Mountain Bikers
Start of an MTB XC event at Newnham near Plymouth
There are not many opportunities for mountain biking in the local area but good riding can be found not too far away at Cannock Chase or the Forest of Dean. Further away there are numerous trail centres in Wales which are well worth the trip. The Forestry Commission is very supportive of mountain biking and they have several centres in England to visit as well.
The type of mountain bike a rider will choose will depend on both budget and type of riding anticipated. Price wise bikes go from £300 to £5,000, in general as the price goes up the weight goes down and the amount of suspension goes up from 60mm to 120mm. Weights can vary from well over 30lbs for a fully suspended bike to less than 20lb for a lightweight race machine. Disk brakes can also perform better than rim brakes and cable operated ones can be found at about £400 whilst the more powerful hydraulic version tends to appear on bikes over £600.
For local riding more or less any bike would do but the better (ie more expensive) models will offer a more rewarding ride and generally have better durability too. Popular models of this type are the Trek 4000 range or the Specialized Hardrock/Rockhoppers and the Whyte 901 or 905. For a Trail bike with a longer travel front fork the Marin bikes are worth a look, the Madrone Trail at £575 is the entry level whilst the Rocky Ridge at £1,299 regularly wins all the magazine reviews.
If your enthusiasm takes you to more rugged terrain or on longer all day rides then the extra comfort of a full suspension bike may well appeal. prices for these start at about £1,000 (don’t be tempted by cheaper versions they are very heavy, have poor suspension and require lots of maintenance if you can get spares). Popular models include the Trek Fuel and the Specialized FSR.
If it is a lightweight race bike you are after then there are models from Whyte, Marin and Specialized to consider. The best will feature a full carbon frame, lightweight 100mm travel fork as well as light wheels and powerful hydraulic brakes. The Whyte 19C is our favourite in this category.
Women’s Bikes
Female riders are not forgotten here either with several models to choose from. One of the most popular is the the Marin Bear Valley at £575 which makes a statement in bright pink. A little less girlie are models such as the Specialized Myka Sport at £349 or the Trek Skye SL at £375.
Your comments on this