Getting The Right Mountain Bike For You

One of the biggest mistakes a person can make when buying their first mountain bike is choosing the wrong one for the type of riding they plan to do. The wrong bike can ruin your mountain biking experience, leaving you thinking there’s something wrong with your ability—when in fact, you might just not have the right bike for the trails you’re riding.

My First Mistake: The Wrong Bike

The first mountain bike I bought as an adult was a Norco Sight. It’s a great, capable all-mountain or enduro bike. The problem? It was super heavy, slack, and had way too much suspension for the type of riding I wanted to do—plus, I was running aggressive downhill tires. As a brand-new rider with unconditioned legs, poor cardio, and little experience, I struggled. I’d look down at my Garmin watch and see my heart rate skyrocket to 190 within minutes of hitting the trail. I suffered through the summer on this bike, thinking I was just out of shape.

Social Media Advice Gone Wrong

I made the mistake of asking for advice in a public Facebook group, explaining how I was much slower than my riding buddies despite spending way more time in the gym. Many comments suggested I “get in better shape” or “get stronger.” But with a 1% VO2 max and the ability to squat twice my body weight, fitness wasn’t the issue.

The Real Problem: The Bike, Not Me

It was the bike. I tried out a lightweight cross-country bike with fast-rolling tires, less suspension, and better climbing geometry, and I felt like a mountain goat. My heart rate barely left zone 2. Climbing steep, rocky mountains for long distances suddenly became much easier.

It wasn’t a fitness issue—it was the physics of riding. Every extra bit of weight, drag from tires, and frame geometry makes a significant difference, especially if you’re smaller. Women and generally smaller riders will notice these things more than others.

The Weight Analogy

The best way I can explain it to my husband is by comparing it to the gym. When he adds 10 lbs to a bench press, it’s no big deal. But for me, adding 10 lbs can be the difference between lifting the bar or not. Similarly, when it comes to bikes, those small differences in weight and components can be a huge factor in performance.

Enduro or Cross Country?

If you’re like my husband—strong with muscular, long limbs—you might not feel the same need for a lighter cross-country bike. This is where an enduro or all-mountain bike might be better. While cross-country bikes excel uphill, enduro bikes shine on the downhill.

In my first year of riding, I didn’t understand the difference between bikes. I thought a bike was a bike. I was riding a burly enduro bike, while my husband and our friend were on cross-country bikes. This was fine until we hit a sketchy trail with a rockslide. My enduro bike handled it well, even with my inexperience. My husband and our friend, who were more skilled, had a much harder time on their cross-country bikes.

Why Enduro Bikes Excel Downhill

That day, I realized why people choose enduro bikes—they’re more capable on sketchy terrain and can handle bigger drops and jumps. While uphill pedaling can be more challenging, an enduro bike gives you more confidence and fun on the downhill. Experienced riders can handle difficult trails on a cross-country bike, but the suspension won’t handle big air or drops well.

For my husband, the trade-off wasn’t worth it. He preferred the all-mountain bike’s downhill capabilities, even if it meant sacrificing some efficiency on climbs.

Downhill Bikes: When to Consider One

Fast forward to when we started doing more bike park adventures. I took my enduro bike, and my husband took his cross-country bike. We quickly found ourselves replacing parts more often than we’d like. That’s when we decided to buy second-hand downhill bikes—and they made a difference for both of us.

For me, a downhill bike meant less discomfort and fewer aches, allowing me to ride longer. For him, it meant fewer parts breaking and the ability to send bigger drops. Even though I was “overbiked” for my skill level, the confidence my downhill bike gave me allowed me to progress much faster.

The Downsides of a Downhill Bike

However, there’s a major downside to downhill bikes—they can’t pedal. Even pedaling through a parking lot is a struggle, let alone on a trail. If there’s any pedaling involved, downhill bikes stay home. These bikes are strictly for parks and shuttling; you won’t be doing cross-country rides or cruising around town on one.

How to Pick the Right Mountain Bike

If you’re a strong rider looking for a balance between cross-country efficiency and downhill fun, an enduro bike might be the best option. To make sure, try out bikes at demo days. Local shops often host demo events where you can test different bikes before committing. With the price of bikes these days, it’s worth trying before buying.

Alternatively, consider buying second-hand for your first bike. Bikes hold their value well, and a second-hand bike can help you figure out what you like and don’t like before investing in a new one.

Other Important Considerations

Parts and components can make a huge difference. If something feels off, it might be an easy fix. One of the simplest upgrades is changing tires. I prefer fast-rolling tires like the Maxxis Rekon Cross Country tires for cross-country riding and opt for grabbier tires Like Maxxis Assegai Tires for downhill. The cool thing about these tires is they also have different options depending on just how aggressive you want. For example, the Assegai tires have downhill casing or MaxxGrip options. So just be sure to check with your local retailer exactly what you’re getting and pay attention to the stats of the tire.