So, You Want To Buy A Mountain Bike Online

by: RobertCooksey
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In order to purchase a good mountain bike online, it's a good idea to know what you're doing. Don't be fooled by appealing advertising and great looking bikes, however. It doesn't matter how good the mountain bike is. If it doesn't fit, you won't enjoy riding it. That means that the first step to buying your mountain bike on the Internet is learning as much as you can about bicycles in general, and what you need out of a bike.

First, get a good professional fitting, to tell you what type and size of bike is best for you. It might cost a bit, but in the end, you'll know what kind of frame size and geometry you need. Any good bike shop that you get a fitting from won't pressure you to buy there.

Once you know what your size and ideal frame type is, start looking at mountain bike brands and features you like. Browse a lot, and learn as much about every kind of bike as you can. You'll want to settle on the type of material you want in the fame, (aluminum, steel, carbon fiber or titanium being the most common, although steel and aluminum are less costly).

With mountain bikes, suspension is something you should ask about - is there no suspension, front suspension or a combination of front and rear? A gentler ride comes with more suspension. Next turn your consideration to brands that appeal to you.

Think about brands that appeal to you. While the ultimate decision may not be based on brand name, it's a good idea to begin evaluation with proved names such as Specialized, Cannondale and Trek. One thing you can be sure of is that a proven brand like Cannondale Mountain Bikes will provide you years of good service.

Begin collecting retailers that you'd like to buy from. While you shouldn't rule out Ebay, it and other sites of its type require special caution. If you choose to go with eBay, be very careful to make certain that the bike you're buying is the one you want.

Return policies can be tricky, and individual sellers can misrepresent their bikes, intentionally or not. If you exercise some caution, you can save a lot of money on an otherwise expensive mountain bike purchase, by paying close attention to the bike's condition and the nature of seller feedback and shipping and handling costs.

On the other hand, buying from an online bike retailer may prove to be a little safer. It's a good idea to check up on an online bike store, as well. Know your bike retailer's return policies, too, and see if there's a warranty. Doing the sort of homework suggested here can take a lot of the hesitation out of buying a mountain bike online.

About the Author

Robert Cooksey has created severaL sports related websites, including Bike Products and Cycling, as well as Specialized Mountain Bikes.  

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