mountain bike geometry, part minus-one

I have been interested in obsessing over mountain bike fit and geometry all the years I have been mountain biking, and I think I have learned some things worth sharing. These things apply to my experience with riding hardtails, mostly singlespeed bikes, but they may be of value to everyone who wants to ride trails with confidence and grace.

I must say first that everyone is different, so what works for me might not work for you. None of this is dogma. Bike designers generally know much better what they are doing, and given the variety of riding styles, skill levels, and types of terrain that are included in "mountain biking," what one designer thinks is the perfect "trail" bike might be horrible for you. Take all marketing and other expert advice with a grain of salt.

In general, a bike that fits you and suits your riding style should:

1. fit your body proportions so you can ride it comfortably without feeling stretched out or cramped,
2. allow a full range of motion on the bike so that you can control it, and
3. give you confidence to handle the terrain.

A bike that does these might be a super-light rigid race bike or a full-suspension battleship. It depends on your anatomical dimensions, where and how you ride, and your skill level. If you know a little about those things, you can make an informed decision about a bike or frame without buying a bunch of different bikes over the years, which is what I have done.

Before you explore specific bike setups, ask yourself the following questions about yourself: Am I fit? Can I bend at the waist, squat, hold a plank for more than a minute? Riding a mountain bike is a great way to get fit, but riding a bike that is set up for someone who is in better shape than yourself will lead to injuries. A bike that is set up for someone less fit and flexible than yourself is going to hold you back. A bike that meets your skill and fitness level halfway will do you good.

Don't set up a bike so that it empowers your faults and makes them worse. I'll get into specifics on that, but I find that some people allow their bike setup to slide into further levels of laziness as the years wear on, putting them at a disadvantage for shredding.

If you are honest with yourself about what you can do, you can start looking as specific aspects of bike design to know what will work for you.