Related Sponsors

How do I choose between an entry level mountain bike and a custom bike?

Home » Mountain Biking » Mountain Bike Fitting » How do I choose between an entry level mountain bike and a custom bike?

Two factors play into one’s choice between an entry level and a high-end mountain bike. The first factor is economical, and the second is more philosophical in nature. On the economical side, you need to ask yourself, “For what am I planning to use this bike?” For knocking around the neighborhood, riding around campus, or occasional trail riding, the choice is simple. You want an entry level bike. These are by no means inferior machines. Their quality far surpasses a $59 bargain bike at a discount store, and any one of them will amply meet your needs. You can count on your entry level bike holding up for years to come if properly maintained. These bikes include brands such as Schwinn, Specialized, Trek, Fisher, and others. The differences among the entry level bikes made by these manufacturers are not significant. Among the several bikes that will be your size out of the entry level, choose whichever fits your budget and strikes your fancy. Furthermore, if you are planning to lock your bike up in public, it must be mentioned that a $300-400 bike is less likely to be stolen than a high-dollar professional bike.

Are you really serious about getting into mountain biking? Are you the beneficiary of a personal trust fund? Then you are confronted by the philosophical question of whether it is better to start at the top, or to work your way up. The chief reason that the high-end bikes are expensive is because of the high cost of the ultralightweight materials that make them up. A professional mountain bike may weigh five or more pounds less than its entry level counterpart.

This may not sound like much, and indeed, a beginner cyclist may never notice it, but to an experienced rider, this makes a world of difference. The advice of Mike Karberg, former owner and now part-time employee of Mesa Cycles in St. Louis, MO, is that it takes a few years of riding the same trails again and again with your entry level bike, before you are able to appreciate a better one. Provided that you are at a reasonable level of fitness, he counsels, if you ride that same trail with a bike that weighs five pounds less, you will suddenly feel like you have a motor attached to your bike. And from a sports psychology perspective, don’t forget to factor in the emotional boost that comes from a bike that takes you up and over that hill that has always thwarted your best efforts. For any musicians reading this, let me make a comparison. A musician might play for years on a student level saxophone before trading up to a much nicer one. Highly sensitive to the subtle improvements of the new instrument, the musician will be filled with deep appreciation that will add new joy to his playing.

Even if you have the resources to start with that $2,000 cycle, you may want to think twice before buying it. Only if you take the time to become a connoisseur, will you fully appreciate what you have. But if you are a long-time rider of an entry level mountain bike, beware! If you take someone’s high end bike out for a test ride, your old bike may seem like it’s made of lead from that point on. The best advice is to wait until you have the time and the resources to take it to the next level before you enter the world of custom mountain bikes.

Sources:

Mike Karberg, Mesa Cycles St. Louis, MO.

Next Page: Mountain Bike Repair Overview

Related Mountain Bike Fitting Articles