by Abram Mcconnell

Created on: September 24, 2008

All-mountain bikes are a relatively new and extremely popular genre. This style of riding combines the challenging uphill aspects of cross country riding and the exhilarating jumps, berms, and drop-off aspects of downhill riding. These bikes truly represent the do-it-all riding style of mountain bikes. In general, all-mountain bikes are of high quality and high comfort. Choosing the right one for you can make the difference between merely riding a bike and realizing the full potential of your riding ability. As you begin your search for all-mountain utopia, remember that all-mountain bikes are always full-suspension bikes with 5-6 inches of travel. Any less travel and you are becoming a cross-country bike, any more and you are dangerously close to the Free-ride bike category.

Before grabbing your keys and heading for the bike shop, it is first important to determine your price range. All-mountain bikes offer unparalleled enjoyment, but premium bikes demand a premium price. Prices for the bike genre range from about $800- $3.500. Of course, bikes can be purchased in this genre that are outside of this price range, but by far the most bikes in this category lie within these marks. I suggest spending no less than $800 on your all-mountain bike because you will be riding more aggressively and will appreciate higher quality components over the long haul. Trust me, in this genre of riding, buying quality now will save money later.

Now that you have an idea of the costs, it is time to choose a bike. There are many ways to begin this procedure. My recommendation is to begin by browsing the inventory at your local bike shop. This style of riding does NOT call for a department store bike (i.e. bikes purchased from Wal*Mart, Target, Costco, or any such store). This style of riding can result in serious injury; please do not save a buck on a bike and risk much more in the process. Other methods for choosing a bike include selecting a brand you trust, or waiting to buy a bargain. As you develop relationships with bike shop owners, and they know that you will be return business, they are more willing to cut a deal with you. Great deals can be found in the late fall when bike shops are cutting inventory to make room for winter sports, or as they begin incorporating new year models. My current all-mountain bicycle lists for nearly $2,000, but I was able to purchase it for $800 from a bike shop I often do business with as the new model was being shipped.

As you compare bicycle

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