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Holding Icon Mountain Bikes Buyers Guide

Discover the great range of mountain bikes available at Halfords so you can be sure you're picking the right one for your mountain biking adventures. Read our handy tips on different types of mountain bike and buying the right accessories for a safe and enjoyable ride.
Mountain Bikes Buyers Guide
Halfords | Mountain Bikes Buyer's Guide | Mountain Biking Advice

WHY BUY A MOUNTAIN BIKE?

Mountain bikes are designed for going off-road. They have suspension and wide tyres with off-road tread, giving extra traction and shock absorption for bumps. This makes them ideal for cycling over rough terrain like dirt trails.

If you like to cycle cross-country, on rocky trails or up and down hills, you should seriously consider buying a mountain bike.

However, if you'll be cycling on flat roads for most of the time, then you may want to look at our range of road bikes or hybrid bikes that will be better suited to your needs.

Mountain bikes are split into two main groups - hard-tail and full suspension. Here are the main features of each:

HARD-TAIL MOUNTAIN BIKES

  • Have suspension at the front end, giving you shock absorption and control over bumpy terrain
  • Lighter and stiffer than full suspension models, ensuring that all your energy is transferred from the pedals to the trail
  • Easier to pedal at speed and uphill
  • Rigid frame ensures the bike is strong and powerful

Hard-tail bikes are more suited for riding in the woods and on smoother trails than their full suspension counterparts.

FULL SUSPENSION MOUNTAIN BIKES

  • Have suspension at the rear as well as the front, giving them higher shock absorption
  • Better for rough terrain, rocky trails and downhill slopes
  • Suited to more extreme riding
  • However, they can be heavier to pedal than hard-tails

Full suspension bikes can have varying amounts of 'travel' - this means the distance that the suspension moves.

Higher travel means the bike can absorb higher levels of impact. This can make extreme riding more comfortable, but the higher the suspension travel, the heavier the bike is to pedal.

HELP WITH CHOOSING THE RIGHT MOUNTAIN BIKE

Our mountain bikes come in a variety of sizes to suit different people. For help with choosing the right size bike for you, please refer to our bike size guide.

If you need further help, don’t hesitate to speak to staff at your local Halfords. They will be more than happy to help you choose a mountain bike - just call in.

If you’ve already got an idea about which bike you’d like, have a look through our mountain bikes collection for further details on product specifications - then choose to reserve and collect in-store or have your bike delivered.

MOUNTAIN BIKES SAFETY

Mountain biking is a fun outdoors activity but it always pays to be safe. Make sure you invest in some quality cycling clothing such as bike helmets and bike body armour to protect yourself from injury.

Also ensure that your mountain bike is built properly - Halfords can build your bike for you free of charge (excludes Trax bikes*) using a 22-point safety check, and also offer a six-week service to ensure it is running at its best.

*Trax bike build prices - £9.99 for 12"-16" wheel bikes and £19.99 for 18" wheel plus bikes. 6 week first service included.

FAQs Bikes FAQs

  • It's unlikely, but if you can buy the same product cheaper, within seven days and 20 miles of the store, Halfords will match the price.

    Even against trade outlets! Please ask in your local Halfords store for details of terms and conditions. Excludes online and catalogue orders.

  • Before you buy a bike you have to think about what you will be using it for.

    There are many types of bikes available, so it is important you get the correct one. See our guide to choosing the right bike.

    » An All Terrain or Mountain bike is a bicycle designed for mountain biking.
    » Hard tail bikes are built for speed. They are strong and powerful bikes built mainly for road surfaces.
    » Full suspension bikes are built to handle impact. They are ideal for riding through mountains or over huge hills.
    » Road bikes and Sports bikes are designed for speed, and speed alone. The lower riding position means that the air flow is less restricted enabling you to create and maintain a lot more speed than on an average bike.

  • Yes, Halfords offer a FREE build and safety check on any bike you buy online or in-store from Halfords (excludes Trax bikes*).
    We can even build bikes bought elsewhere, for a charge. We'll also give you a FREE 20-point Six Week First Service, to make sure your bike is still in tip-top condition. Check out our Bike Build page for further information.
    *Trax bike build prices - £9.99 for 12"- 16" wheel bikes and £19.99 for 18" wheel plus bikes. Six week first service included

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