Riders must ride a safe, functioning mountain bike. The minimum recommended specifications for a mountain bike are:
- 1x drivetrain (aka 'transmission'). This means a single gear (a 'chainring') in the front with many gears in the back (the 'cassette'). 9 to 12 gears in the back are best.
- Front suspension fork with 100-120 mm of travel (the movement of the suspension). Full suspension bikes (front and rear suspension) may be nice to have but generally are not required.
- Disc brakes
- Dropper posts (where the seat moves up and down and is actuated by a lever) is a nice to have and is not required. Moving the seat down can promote agility in some situations.
- The lighter the bike, the better, as it requires less energy to propel up hills and across challenging terrain.
Single speed and cyclocross bikes are not allowed.
Registered MCA riders (6th-12th) are eligible for discounted bike purchases. As of the end of 2024, Trek and Specialized offer bike discounts. See MCA Member Benefits for a complete listing.
We suggest that anyone looking for a new mountain bike talk to these bike shops.
- The Garage Bikes + Brews, River Falls https://garagebikesbrews.com/shop/bikes
- Art Doyle’s Spokes and Pedals, Hudson http://www.spokesandpedals.com/
- CrankWorx Bike Shop, River Falls https://crankworxbikeshop.com/
- Chilkoot Café and Cyclery, Stillwater https://www.chilkootcc.com/
Generally, a race ready mountain bike starts at $700 - $800 and they go up from there depending on the features riders want. Before you purchase a new bike, please do consult with one of the bike shops on what makes a good bike for your new rider.
Many good used bikes are also available from time to time. Facebook Marketplace is a good spot to look for a used bike. Do know that if you are not familiar with bikes, buying a used bike can be difficult. Some used bikes will require an expensive visit to the repair shop due to worn out parts that work for a ride in the driveway but fail on the trail. Our coaching staff is very familiar with fixing and maintaining mountain bikes and are willing to help answer questions about a used bike.
