faqs

Q1. I don't ride mountain trails so why should I buy a mountain bike - MTB?

A. MTB is a broad category. Most bikes with fatter tyres and a front suspension are referred to as an mtb. The truth is most bikes available here are urban bikes, very suitable for city riding. An upright riding position with a comfy seat, and wider tyres adds to a smooth ride on rough city tarmac.
There are some Cross Country [XC] bikes available, which are suitable for City and Trails. I ride an old XC bike, from 1999, in the city. Slap on a pair of Urban / City tyres and you are rolling smooth.

Q2. Do I need to spend Rs.15,000 – 30,000 on a bike?

A. Quality comes with a price.
Good quality doesn't come cheap. Components make up the bike, and how it feels under you- the snap in the gears, smooth rolling wheels, a well designed frame geometry, a plush feeling fork. All this adds up to the experience. As you go cheaper, the quality drops and so does the feel of the bike.
So consider this a 5-year investment in your fitness and recreation.

Q3. Disc brakes or V-brakes?

A. Disc brakes are more efficient than V brakes or calipers. They can stop faster, last longer, and can take the strain of long downhill braking. V brake shoes would just melt away on a downhill ride. Having said that, only for a pro level rider are they worth the extra money and maintenance.

V brakes on the other hand are the best overall brake in my opinion.
They are simple to fix, repair, replace and maintain. I would Recommend V brakes to most bikes in the city, and beginners on trails.

Q4. How do I determine the frame size suitable for me?

A. The Complicated Way:

Measure your inseam. This is best done barefoot. Stand against the wall and put a book between you legs so it pressed right up against your pelvic bone. Make a mark with a pencil on the wall along the top of the book. Measure the distance from the floor to the mark in centimeters.

Use your inseam measurement to get a rough idea of your road bike size. Multiply your inseam by .65. This will give you a good estimate of you road bike size for bikes measured center to center. Thus if your inseam is 86 cm, you will fit a 56cm road bike (86 x .65 = 55.9). Note that many road bikes are measured center to top. To determine how to fit these bikes, multiply your inseam by .67.

Subtract an additional 10cm and convert this measurement to inches to get your mountain bike frame size, roughly. Thus, if you fit a 56cm road bike (c-c), you will fit a 46cm - or an 18" - mountain bike.

Consider top tube length. In many ways, this is the most important aspect of sizing a bike. Two 18" mountain bikes may have different length top tubes. Or a 54cm and a 56cm road bike may have the same length top tube. Given the same top tube length, the bigger bike may be more comfortable in that it will allow you to get the bars up a bit higher.

Unfortunately, most bikes are designed for men, and women often have a hard time finding a bike that will fit them well. Luckily, some manufacturers have begun to make women-specific models.

Test ride some bikes once you have gotten a rough idea of what will fit you. This will help you determine what is most comfortable for you.

THE UNCOMPLICATED WAY:
Stand with the bike between your legs. You should have a couple of inches between your privates and the Top tube. In case of MTBs, 4-5 inches.
Also, most manufacturers differ in the way they measure their frames, so 18” in X brand may be the same size as 16” in Y brand. Also the handlebar reach should be comfortable, not overstretched, not too close.
Note: a larger frame will have a longer top tube and hence a longer reach to the bars.
Anyway, the bars can be moved closer / far by changing the Stem.

So there are multiple ways to make a bike fit you right. Come and Try all the sizes and what feels right.