2007 Bicycle Tours

Prague – Vienna, Greenways Trail

General information

Greenways is the name of the most beautiful bike trails connecting Prague to Vienna.

The first part of the trail from Prague to Český Krumlov, you will travel by a minibus or a car. We leave Prague early in the morning on order to secure sufficient time to explore the best-preserved medieval town of Europe, Český Krumlov. In the following days, we will travel through the land of Třeboň ponds, and woods in the border with Austria called Czech Canada. You will visit Renaissance towns of Třeboň, and Telč and many others. The trail will take you through vineyards of South Moravia, where you will lodge in the cultural centres of the region, Znojmo and Mikulov. Tour through Lednice-Valtice area, registered in UNESCO list, offers a perfect symbiosis of cultural and sporting experience. It is also the climax of the tour. The whole trip ends in Vienna. The programme of the tour consists of a ride from Prague to Vienna, but does not include accommodation in Prague and in Vienna before and after the tour respectively. We recommend that you purchase two or three extra nights in Prague before the beginning of the tour and in Vienna after the end of it. That way you will have enough time to overcome jetlag and explore Prague and to relax in Vienna after demanding six days of biking.

The tour from Prague to Vienna combines biking and bus transfers so that you visit all famous historical sites along the way and you have a pleasant ride through the beautiful landscape of Southern Bohemia and Moravia.

Fully Guided Tours use a support vehicle for parts of the trail that may be too long. It always depends on the weather, your physical condition, preferences, and on the overall fitness of the group or many other circumstances, if you decide to take advantage of support vehicle for the rest of the given daily ride.

At the welcome briefing, you will receive a brochure with detailed information about all sights on your journey.

We wish you a pleasant trip!

Basic data about the tour

Tour Type	Fully Guided	Guide-Led	Self-Led
Tour difficulty	moderate	strenuous	strenuous
Average Daily Distance	60 km (37 miles)	60 km (37 miles)	69 km (43 miles)
Price per Person	890 €	710 €	590 €
Single suppl.	140 €	140 €	140 €
Bike Rental (MTB)	70 €	70 €	70 €
Minimal number of persons for non-scheduled tours	four	four	two

More information about the prices...

Schedule of this tour

From – Till	Request
May 27 – Jun 03	book this
Jun 17 – Jun 24 Guaranteed term.	book this
Aug 05 – Aug 12 Guaranteed term.	book this
Sep 30 – Oct 07 Guaranteed term. Discount 15 %!	book this
Oct 14 – Oct 21 Discount 15 %!	book this

You can order this this tour in any term of your choice too.

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2007 Bicycle Tours

Prague – Vienna,

Europe bicyling tour 2007

Based on our experience from the previous years, we have designed ten programmes for more-day tours and one day trip outside Prague.

Tours differ in:

• the planned route - according to places of interest that you pass through
• the length of the tour – the majority of tours takes 8 days, one tour in a leisurely pace for 14 days
• the number of days of biking – the remaining days are dedicated to sightseeing
• the level of difficulty and planned length of biking
• the dates of the scheduled tours

This general information, standard programme of the tours, location on the map of the Czech Republic, tour profile, photo gallery and other information you will find in the descriptions of individual trips.

In every week of the bike season, beginning on May 7 and ending on October 21, we planned two or three routes. You can go on the route on a Fully Guided tour or Guide-Led tour, or you can go by yourselves on a Self-Led tour.

If you would wish to go on some of the trips with a guide in a time different than that indicated in 2007 Cycling Tours Schedule, you can order the tour for a group of four or more persons.

Scott Intermediate MTB Course (Bukit Timah)

Author: FoesZZ

Scott started out its first trail specific MTB course locally on 9 June 2007 at Bukit Timah. This course is targeted at experience riders who wish to polish up their skills and learn riding tips from elite riders in the region. The Bukit Timah course was led by Tan Chun Hong and Risa Suseanty who are both very established riders in their own rights. Rather than to call it a course, it is more of a workshop whereby there is a lot of interaction between the riders and leaders. The leaders took pains to understand each participant’s riding skills and improve on their individual weakness and fortify on their strength. There is no standard course material and it really caters to each participant’s unique needs.

The session started with a short introduction and a brief on the course expectations. We are supposed to do three laps around the trail for this session. First lap is to allow the leaders to observe our riding technique. Second lap will be when the main bulk of knowledge transfer will take place and followed by a third lap to wrap things up, and for the participants to put into practice what they have learnt.

Once the briefing was done, all the participants and leaders set off for the first lap. Prep talks were given during the ride and whenever we stop to wait for the other participants. The leaders were very generous with their knowledge and you can sense their willingness to share, no hiding of trade secrets here. Personally, I was surprise with the number of take-aways I had, despite having cleared the trail countless of times. The topics the leaders touched upon were very comprehensive and ranges from the rider, to the machine and finally, the environment. The first lap took longer than expected and we decided to push forward the lunch break before we go for our second lap.

Lunch was a simple affair, but the sharing kept on going even while we were emptying our chicken rice.

The second lap started right after we had enough rest. During this lap, the group stopped at all the major problem areas and walked through the trail with the leaders. During the walk through, we were shown the possible lines and the preferred line by the leaders. Such stops ended with a demonstration by the leaders. For the first time, we get to see how fast those sections could be cleared and at the same time understand what was going though the rider’s mind. Once we got the idea, we were asked to ride the section under the watchful eyes of the leaders. This was when we would be told of our weaknesses and how to improve on them. Most if not all participants must have benefited greatly during this lap.

After spending a total of 4 hours in the trails, most of us decided against the third lap. We felt the course objective was achieved and the practice portion could be left on our own.

Is it worthwhile

I have no trouble clearing the Bukit Timah trail, but I have still benefited greatly from this session by riding with the leaders and re-looking the trail at a different perspective. I feel more confident and have more intimate knowledge of the trail after the session. This course is ideal for anyone who would like to improve his riding skills or is starting out on a competitive level. While the skills taught are not new, it definitely helps to quicken the learning curve and prevent you from spending fruitless time trying to figure things out on your own. I understand that there are plans to extend these trail specific courses to other local race trails like Kent Ridge and Pulau Ubin. So if you have problems with any of the trails, and is keen to learn from the pros, stay tune for more details, or you may contact Sdiann from Kian Hong for updates.

Bike accesories updated

News: 2008 XT Chapter 2 Cycle 28th Jul 2007 (32 views)

Celebrating 25 years of history, Deore XT gets a major upgrade and some new products in the lineup for 2008 Shimano Deore XT. http://www.bikemagic.com/news/article/mps/UAN/5511/v/1/sp/ See more merchant news>> See more news by Chapter 2 Cycle>>

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News: 2008 Fox Forx Chapter 2 Cycle 28th Jul 2007 (33 views)

The ultimate x-country fork, for 08 completely new design F series, new chassis design with it ultra light weight crown and tapered casting to the post mount disc taps. came in F80RLC, F100RLC, F120RLC, V or Disc brake. and also Talas, Vanilla and Float series. See more merchant news>> See more news by Chapter 2 Cycle>>

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News: NEW ARRIVAL--2008 AVID BB7 Disc brakes L & T Cycle Pte Ltd 28th Jul 2007 (77 views)

The world's best mechanical disc brake, no contest. This is Avid’s disc brake that started it all. Superb power and modulation, and it works with every V-brake (i.e. linear pull) lever on the market. * Dual pad adjustment knobs * Each kit includes caliper, rotor, adapter, and mounting hardware * Included rotors fit 6-bolt type hubs * Kit includes adapter for 51mm fits See more merchant news>> See more news by L & T Cycle Pte Ltd>>

Product In Stock: Axis Oversize Available at: Rodalink (S) Pte Ltd
	DESCRIPTION The reversible option and the aggressive look with the 4 bolts "x-shape" front plate, make Axis a particularly versatile stem. Combined with the Axis handlebar provides excellent performances to professional and amateur road racers. SIZES 90-100-110-120-140 mm CLAMP DIAMETER 31,8 mm FORK CLAMP DIAMETER 28,6 mm (1" 1/8) with reduction sleeve to 25,4 mm ANGLE 80o / 100o WEIGHT 170 g / 110 MATERIAL AL 6061 ...
[See Member Reviews] See more products-in-stock>> See more products-in-stock at Rodalink (S) Pte Ltd>>

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Product In Stock: Sunday World Cup Available at: TEF Bikers Junction We have the 2007 Sunday Elite in stock now!!
	Iron Horse/Mad Catz Team spec Boxxer World Cup fork w/SIC direct mount stem Progressive 5th Element shock Sram X.0 derailleur w/X.9 trigger e.thirteen SRS chainguide FSA Gravity Xtreme cranks Crank Bros Mallet clipless & Easton Flatboy pedals Hayes El Camino brakes Hugi FR hubs w/ DT Competition spokes & Mavic EX823 rims
[See Member Reviews] See more products-in-stock>> See more products-in-stock at TEF Bikers Junction>>

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Product In Stock: Azoto Triathgel Available at: TEF Bikers Junction
	. 126 mm - L. 275 mm 260 gr Titanium (solid 6/4) Lorica ®, Lycra ® coupled and waterproofed Padding increased with Racegel insert in nose
[See Member Reviews] See more products-in-stock>> See more products-in-stock at TEF Bikers Junction>>

Bike part on stock

Product In Stock: Shamal Ultra Clincher Available at: The Bike Butler
	The super-new Shamal™ Ultra™ wheels incorporate all the innovations of recent years, consolidated in a product without paragon in terms of performance, strength, life and reliability. The light alloy rims come from selected extrusions and are CNC-machined to optimize the mechanical specifications; they are welded rims with a ground braking surface and the spaces between the spokes are lightened by toroidal grinding . The top bridge of the rim is not drilled in the traditional way to fit the ...
[See Member Reviews] See more products-in-stock>> See more products-in-stock at The Bike Butler>>

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Product In Stock: Bones 3 Available at: Cycle Craft Bones 2 also available now!
	4.5 stars out of 5, Bicycling Magazine. Injection-molded arms and legs are the strongest on the market. Built with 100% recyclable, non-rusting materials. Ratcheting anti-sway straps secure and stabilize bikes. Arc-based design fits over most spoilers, and separates bikes on different levels.
[See Member Reviews] See more products-in-stock>> See more products-in-stock at Cycle Craft>>

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Product In Stock: Pre-lubed Maintenance-free Cable system for Gear and Brakes Available at: TEF Bikers Junction
	Galvanised Inner Wire The occasional cyclist will benefit from the ultimate strength offered by the 19 strands of Galvanised Inner Wire. Teflon Clark’s Cycle Systems have a Europe-wide Cycle Industry exclusivity agreement with Dupont (Teflon). Muck, grease & filth won’t stick to Teflon coated inner wire thus reducing friction and phpreasing performance for the cyclist pushing the bike to the extremes. Stainless Steel The competitive cyclist finds that Stainless Steel Wire help ...
[See Member Reviews] See more products-in-stock>> See more products-in-stock at TEF Bikers Junction>>

Latest Bike product

News: Argus Light - The Latest in Brake and Signal light for Bicycles
Speedmatrix Pte. Ltd. 23rd Jul 2007 (744 views)

Calling ALL cyclists.

Want to have a rear brake light that senses your sudden stops (LH051) and signals (LH071 has both brake and veering sensors) when you turn? Search no more. Argus lights are here!

Ask your bicycle shops to order for you.

* Use of lights still require cyclists to observe road safety codes and traffic rules in Singapore

See more merchant news>> See more news by Speedmatrix Pte. Ltd.>>

News: NEW ARRIVAL--2008 Fox 32 F 100 RLC Folk
L & T Cycle Pte Ltd 22nd Jul 2007 (1105 views)
2008 Fox 32 F 100 RLC Fork
This is the speed of light, Fox pulled out all the stops to create the lightest forks in their line. The 2008 Fox 32 F 100 RLC Fork wants nothing more than to see you standing atop podiums. In spite of their ultra lightweight nature, they sacrifice none of the 32mm stanchion enhanced steering precision and highly evolved and patented damping performance that is synonymous with the Fox name.

Travel: 100mm

Adjustability: Air Spring Pressure, Rebound, Low Speed Compression, Lock-Out

Spring Type: Air

Steer Tube Diameter: 1 1/8"

Axle Type: Quick Release

Brake Mount: See Drop Down For Options

Color: White

Weight: 3.38 lbs

See more merchant news>> See more news by L & T Cycle Pte Ltd>>

SAFETY ACCESSORIES
Lights, Mirrors, Horns, Helmets

Accessories alone won't make you safe. You also need to know How to Not Get Hit by Cars. Stock up on accessories, sure, but also make sure you learn how to not get hit!

Lights are absolutely essential for night-time riding. Sure, this should be a no-brainer, but for some reason most night time riders seem content to tool around in the dark, almost completely invisible to motorists. Most cyclists who get killed are hit at night, and most don't have lights.

A headlight is actually more important than a tail light. That's because you're much more likely to get hit from the front (car heading towards you making a left turn across your path), or from the side (car pulling out of a driveway or side street and moving right to left across your path). When cars approach you from behind they approach you slower (because you're riding away from them), and if you have reflectors that's usually sufficient to be seen from the rear. From the front and the side it's another story. Get a headlight. Most states require a headlight for night time riding anyway. Make sure to get an LED light, because the batteries last about ten times longer than in a conventional light.

For a rear light, get a cheap ($5-15) red flasher, which runs off two AA or AAA batteries that will last for months (up to 200 hours of use). This is a cheap way to keep you from being invisible. Get these at any bike shop, although sometimes they can be had at places like HEB, Wal-Mart, and Academy. (And you can check out our Guide to Batteries to see which batteries work best.) Red flashers are cheap and effective. This is a no-brainer. Get one.

(By the way, it's long past time that bicycle shops started INCLUDING a red rear flasher with every bike they sale. They can either raise the price of the bike slightly, or eat the whopping $5 wholesale cost. Suggest this to your local bike retailer.)

A mirror is more important than you think. Your paranoia will decrease by 75% once you can see what's behind you. You can get a handlebar mirror at bike shops and even many large grocery stores. You can also get a helmet mirror or a sunglasses mirror from a bike shop for about $10. The ones that go on your sunglasses make you look like a Borg, which can be a good or a bad thing depending on your personal style. The newest kind of mirror is a tiny circle on a pivot that glues to the inside of your sunglasses! It sounds crazy, but it works great. Here's a site which reviews various bike mirrors.

Horns. Another extremely handy device is an Air Zound horn. It's LOUD! If a car blasts you, you can blast them right back! The horn mounts to your handlebars, and the air cannister is shaped like a water bottle and fits in your water bottle cage on the frame. You refill it with a standard bike pump, and it's good for about 20 good blasts between refills. We use it when we're biking at night and there's someone ahead of us on the right who's about to pull out of a driveway or parking lot. Never again do we need to worry that they can't see me. The horn can also scare off some (but not all) dogs. It's pricey ($20-30), but worth it.

Helmets. Don't confuse wearing a helmet with bicycle safety. A helmet only makes it safer to crash, but does nothing to make it safer to ride. A helmet might only help once you've already been hit. Your goal is to avoid getting hit in the first place. To that end, you can greatly improve your chances of not getting hit by getting lights, a mirror, and an Air Zound horn, by not riding recklessly, and by being aware of the main ways a car can nail you (pulling out in front of you from your right, making a right-hand turn in front of you, and opening their door in your path). Also remember that a helmet doesn't make you invincible -- helmet-wearing cyclists get killed with depressing frequency. All this aside, it's still a good idea to wear a helmet because it may afford some protection in the event of a crash, but don't think that strapping on a helmet makes you "safe" -- being knowledgable, alert, and well-equipped will go a lot farther toward protecting your life than simply strapping on a piece of styrofoam. Here's a good page about helmet facts & myths from the Ontario Coalition for Better Cycling.

Make sure you know how to adjust your helmet to fit properly. If you wear it wrong it'll come off in a crash, erasing any safety benefit you might have gained. Thrift stores like Goodwill have helmets for as little as $2. Used helmets may be less effective if they've been dropped or impacted in a collision, but if you're pressed for funds, a cheap helmet beats no helmet. A good helmet at a bike shop starts out at around $30, but the folks at a bike shop can also show you how to make sure it fits properly, which is important. Wearing a poorly-fitting helmet is often like wearing no helmet at all.

Gears

There are no prizes for having the most gears, it's having the right gears that matter. Cross country and trail riding requires a wide range of gears, including the low ratios to ease you uphill, high ratios to deliver speed on the flat, and mid range for technical control. For a road bike, on the other hand, speed is of the essence and rolling resistance is lower even on the hills, so you need fewer gears, closer together.

Gear Shifting

All gear shifters are mounted within easy reach, so you can change gear without lifting your hands from bars or brakes. There are several systems, each designed to provide optimum performance for a particular model, and it's worth looking at the differences.

Rapid Fire

Specified on our top of the range models, the Shimano Rapid Fire shifter provides a bar-mounted total control unit, fully indexed for fast, positive changes across the full range of gears

E-Z Fire

The shift is indexed, so for each fire of the lever, you're guaranteed one clean and positive multiple shift, and the system is ergonomically designed: shift up with the thumb and down with the forefinger.

Gripshift

The original rotational gear shifter descended from motorbike technology. The gear shift is integrated into the handlebar grip and indexed for smooth movements up or down through the gears.

Revoshift

Shimanos rotational shifter, with an optical display tells you what gear you're in so you can make a quick and accurate gear selection. Revoshift is designed with reduced spring tension for smoother, easier action.

Thumbshift

This is the original indexed gear system. The back 5/6 gears are indexed, but you have to feel for change on the front gears.

The Different Types of Bike

The Different Types of Bike

Mountain Bikes

Mountain Bikes (sometimes known as all terrain bikes) are designed for off-road cycling on rough trails. They have chunky shock-absorbing tyres usually with a heavy tread that grip the trail for steering control and good traction on slippy surfaces. They have a more upright sitting position than conventional race / road bike so that you can see trail ahead. They come with a wide range of gears which that make hill climbing a lot easier.

Hybrid Bikes

This type of bike combines the mountain bike's comfortable sitting position and low gear ratios with the race / road bike's lower rolling road resistance, by using larger wheels, with not such a heavy treaded tyre. They are an excellent compromise if you will be mainly on the road or on light trails or canal paths.

Sport / Race Bikes

If you are looking for speed then it's got to be a race bike, they have skinny tyres with large diameter wheels which give a very low rolling resistance, they also have a more aerodynamic sitting position, which means you are sitting in with your head forward.

If you prefer a more upright sitting position but want the speed of a race bike then Raleigh have their Sport range which is similar to a hybrid bike but with higher gear ratio's for extra speed.

Kid's Bikes

This section of bikes covers a large age group, from 2½ right through to 12 years of age. The smallest bikes come complete with stabilizers and have easy to reach brake levers, which can be adjusted to suit even the smallest hand. They also have real pneumatic tyres and non slip pedals. As the bikes get bigger stabilizers can be added. Once you get on to the 11 inch frames they start to come with shimano gears, 5 to start with and then increasing to 15.

Disc Brakes or Rim Brakes

Should I Get Disc Brakes or Rim Brakes? - What System Will Weigh More

From Kevin Tisue,
Your Guide to Mountain Biking.

This is a common question but the answer is not always what you want to hear.

A. There are two quick and dirty answers to the disc brake or rim brake question:

One, If you want better, more consistent brake performance in all conditions and don't really care if it weighs a little more or costs a little more, choose disc brakes over rim brakes.

Two, if you want the lightest set-up you can have, and are willing to accept small variances in brake performance, or if a low price is really important, choose rim brakes over disc brakes.

In a little more detail. Mountain bike rim brakes have gone through several design changes over the years. They started with the original cantilever brakes, went through the dark U-Brake years, and are now known as V-Brakes. V-Brakes work well in most conditions.

Rim brakes have some drawbacks. They require straight un-damaged rims to perform their best.

Rim brakes perform poorly in wet or muddy conditions. Over time, Rim brakes can wear right through the side of your rim literally causing the side of the rim to blow off (I've seen this happen and its not pretty.).

Disc brakes have been around for a long time in cars but weren't seriously used on bikes until the mid to late 90's. There were definitely some issues with some of the earlier models but the disc brakes of today, cable actuated or hydraulic, perform quite well.

The performance of disc brakes is considerably better than rim brakes. Especially in wet or muddy conditions. Disc brakes usually require less force to apply and aren't effected by rim/wheel condition.

The biggest downside to disc brakes is the added weight. By the time you

Necessary Mountain Biking Accessories

From Kevin Tisue,
Your Guide to Mountain Biking.

A Guide to What You Need

The beginner mountain biker can get a little overwhelmed when they first walk into a bike store to buy their first mountain bike and all of the mountain bike accessories they will need to start riding.

There is no shortage of mountain bike accessories and related product that you can buy. The sales staff will certainly sell you anything they can but the real question for beginners and bikers on a budget is not what mountain bike accessories are cool, but what you need to have to make your rides safe and enjoyable. Start with these accessories and you won’t come up short on the trail.

The Bike Helmet – The Most Important Mountain Bike Accessory
This is a shameless plea, but please wear a bike helmet. Nobody should be on a bike without a helmet. There have been too many people with serious head injuries that could have been prevented if they were wearing a helmet.

Modern mountain bike helmets are both comfortable and stylish and everyone on the trail wears one.

Mountain Bike Gloves – A Mountain Bike Accessory for Comfort and Safety
When you ride, your hands can take a beating. Beginners who tend to keep a death grip on the handlebars can be especially brutal on their hands. Your hands are also one of the first things to come down to the ground when you crash and everyone crashes at some point. Mountain bike gloves are a great mountain bike accessory because they take the beating for you. I recommend full-fingered gloves over the cutoff finger type. Don’t get caught red handed.

Mountain Bike Shorts – Ride Longer and Stay Comfortable
The first few mountain bike rides you take can be a bit uncomfortable on the rear end. Your body does adjust to this after a few rides, but bike shorts are a great accessory that can help keep it to a minimum. Fortunately, the days of the tight fitting Lycra mountain bike shorts are over. You can still buy them and some racers still use them but the more comfortable padded mountain bike shorts of today look and feel much more casual.

Mountain Bike Shoes – Pedal More Efficiently and Keep Comfortable
You need to pick the type of shoes you wear depending on the type of pedals you have and the type of riding you want to do. If you have clipless type pedals, as I recommend for most types of riding, you will need to get some mountain bike specific shoes to accept the special cleat for your pedals. A good mountain bike shoe will be durable, comfortable and should have a stiff sole for better pedaling efficiency. You should also pick the right shoe for the terrain you will be riding in.

Eye Protection – Protect Your Vision from Wind, Bugs, and Dirt
Something in your eye can run you right off the trail and into trouble. Eye protection such as sunglasses or clear-lensed glasses help keep your eyes free from debris as well as protect them from the wind that can cause your eyes to tear and blur your vision. Make sure you use non-breakable lenses for safety.

Hydration System – Keep Yourself Hydrated for Better Energy and Health
Bring either a water bottle with you or as I recommend take a hydration backpack such as a Camelbak or similar product. It is easy to let yourself get dehydrated so bring water with you and drink it on the trail to keep your body running properly as you ride.

Trail Repair Kit – Make It Home When it Counts
Its not to hard to get stuck in the woods if you don’t bring the most basic mountain bike accessories for the most common repairs on the trail. To be prepared bring a multi-tool designed to repair bikes, tire levers and a patch kit for fixing flats, an extra tube in case your tube us un-repairable, and a mini-pump.

Suggested Reading

Beginners Skill WorkshopProduct Reviews of Mountain Bike Accessories Dakine CrossX Full-Finger Gloves

Mountain Bike Accessory Resources Elseware On-Line

MTBR.com -Mountain Biking Clothing & Accessory ReviewsHow to Fit a HelmetMountain Bike Accessory Reviews - dirtworld.com

How to buy a bike

Before You Buy a Mountain Bike - A Buyers Guide

From Kevin Tisue,
Your Guide to Mountain Biking.

Buying a mountain bike can be a bit frustrating and can take some time. This guide will help you put some thought into it before you lay down the cash and make the process go a bit smoother

Determine Your Price

There is virtually no limit to how much money you can spend on a new mountain bike. To keep your spending under control, figure out what price range you are willing to pay for your new bike and try to only look at bikes within that price range. I do not recommend buying a bike from a mass-merchant store such as Wal-Mart or Costco. Support your local bike shop and get a better product and much better service.

Find Your Style – What Kind of Riding Do You Want To Do

Mountain bikes are designed for several different riding styles and terrain. You will need to figure out what type of riding you will be doing most of the time. Is it smooth trail riding, cross-country racing, all mountain cruising or lift accessed gravity mayhem? Make sure the bikes you look at fit your riding style and not the sales staff’s.

• Do I Need a Women's Specific Bike
• What's My Suspension Style

Full Suspension or Hardtail ? – Comfort vs. Efficiency

I always recommend a full suspension mountain bike if you can afford it. Hardtails, without rear suspension, are lighter weight and pedal more efficiently but full suspension designs offer more comfort and better control. You will want to decide based on your price range, riding style and terrain.

• FAQ - Full Suspension Vrs. Hardtail
• How Much Suspension?

The Component Conundrum – Find Your Favorites

It is nearly impossible to compare mountain bikes component to component. There are simply too many combinations. I recommend finding a few components that are most important to you for comparison and make sure the rest fall within some sort of minimums for your price range. I usually start with the fork and then look at the wheels and rear derailleur.

• Component Reviews
• Disc Brakes or Rim Brakes?
• Standard or Tubeless Rims

Sales, Seasons, and Bonuses – Get a Good Deal

Mountain bike prices can fluctuate significantly during the year. The main buying season is from spring through summer. If you are lucky enough to be able to wait until the right price comes up, usually in the fall and winter, you can save a few hundred dollars. You will also find that a lot of bike shops will offer discounts on accessories or other products and services when you buy from them. There is nothing wrong with buying last years model if it fits your needs.

Find a Good Dealer

Finding a good dealer can be more important than getting a good price. Find a dealer that cares more about selling you the right bike than selling you the more expensive one. A good dealer should have a clean repair shop and you should feel like you can trust them.

Test Ride, and then Test Ride Some More

Test ride as many bikes as you can in your price range and riding style category. You will find that some bikes will just feel right while others don’t. The more bikes you ride the better feel you will have for what you like and what you don’t.

• How to Set Your Seat Height
• Proper Seat Position
• How to Set Your Tire Pressure

Do Some Research – Read Some Product Reviews

Product reviews are a great way to find out about a mountain bikes performance and reliability. Look your bike up before you buy it and make sure there isn’t anything someone else discovered that you might not like.

• Bike Reviews