Cheap Mountain Bikes
by: Admin
Posted on: Thursday, January 3rd, 2008 at 1:45 pm by: Admin
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Cheap Mountain Bikes
It’s amazing how fast any hobby can get expensive. If you’re a hardcore mountain biker, you probably won’t blink when checking out top-of-the-line bikes from makers like Trek or Scott, which can run upwards of $700.00. But what if you just want a cheap mountain bike to fool around with on the weekends? There are some good bargains to be had, with new cheap mountain bikes going for around $150.00. Of course, if possible it would be best to think about how you anticipate using your cheap mountain bike. It’s one thing to say you don’t want a fancy bike and that you’ll just run the cheap one into the ground, but this may not make as much sense when you’re half way around a 20 mile loop and your wheel-rim looks like the letter D. Cheap mountain bikes are best for short weekend rides in the easy to intermediate range, or for growing kids who are getting into mountain biking.
There are a few brands that are reliable for putting out a cheap mountain bike that can take a little punishment. Even casual bikers are familiar with names like Mongoose bikes or Pacific bikes. Schwinn also make a good, affordable all-purpose bike that can be taken on some moderately serious mountain bike trails. And of course, for kids there are the classic Huffy bikes that can withstand a surprising amount of abuse but may not be the most comfortable during long rides. Any of these models can be purchased at almost any bike shop, as well as many toy stores and department stores.
Another angle to play when looking for cheap mountain bikes is to look for used mountain bikes. Check classifieds, on-line auctions and yard sales. The best-case scenario is that you’ll find one of those people that thought they’d love mountain biking, got a high-end bike, took it out twice and then put it in the basement. Neighbor’s yard sales can be a pretty reliable way to get your hands on cheap mountain bikes. However, as with buying any used merchandise, make sure you know what you’re getting into. The bike frame is the most important thing to worry about. Make sure that the handlebars are straight and that nothing’s been bent out of shape or snapped. After that, it really depends on how much you’re willing to invest in the bike. For an expensive, name brand frame, it could be worth completely replacing the tires, even if that does cost $200.00. If you just want a cheap mountain bike that you can ride away, though, you’re probably better off buying something new from a store. Still, it doesn’t hurt to keep your eyes open for a deal.
