Bikes

There are two basic types of mountain bike, hardtail, and full suspension.

Hardtail - These bikes have rigid frames with front suspension forks. These are a great choice for cross-country racing and often are your best "bang for your buck". The front suspension forks smooth out much of the impacts from rocks and their simple frames without a rear shock make for lightweight, lower-cost, and low-maintenance bikes. While challenging, NICA racecourses are not overly technical and they can all be easily raced on a hardtail.

Full suspension - Bikes with front suspension forks and frames with a rear shock. Full suspension bikes are more comfortable than hardtails on rough trails and downhills, but can be heavier and less efficient pedaling uphill (especially inexpensive. Due to the additional suspension and pivots, they also require more maintenance. There are two subtypes of full-suspension mountain bikes typically used by NICA athletes:

Cross-country full-suspension bikes typically have between 100 to 120 mm of travel front and rear with lightweight components, making them the most efficient option for many cross-country race courses. Because of the extra technology in frame materials and components, these are also among the most expensive mountain bikes.

Trail bikes are full-suspension bikes with extra suspension travel (> 120 mm front and rear), heavier-duty wheels and components, and a more relaxed geometry. These bikes are designed to be fast and efficient on very rough terrain and going mostly downhill. Trail bikes are a lot of fun to ride and are the most popular type of mountain bike sold these days. Although they are not as efficient as cross-country bikes pedaling uphill, they still work just fine for cross-country racing and are particularly a good choice if you plan on riding more technical trails beyond what we ride for NICA training and racing.

It’s simple really–buy the bike your kid is going to want to ride! Our A-1 goal is to get kids hooked on this sport. In order to do that, they need the bike that will make them happiest for the type of riding they enjoy most. If your kid is focused only on NICA cross-country racing and dreams of standing on the podium, get them a lightweight cross-country bike. If your child regularly hits the local dirt jumps, spends every Saturday at Brian Head’s Bike Park, and is constantly begging for a ride to the top of the C-Trail, get them a trail bike.

Modern mountain bikes come with either 27.5” or 29” wheels. The larger wheels roll more easily over roots and rocks and keep their momentum better than the smaller wheels. An older 26” wheel bike in good condition can still be used and may be a good choice for smaller middle-school age athletes (Junior Devo riders). For cross-country racing, 29” wheels have become the standard, especially if you are taller than about 5’ 6”. If you’re shorter, the 27.5" wheels may be a better choice.

Fat bikes have tires wider than 3” and are designed to travel where normal mountain bikes falter—in deep sand and in the snow. They are a poor choice for cross-country racing. Plus-size bikes have tire widths that fall between regular mountain bike tires (2-2.6”) and fat-bike tires (>3”), so typically 2.8” or 3” wide. This tire width is much more efficient than fat-bike tires but still offer extra stability and confidence on loose and rocky trails. While not the most efficient tire for cross-country courses, they work perfectly fine.

When it comes to the bike’s components (brakes, shifting mechanisms, chains, wheels, etc,) there are many choices that range from very cheap to very expensive. Generally, the difference between a solid quality drive-train and a far more expensive cousin is weight. We won’t break down all the component groups here as it would be far too long. This is where some research and/or talking to one of our local shops or one of our coaches will give you some guidance. One model of bike can vary in price as much as $4000 pretty quickly just based on the build level components, and most people won’t feel much of a difference. That said, a couple of basic things to look for, especially if you’re buying a used older-model bike: disk brakes are preferable over rim or “v” brakes, 29” or 27.5” wheels are preferable over 26” wheels, and reputable-brand suspension from Rockshox, Fox, Manitou, etc. will be much more reliable than off-brand knock-offs.

Local bike shops: While perhaps the most expensive option, there are many advantages to buying a new bike from Cedar City or St. George-area bike shops, including: (1) you can test-ride several different models/sizes to ensure the perfect fit. (2) Shop support—most shops will take care of you if there are mechanical problems, needed adjustments, or warranty issues down the road. This is the more worry-free choice, especially if you’re not a bike mechanic. Be sure to

let them know the bike purchase is for a NICA athlete since many shops will offer an extra discount not only for a new bike, but also for repairs and gear as well.

Online (direct to consumer): You can often get a great price on a new bike with good components through online vendors (CANYON, Spry, YT, Ari, etc…) but there can be a few risks: (1) you can’t easily test-ride multiple models/sizes to ensure a perfect fit, (2) you’ll likely have to, at least partly, assemble the bike yourself, (3) you are pretty much on your own if something breaks or needs adjusting. Unless you’re bike-mechanics savvy and like to solve problems on your own, buying from a bike shop can be a safer investment.

Used bikes from classified ads, Pinkbike, Ebay, etc.: If you’re on a very tight budget this can be a great choice. A lightly used bike that is a year or two old can cost half as much as it did new. If you are patient, you can get a lot of bike for little money. Like buying from direct-to-consumer shops, you will be on your own when it comes to mechanical issues, but it can be worth the risk for some. If you’re not experienced with bikes, be sure to take someone who is to look the bike over carefully for any crash damage or potential problems with components.

Do I need a women’s-specific mountain bike if I’m female?

No. Differences between women’s and men’s bikes are subtle and often come down to different paint jobs.