I am about to go buy a new Mountain bike. I havn’t had one in a while. I used to ride allot of trails, and some roads.. I forgot what I had, a iron Horse Point 3 or something. a $1,000 bike or so.
Anyways when I go spend only $500-$700, I want my 29th or 24th gear to be very high. My legs are strong, and I like to cruise fast, but pedaling hard. of course that has to do with the number of teeth on the cassette for that given gear.
When I go look around, what do I look for? I got a cheap mountain bike with X amount of teeth on it’s 21st gear, can I just compare my new bike’s teeth to this cheap one?
Diamondback Bike Chain TensionersDiamondback flat donut chain tensionerOver-sized nylon lock nutFor tensioning BMX chains and preventing rear wheel slipp… More >>
Disclaimer: This site is a paid affiliate of Amazon.com
Practically all mtn bikes will have 11 tooth cogs on the rear and 42 tooth big rings up front, even the cheaper ones so you can crank your heart out.
The differences are more expensive bikes will have 34 tooth low gear cogs versus 32 tooth for the cheaper ones but those are for lowest gears.
More expense brings less weight, more comfort and durability.
While shocks add weight they also add safety and keep your tires in contact with the ground over much more varied terrain. Hard tails will bounce and catch air while suspended bikes will stay in contact w/the trail when going over obstacles giving you more control.
Most mountain bikes will have the same top and low gears. The more gears you have only provides more choices. In the top gear you can do about 27 mph by spinning faster but due to the upright seating position you wont be able to do that very long on level ground. For smooth bike trails and roads I would get a fitness hybrid instead. Shocks and knobby tires eat up a lot of energy.
Most mountain bikes come with 22-32-42T on the front but some come with 28-38-48T that will be a tad faster on flat land. You may also find something in between like 22-32-44T.
For the back, you may find 8 speed cassettes that may be 12-28T or 12-32T typically. On 9 and 10 speed cassettes you may find 11-32T, 11-34T or even 11-36T. And also almost any other combination. If you are not going to be climbing walls, you may stay in a lower range and have more closely spaced gears.
I upgraded my old mountain bike from 12-25T to 12-32T, the front is 28-38-38T. Then I tried a 22-32-42T for the front but it was way to slow for my riding.
This link will give you an idea about what to look for. Shimano Deore will be about as good as it gets for mountain bikes but SRAM also has good staff.
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mountain_bikes.htm
Edit: You may be tempted to buy a bike with shocks. I think they are not worth it unless you plan to take to the air. They add weight, problems and slow you down.
If you are ready for some faster riding while still riding the trail, yo may check the hybrids.
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/hybrid_bikes.htm
If you only plan to ride on pavement and firm ground a hybrid bike comes with larger chain rings (usually 48-38-28 triple) and faster tires.
If you want very high gearing, mountain bikes are not for you. Cranksets on mountain bikes have large chainrings the size of a middle chainring on a road bike so it doesn’t matter that your cassette in back has the smallest cog possible. In any case, the knobby tread tires on a mountain bike will keep you from going very fast. If it is speed and high gears that interest you, you should be looking at hybrid, cyclocross, and road bikes