moutain bikes

[SalsaMTB]

Get yourself over to the mt bike forum!!!! Kidding.

Well,
What type of riding are you going to do?
What is available in your area?
Doubletrack fire roads, singletrack technical trails?
Do you currently ride?
What do you see yourself doing with your new bike?

Ruth

Good questions!

To add to the list..

What is your budget? FS is good, if you have a decent budget. I wouldn't go too much under $900 for FS (assuming you are puchasing new).

What you need to get started? Bike, water (either hydration pack or bottle and cage), sunglasses (protect the eyes from branches), and helmet.

What I would HIGHLY recommend also getting...

Gloves
Bike shorts

For brands, just check out your local bike shops. There are a ton of good brands out now. Talk to the people working there, see what they recommend for the trails in your area. Some pretty popular brands around here include:

KHS
Trek
Cannondale
Specialized
Giant
Jamis
Kona
Rocky Mountain

I don't recommend puchasing the first bike you test ride. You should go out and ride a bunch. Make sure the shop spends time fitting you to the bike. If something doesn't feel right, they should fix it! So many people, including myself, get an improperly fit bike as their first bike. Take your time, shop around, and find a shop that will work with you!

Have fun shopping!!