The mountain bike industry always introduces many new shiny things to entice you to give up your hard-earned cash. However, many times the existing technology or the technology you have used works well, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. So, to prevent you from suffering from severe equipment acquisition syndrome, here are some things you don't really need.

1x transmission system-when less really means less

The 12-speed transmission feels a bit luxurious for many people, because it often appears on higher-priced bicycles, even if it sees the cute and lovely trickle effect. In fact, this does not mean that you should immediately move a reliable 10 or 11 speed transmission system away from it.

Brands such as Shimano offer 11-speed cassettes, which almost directly match the range of those fancy 12-speed dinner plates, but at the expense of a slightly smoother jump between gears. You can even go to a regular old school and choose a 9-speed cassette such as microSHIFT.  

Although it may not sound like it, there are some obvious benefits to running fewer gears. In other words, fatter gears and thicker chains are in turn stronger. It’s also less picky when setting up your mech, and it’s easier to set up and run.

The other benefit we see from the trickle-down effect is the use of SRAM's GX Eagle AXS upgrade kit for electronic shifting. Yes, it is a great thing not to worry about the tension of the cable, we all like the super neat cockpit, but you have to invest a lot of cash for luxury. Not only do you have to worry about battery life, but no matter how hard you try to forget it, you also worry about ruining your futuristic but very expensive transmission.

It's easy to get inspiration from our EWS award-winning idols, who have a stroke of 170 mm or more and think you need the exact same stroke. Remember, these guys are in a leading position in the game and deal with some very ridiculous terrain while doing their best to win the game.

I often see people riding hard tails on their 180mm Nukeproof Gigas bikes easily, and it might even be more interesting for those who do. Large strokes are also an important factor that affects the weight of the bike, which will reduce the fun factor on softer trails.

In addition, in this era, geometry is king. Compared with long-distance touring bicycles with conservative geometric shapes, a well-shaped bicycle can provide a more capable and confident riding experience. You will be impressed by what you can achieve on a radical hard tail. 

This also applies to Kashima coated pillars. They look really cool, more wear-resistant and smoother than your mill pillars, but the gains you get for a few hundred pounds more are pretty insignificant.

Long, slack and low are the three words that brands can see everywhere when describing their hottest and newest bikes. Generally speaking, it is a good thing to push longer, lower and looser bikes because it is trapped by those naughty short bikes, but as the company pushes geometric boundaries, it becomes a bit crazy.

Bicycles are getting longer and longer, which has a knock-on effect on weight distribution. It is important to add weight to the front wheels in various situations, but as the front wheels stretch forward, more conscious effort is required. This will result in reduced grip and a lift in the front end when climbing hills.

Then, the head angle becomes more and more slack, which sometimes leads to lightweight, erratic steering characteristics, and the lower bottom bracket provides excellent stability at the corners, when you pass the technical part, you will Strike these pedals hard.

The list goes on, but the important thing is to find a bike that meets all your requirements in terms of shape and the way you plan to ride. Super elastic and super progressive geometry may suit you well, but it is not the rabbit hole you want to dive into purely for the sake of coolness.

The industry puts carbon on a considerable basis, makes carbon bicycles look more sexy than alloy bicycles, and makes full use of the material's flexibility, rigidity, and lightness. Don't be fooled, just because something is made of carbon fiber, it doesn't mean that it is better than metal products, or that it actually has any benefits.

In addition to being able to build flexibility in certain parts of the bike, what you usually see on off-road hardtails or bikes with fancy curved struts, you are unlikely to notice the gaps between alloy or carbon fiber frames The difference in riding characteristics is saved for weight. However, materials such as steel can be shaped and adjusted like carbon to provide bending and stiffness in specific areas.

Speaking of flex, it is more noticeable on the handlebars because brands tend to build it into carbon fiber handlebars to absorb trail vibrations. But don't forget that companies such as Spank make alloy handlebars with ingenious foam cores to achieve the same goal at a lower price.

In addition, although it can be repaired by experts, the carbon is not recyclable, so by choosing alternative ingredient materials, you will make your own contribution to the planet. Although all that has been said, I am pretty sure that everyone in the Off-road.cc team is riding a carbon fiber bike...

Fat and knotty tires always look comfortable on mountain bikes, but they are not always necessary. Starting from the tire width, wider tires mean lower pressure and more grip, right? Hmm...Yes, but it also means extra weight. Sometimes the tire will roll on the carcass, which is what you really don't want. Generally, because the tire wall is not so high, a narrower tire can provide more support. However, this is the cause of the horse. A big 2.6-inch tire can do wonders on a hard tail.

As for the roughest tires, before spending money on Maxxis Shorty, be sure to consider your riding conditions. A larger knob means greater rolling resistance, and if you include some climbing, sprinting or general pedaling while riding, you will put in more effort than needed. In harder conditions, taller knobs also tend to deform and roll. This makes your bike tense and actually reduces the level of grip provided. You will be surprised at the pedaling speed and grip on semi-smooth roads, especially on dry roads.

Then comes the price. Tires are getting more and more expensive. Although brands such as Maxxis and Schwalbe offer some great tires (see Assegai, Minion DHF and Magic Mary), they will return you around £75 per head. However, there are a few brands that offer tires that are as good as, or even better than, big brands that are much cheaper. A good example of a budget-friendly tire brand with great value tires is WTB with the Verdict. Also, take a look at Vittoria's products.

When buying a handlebar, it's easy to fall into the "wider, the better" mindset. To some extent, the wider the better. Of course, wider handlebars will not only increase the weight of the bike, but in fact they may not be suitable for you, especially if you are a smaller person. They can stretch your riding posture, make sharp turns a very tricky task, and prevent your arms from absorbing bumps. You may be surprised to find that some EWS riders cut the handlebars to 760 mm and they are said to benefit from more control.

A good way to find the starting point for your barbell width is to enter the push-up position (imitating the full absorption of collisions on a bicycle) while placing the tape measure under your hand with one end reaching the outermost palm. Then, pay attention to where the outer edge of the other hand is on the tape measure, where the bar width is useful to you.

Before we learn more about this, safety is absolutely the first priority. If no matter what you are riding, if you ride with full face more comfortably, then give you strength.

Yes, I agree, they look very cool, but under normal circumstances, full face helmets are much heavier than open helmets, and in your general off-road riding, this will bring a long time to your neck Painful pressure. They are also warmer and may be less comfortable, even though they try to be so hard.

Before choosing a cycling helmet that I like, I will ask myself whether the ride will improve, whether I have to push myself (on terrain or skill) and how fast I might travel by bike. If the answers to these questions are "yes," "yes," and "very fast," then I know I'm in a comprehensive state.

Although I am a supplier of open face covers, it is convenient to put a full face in the shed, just in case you want to travel to the bicycle park and don't want to risk losing your pearl white.

Tire inserts emerged during the transition to tubeless tires. Although it is great to protect your rims with appropriate fast and thick parts and may improve your riding experience, they can add more than 500 grams of weight to your bike. In addition, they are absolutely painful to install and an expensive job.

That's not all, because if you suffer from an over-game, irreparable puncture, many inserts are not designed for riding. Therefore, if you are forced into a tube, when you step back in the car, you must wear the insert like a foam necklace.

Okay, okay, n+1 has always been an idea in every mountain biker's mind, but take a step back and ask yourself how your current bike treats you. If your bicycle fully meets your requirements, you are satisfied with the geometry, and the tours offered are also suitable for you, why spend a lot of money on a shiny new bicycle?

Even if you don’t like something on your current bike, you can probably change it by using the reach/angle adjustment earphones, offset bushings, and fork travel. Suspension technology (though not every fork). On some bicycles, you can even use a special third-party link to change the back stroke. In another article, the range of things you can choose to change the way your bike rides is impressive, frankly.

Okay, I'm a bit off topic here, but please listen to me. It's easy to be jealous to see people hitting large jumps, but if the broadcast time doesn't suit you, then there is nothing to be ashamed of. Mountain biking is a multi-faceted sport, so if you like life with wheels firmly fixed on the ground, I believe you have found a part of mountain biking, which replaces the desire for air time. 

If your eyes are indeed soaring in the air like a knotty eagle, start small and build up, maybe you can get some guidance from professionals.

Five ways to tell you that electric shocks need service

Liam, a guest writer on off.road.cc, can also shoot bicycles and ride bicycles. He is not afraid of endurance races here or there. He is equally happy in the mud of winter because he is tearing up the dust of summer.

off-road.cc Editors and general inquiries: info@off-road.cc Advertising and business: sales@off-road.cc

Mountain bikes, bicycle packs and gravel bikes. Reviews, buying advice and news. off-road.cc is committed to bringing you the best coverage of all off-road riding

Our sister site for road bikes... road.cc Our sister site for e-bikes... ebiketips.co.uk