You want to give cycling a try or maybe you just need an effective way of commuting and you don’t know if a mountain bike is the right bike for the job, a couple of years ago I struggled with the same dilemma.
Mountain bikes are worth it because they are very versatile, they can handle almost any type of terrain, they have a long lifespan, and will rarely break on you if you maintain it properly. While it is slower than a road bike it will give you more storage options and a more comfortable ride.
This is the short answer, but next, we will talk about the advantages of mountain bikes, if they are good for street riding, if it’s word buying an expensive one, and if they are better than normal bikes.
Is a Mountain Bike Better Than a Normal Bike?
A mountain bike is much better than other types of bikes for off-road riding because it has big, knobby tires that will offer you the best traction on loose terrain and mud. When riding on bumpy terrain the bike’s suspension will play an important role, propper suspension will offer you more stability and comfort.
Every type of bicycle on the market is specially designed for a purpose, mountain bikes are designed to offer the best maneuverability and stability possible so you can conquer even the roughest of terrain.
So a mountain bike will be more maneuverable and stable than other bikes, let us not forget that it is tougher than other bikes also you have less of a chance of it breaking when riding.
If you need a bike that is very tough, can handle any type of terrain, is stable, and will last you a long time then a mountain bike is definitely for you!
Are Expensive Mountain Bikes Worth It?
Expensive mountain bikes are equipped with the best suspensions and the toughest of components possible so you can rely on your bike when riding with speed on very technical trails.
If you have the necessary skills to ride very rough and technical terrain they are definitely worth the money but if you are a beginner or you don’t have a high skill set in mountain biking you would be better off with a cheaper one.
As a beginner, you don’t have to sell your car to get the fanciest mountain bike because you won’t have anything to gain from having a very capable mountain bike if your skill level will not allow you to put it to the test.
If you are interested to know what is a good budget for MTB, as a beginner you can read this article!
If your skill level allows you to ride rough trails then most surely an expensive mountain bike will be worth it for you because you can push the needle on the adrenaline gage to the maximum without having the impression that your mountain bike will kill you.
A reliableMTB that will offer you the necessary stability and traction is mandatory if you want to experience everything that mountain biking has to offer without taking unnecessary levels of risk.
What Are the Advantages of a Mountain Bike?
If you really want to know if a mountain bike is the right bike for you you must know the what are its advantages, so let’s examine the main advantages of a mountain bike:
- Durability: mountain bikes are the most durable bikes on the market, renowned manufacturers can’t afford to sell bikes meant for trail riding that break easily and put the riders at great risks.
- Can Handle Any Type of Terrain: because MTBs are meant to be ridden off-road and on mountain trails, you can practically ride them on any terrain rideable by a bike, while other types of bikes will have a harder time handling rougher off-road portions.
- Comfort: because MTBs are equipped with suspensions, your rides will be more comfortable because your joints aren’t forced to absorb all the bumps from the road or trail.
- Maneuverability: on the forest trails you will encounter many sudden turns and you need a very maneuverable bike to handle them with ease, this is the main reason why MTB handlebars are wider than on other bikes.
- Great Traction: when climbing a stiff hill and you are riding on less stable terrain or dirt traction is king, for this reason, MTBs are equipped with wide tires with pronounced patterns filled with big knobs.
Now that you know what are the main advantages of an MTB, if you want to know what are all the pros and cons of a mountain bike, I encourage you to read this article!
Is a Mountain Bike Good for Street Riding?
A mountain bike will offer decent performance when it comes to street riding but will fall behind by much in comparison with a road bike.
The biggest disadvantage to riding a mountain bike on the road is that you will wear its tires quicker and you will need to exert yourself more because mountain bikes are designed to offer the best traction possible.
This will work against you if you ride it on pavement because the surface of contact between the tire and the road is bigger than on other types of bikes and this means that you need to pedal harder to pick up speed.
If you ride on old and bumpy streets then a mountain bike will offer the best comfort but on newer streets that aren’t filled with puddle holes then a city bike or a road bike may be the best option. If you want to read an in-depth comparison of mountain bikes and road bikes you can read this article!
Is a Mountain Bike Good for Daily Use?
A mountain bike is great for daily use because it rarely breaks and offers a great level of comfort. More than this you can take any shortcuts you want so you can reach your destination quicker, hop over any road edging or other obstacles.
Mountain bikes offer great storage options, there are many accessories that will allow you to mount many types of bags and baskets so you can carry your groceries.
Keep in mind that you can mount a bike trunk only on hardtails, full suspensions have too many moving parts, and you don’t have too many rear storing options.
Because they are so tough and reliable, mountain bikes are preferred by many commuters. If you want to know more about using a mountain bike for everyday chores, you can read this article!
Conclusion
So, to conclude, a mountain bike is definitely worth it because it offers great performance off-road and decent performance on the road, practically you get a good all-around bike that can handle almost any task.
If you aren’t sure what type of cycling is for you, get a mountain bike and experiment!
You may also like the following articles:
- Mountain Bike Vs. Gravel Bike
- Mountain Bike vs. Cruiser Bike
- Mountain Bike Vs. Hybrid Bike
- Reasons Why Mountain Biking Is So Fun
I started mountain biking many years ago to improve my overall health state. After my first ride, I fell in love with the sport. Now I spend dozens of hours a week researching and training to compete in local XC and Enduro events.
