few hours on the internet will teach you what |
| specialized equipment that these bikes use. | | | | you need to know here. But don't reach for your credit |
| Take the following terms for example: | | | | card yet sport. There's more. Yes indeed you need to |
| * floating beam suspension | | | | decide what kind of mountain bike you want. You didn't |
| * Zoom suspension fork | | | | think they were gonna let you get away with just one |
| * elastomer/spring technology | | | | choice did you? |
| * Microshift push shifters | | | | Let's see now. As I understand it there are road and |
| * Stem | | | | racing bikes, mountain bikes, (I thought that was the |
| * Dual suspension | | | | bike we were discussing), and the ever popular |
| * index gearing | | | | comfort/cruiser. Well by Golly I think that does it. You |
| * integrated Shimano levers | | | | should be about ready to hit the road. Oops I did forget |
| * linear pull brakes | | | | a couple of things. You will need just a few more |
| * Cassette | | | | items. |
| If that is not enough to cause some serious head | | | | You won't be cool with out a 17 function bike |
| scratching there are a few more things you will need | | | | computer. Yep and a helmet, 26 function bicycle tool, |
| to come to terms with. | | | | bicycle light, bicycle cover and of course you would |
| Bike size | | | | not head for the mountain without a velcro pack. Hmm. |
| These rocket ships are not all the same size and you | | | | That should do it. Don't forget your water bottle and a |
| want to make sure you get the right one for you. Your | | | | first aid kit would most likely come in handy also. |
| gonna come across terms like, stand-over-height and | | | | |