by Jason Hallisey

The mountain bike industry, like many other sports markets, is largely driven by fads and trends. What we "NEED" is often dictated to us by the big bike and components manufacturers and magazines. What we NEED should hinge on the kind of mountain biking that we want to do. The majority of trails in the Greater Vancouver area range from smooth and winding trails (eg UBC Endowment Lands/Stanley Park) to the most extreme and technical terrain on the globe (eg North Shore mountains).

For trail riding, a hardtail mountain bike with front suspension is still the most versatile rig that you can run in and around Vancouver. Dual suspension bikes are terrific for fast descents on rugged terrain but can be heavy and sluggish when climbing. A front suspension bike hooks up well on the climbs and the lighter weight is appreciated on longer ascents.

Basically, the more expensive bike components get - the less they weigh and the smoother they operate. But there is a trend in our extreme biking climate for people to choose heavier and more durable components. For a long time, building the lightest possible bicycle was the goal. Some mountain bikes reached weights lighter than 19 pounds. For cross country racing applications these light frames and components are very successful, but for the average mountain biker, they can frequently fail from recreational abuse. When they break, high end, light weight parts can be extremely expensive to replace.

Many riders now are looking for parts that will withstand a lot of abusive riding. Shimano is a component manufacturer that makes parts at many different quality levels. The most functionally tough parts are of the LX and XT level. XTR is Shimano's top end component group. It is light and pretty to loo at, however, it is extremely expensive. Many bikers call component parts in this league "Bicycle Jewelry". "Light weight" is rarely paired with "extra strong" (excluding titanium materials). A bike that is built up with a mix of LX and XT components will most often prove to be a dependable and tough mountain bike.

Front suspension is not absolutely necessary. For smooth trails and road riding, a 21 speed mountain bike with a rigid fork works very well. Front suspension adds comfort to any ride, and adds a greater degree of control to any off road ride. Think about how much trail riding you see yourself doing and then find a bike that is well suited to your future riding needs.