You will need a mountain bike that properly fits the rider and is in safe working condition to join the either the Edina Cycling Team or the BB team. If you are new to mountain biking and have a question whether or not your current bike is same and properly fits you, please take it to a local bike shop for an inspection. If a coach thinks a rider's bike is unsafe to ride, they can not practice until they have a safe bike. This is for the safety of the rider and the whole team. There are some reference materials on this site to help navigate the purchase of a mountain bike. That said, please touch base with the team coaches if you do not own a mountain bike and need some help navigating the purchase.
The technology of a mountain bike is constantly evolving and the buying decision for someone new to the sport daunting. Below are some general guidelines.
Do I need front suspension?
The front fork on most mountain bikes are suspension. This feature help keeps the front well grounded and thus can significantly help the rider keep control of their bike. Having front suspension can often be the saving factor in a situation where a rider incorrectly lands front wheel first after going over a technical trail feature like a drop. A front suspension does add weight to a bike, but the tradeoff is worth it. You will see very few high school racers on mountain bikes with ridged forks.
Should I buy a full suspension or hardtail?
A full suspension mountain bike has a shock integrated into its frame. A hardtail does not. One is not better than the other. There are tradeoffs. The main benefit of a full suspension frame is that it offers better rear wheel traction and thus improved bike control, particularly in more technically challenging trail environments. This is because the frame can flex and thus absorb the bumps of the tail. A loss of power is one tradeoff for this added control as the flex of the frame will absorb some of the energy the rider creates when pedaling. This loss of power can be noticeable on smoother flat surfaces and during climbs. Another tradeoff is weight. A full suspension mountain bike will weigh more than its hardtail cousin. Lastly, full suspension mountain bikes generally cost more than their hardtail counterparts. Obviously, the benefits and shortcoming of a hardtail mountain bike are the opposite. A hardtail frame can skip around in more technically challenging trail environments, but will be more responsive on smoother and flatter trail section and on climbs. A hardtail mountain bike will also weigh less and cost less. The point here is that one is not better than the other. For what it is worth, most of the trail that comprises a cross country race course, which is what we race, are not terribly technical and neither are most of the trails in the upper Midwest. Hence you will find that perhaps 50-60% of high school racers are on hardtails.
What wheel size is the best?
Wheel size is the diameter measurement the wheel. There are three wheel size choices: 26 inch, 27.5 inch and 29 inch. The most popular sized wheel today is 29 inches with a 27.5-inch wheel set being the second most popular. Ten years ago, the 26 inch wheel was the standard and there is nothing wrong with this geometry. In fact, you will see plenty of student athletes on 26-inch wheel mountain bikes. The industry shifted to larger wheels because they roll over obstacles easier and can be a bit faster on flats and downhills. The larger wheel set does sacrifice maneuverability in tighter trail conditions, but not significantly. It is worth mentioning that larger wheeled mountain bikes can be harder for younger, smaller riders to handle. That said, almost all riders figure out the geometry of their bikes after few rides.
What are the tradeoffs of buy a used versus a new mountain bike?
The tradeoffs between buying a used mountain bike relative to a new mountain bike are straightforward. The benefit buying used are that the bike will cost less than a new bike, which means you can either spend less for the bike with the features you want or get more advanced bike for the same amount of money. The downside of buying used is that you will not have a warrantee and thus will be on the hook for any major mechanical issues that might arise in your first year of ownership. You also get another person's dings a scratches. Obviously, the benefits and drawbacks of buying a new mountain bike are the reverse of buying a used mountain bike. If buying a used mountain bike our suggestions are: 1) if possible, take it to a bike shop and have it looked over before making your purchase and 2) avoid buying low end entry level bikes used as they simply are not as durable has higher end mountain bikes and thus more susceptible to mechanical issues. If you are new to the sport and looking for an entry level bike we strongly suggest that you purchase an entry level bike from a reputable bike shop. A solid entry level mountain bike will retail for roughly $750. Further, some reputable manufacturers offer NICA discounts of up to 25%, making these bikes much more affordable. Specialized and Trek are two such manufacturers. Please be aware that these discounts do not apply to the bike shops inventory. You must order the mountain bike through the bike shop for these discounts. Please talk to a team coach to learn more about NICA discounts.
The technology of a mountain bike is constantly evolving and the buying decision for someone new to the sport daunting. Below are some general guidelines.
Do I need front suspension?
The front fork on most mountain bikes are suspension. This feature help keeps the front well grounded and thus can significantly help the rider keep control of their bike. Having front suspension can often be the saving factor in a situation where a rider incorrectly lands front wheel first after going over a technical trail feature like a drop. A front suspension does add weight to a bike, but the tradeoff is worth it. You will see very few high school racers on mountain bikes with ridged forks.
Should I buy a full suspension or hardtail?
A full suspension mountain bike has a shock integrated into its frame. A hardtail does not. One is not better than the other. There are tradeoffs. The main benefit of a full suspension frame is that it offers better rear wheel traction and thus improved bike control, particularly in more technically challenging trail environments. This is because the frame can flex and thus absorb the bumps of the tail. A loss of power is one tradeoff for this added control as the flex of the frame will absorb some of the energy the rider creates when pedaling. This loss of power can be noticeable on smoother flat surfaces and during climbs. Another tradeoff is weight. A full suspension mountain bike will weigh more than its hardtail cousin. Lastly, full suspension mountain bikes generally cost more than their hardtail counterparts. Obviously, the benefits and shortcoming of a hardtail mountain bike are the opposite. A hardtail frame can skip around in more technically challenging trail environments, but will be more responsive on smoother and flatter trail section and on climbs. A hardtail mountain bike will also weigh less and cost less. The point here is that one is not better than the other. For what it is worth, most of the trail that comprises a cross country race course, which is what we race, are not terribly technical and neither are most of the trails in the upper Midwest. Hence you will find that perhaps 50-60% of high school racers are on hardtails.
What wheel size is the best?
Wheel size is the diameter measurement the wheel. There are three wheel size choices: 26 inch, 27.5 inch and 29 inch. The most popular sized wheel today is 29 inches with a 27.5-inch wheel set being the second most popular. Ten years ago, the 26 inch wheel was the standard and there is nothing wrong with this geometry. In fact, you will see plenty of student athletes on 26-inch wheel mountain bikes. The industry shifted to larger wheels because they roll over obstacles easier and can be a bit faster on flats and downhills. The larger wheel set does sacrifice maneuverability in tighter trail conditions, but not significantly. It is worth mentioning that larger wheeled mountain bikes can be harder for younger, smaller riders to handle. That said, almost all riders figure out the geometry of their bikes after few rides.
What are the tradeoffs of buy a used versus a new mountain bike?
The tradeoffs between buying a used mountain bike relative to a new mountain bike are straightforward. The benefit buying used are that the bike will cost less than a new bike, which means you can either spend less for the bike with the features you want or get more advanced bike for the same amount of money. The downside of buying used is that you will not have a warrantee and thus will be on the hook for any major mechanical issues that might arise in your first year of ownership. You also get another person's dings a scratches. Obviously, the benefits and drawbacks of buying a new mountain bike are the reverse of buying a used mountain bike. If buying a used mountain bike our suggestions are: 1) if possible, take it to a bike shop and have it looked over before making your purchase and 2) avoid buying low end entry level bikes used as they simply are not as durable has higher end mountain bikes and thus more susceptible to mechanical issues. If you are new to the sport and looking for an entry level bike we strongly suggest that you purchase an entry level bike from a reputable bike shop. A solid entry level mountain bike will retail for roughly $750. Further, some reputable manufacturers offer NICA discounts of up to 25%, making these bikes much more affordable. Specialized and Trek are two such manufacturers. Please be aware that these discounts do not apply to the bike shops inventory. You must order the mountain bike through the bike shop for these discounts. Please talk to a team coach to learn more about NICA discounts.
Following are links to some options where new and used bikes can be purchased and sold.
