| Since their wide roll-out in the early 1980s, mountain bikes have become the favored style of over 75 percent of bike riders. Similar to the SUV fad, however, the mountain bike craze is not completely rooted in practicality. Built to be ridden off-road, mountain bikes, as a class, spend far more time on pavement. If you're considering buying a bike, think first about what your main type of riding will be. If you're indeed looking to take a bike into the dirt, then a mountain bike is the way to go. Over 20 years since they burst onto the bike scene, mountain bikes have reached great heights when it comes to advanced technology. With lighter frames and increased suspension, today's models allow for longer, tougher rides in more extreme conditions. Though it's easy enough to spend upwards of 1,500 dollars on a mountain bike, it's not necessary unless you're looking to compete in races. For roughly 350 to 700 dollars it's possible to get a solid bike that will treat your body well as you careen down single-track trails and mountain passes. Consumer Reports ranks several bikes as good budget buys under 500 dollars. It pays to do some research online before you head to a bike shop, but feel free to ask the bike shop folks to tell you exactly what they recommend. Make sure you convey what you hope to do with the bike and how much riding you'll be doing in an average week, as well as what your budget is. From there, they should be able to steer you to a solid bike at a price you can handle.
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