Beginners mountain biking: Best entry-level mountain bikes and riding tips

We love mountain bikes, but we know that it is not always the easiest sport for beginners. If you want to run, you just need a pair of shoes and you can head out of your front door and run. To go mountain biking you need a bike (obviously), you need to set the bike up, find trails to ride, dress yourself correctly and so much more. It can feel like a lot.  

We believe that starting out as a mountain biker does not need to feel intimidating. This short beginners guide will help you find an affordable, fun entry-level mountain bike for your budget; stay comfortable out on the trail with essential clothing and gear that won’t break the bank; explain some of the core mountain bike riding techniques and technical tips; and offer a few ideas on how to find the best MTB trails near you.

Did you ever read choose-your-adventure books as a kid? Because mountain biking is a little like one of those. There is no right or wrong way to do it, you get to decide what is fun for you. Maybe you like pushing your physical limits? Cross-country riding might be perfect for you. Do you like speed and a little danger? Downhill could be your ideal sport. In between those two disciplines there are so many different things you could do, from getting a little exercise in your local woods to traveling across the world to compete in competitions, we believe there is a style of riding to suit everyone. 

Mountain biking is also a very safe sport to practice. While some people might want to portray mountain bikers as adrenaline junkies, that is far from the truth for most riders. If you keep your speed under control and eyes open, then the chances of getting hurt on a regular trail are really low. In fact, mountain biking has a comparable injury rate to artistic swimming. Riding on trails also means you are away from the traffic and pollution of our roads, a much better place for children (and adults) to play! 

Canyon designers, engineers and product managers work hard to make sure all of our mountain bikes are not only great to ride, but great value for money too. The question is, what sort of bike is right for you and your budget? 

Hardtail bikes are rigid-framed bikes with a suspension fork at the front. If you want simple fun, you cannot beat a good hardtail. They need less maintenance than a full-suspension bike and, most importantly, they are quite a lot cheaper. We believe that our Grand Canyon and the Stoic models are perfect hardtails for beginners: 

Grand Canyon 

If you want an easy bike to do fun rides on, you can’t go wrong with a Grand Canyon. It is the most affordable mountain bike in our range, and a great starter mountain bike whether you just want to have for a nice trail ride or explore and adventure further afield.  

Stoic 

The Stoic is for a more adventurous rider who maybe wants to try a few jumps or stunts. It is a more playful mountain bike for people who want to try steeper, more advanced trails. It costs a little more than the Grand Canyon because it is built to withstand bigger impacts and has progressive geometry to feel comfortable on more advanced trails.  

Good to know: Explore the key aspects of mountain bike geometry in our ultimate guide for beginners. 

Full suspension bikes have a suspension fork at the front and a rear shock absorber at the back. This makes them more comfortable and capable on the trail than a hardtail. With extra components to fit and a more complex frame to manufacture, they do cost more than a hardtail though. 

We offer two full suspension bikes that we think are ideal for beginner riders, the Neuron AL and the Spectral AL. Both of these bikes take the DNA from our high-end mountain bikes and translate them into simpler, slightly heavier, bikes that offer all the fun at a much more affordable price:  

Neuron AL 

The Neuron AL is the ideal bike for someone looking to do some fun trail riding and exploring. Designed to be easy and predictable to ride, it can take you all the way from your local trails to the biggest adventures.  

Spectral AL 

If you are a more ambitious rider who wants a playful bike for steeper, rougher trails, even some jumps and drops, then this is the bike for you. If maybe one day you might like to try a bikepark or local enduro race, then the Spectral AL is your perfect partner.  

Of course nothing can beat getting out on the trail and testing one of these bikes, especially if you are not sure what kind of mountain bike would suit you. We are running our CLLCTV sessions around the world, and our demo fleet is the heart of these events if you want to test one of these bikes before buying. 

If you start looking at how much riding gear the professionals use, mountain biking can look expensive and complicated to get dressed for. The good news is that you don’t need all that gear to start having fun. There are some simple, affordable items we think you need before you head out for your first rides: 

Mountain bike helmet 

Every mountain biker should have a good helmet. While mountain biking is a pretty safe sport, crashes do happen from time-to-time and a bike helmet is essential protection to keep your brain safe. We never leave home without one. 

Cycling chamois 

As cool as full riding outfits may look, the most important part is kept well out of sight - the chamois. This is a layer of padding sewn into a short or undershort (base layer) that helps avoid chafing and irritation from the saddle. A highly recommended investment. 

Cycling shoes 

You can ride in pretty much any flat-soled shoe, that is true. We think it is almost always better to ride in a dedicated riding shoe as they have soles designed to grip to pedals and have a rigid platform so your foot is supported as you pedal. If your budget is already stretched, then these can wait a little bit, but if you are able to buy specific mountain bike shoes we would recommend them. 

Cycling water bottle 

It is always important to stay well-hydrated when you are doing sport. A water bottle is a cheap, simple addition to your mountain bike that makes sure you always have a drink to hand on the trail. 

A multi-tool and pump 

One lesson that mountain biker learn early in their journey is that you can prepare your bike as much as you want, but unexpected things will still happen on the trail. This is why most mountain bikers carry some bike maintenance tools with them. Starting out, a pump and a basic multi-tool with allen keys should not cost too much and are always worth carrying with you just in case. 

Mountain biking is a skill-based sport more like rock climbing or snowboarding, rather than road cycling or running that focus on your physical fitness. If you are just starting out or coming from a different sport, it may seem like a lot to take in at first.  

Say you are coming from road cycling, there is a lot more to think about with your riding position off-road. On dirt, cornering, shifting and braking all require a little more thought and preparation than they do on smooth tarmac. We wrote a series of technique guides to help walk you through some of the essential mountain biking techniques for beginners. 

These guides are just a start to the world of mountain bike skills and techniques. Part of the fun of mountain biking is that you can choose how you want to ride. Maybe you don’t enjoy the skills part, in which case hopefully they will give you a simple foundation to work from so you can get on and ride. Some people may fall in love with learning and these will be a first step in a long, deep journey to master the mountain bike.  

Of course, you can only learn so much from an online guide and if you are finding this difficult or want to learn more about how to ride your mountain bike we would always recommend looking for a good local coach. They will be able to assess your strengths and weaknesses to help you take your riding to a whole, new level. 

We believe that fit is always the most important factor in finding the ideal bike for you, and that is not gender-specific. Our Perfect Positioning System (PPS) is designed to help riders of all body shapes and sizes find a bike that fits them. Whether your name is Jenny Risveds and you are competing on the world stage, or just looking for your first mountain bike, it makes finding right size for you simple

Mountain biking is a community sport - many of our riding spots worldwide are maintained by volunteers. The best way to start riding is to look for the community in your local area. Is there a local bikeshop or trail association? These would be ideal places to ask about where to ride your new bike. 

If you are struggling to find the mountain bike community near you Komoot, Strava and Trailforks can help you search for mountain bike trails in your area. You should be aware that these apps don’t necessarily give you trail descriptions, so always be careful and plan ahead before you try a new trail or feature. 

Trail etiquette for beginner mountain bikers 

There is an old saying amongst mountain bikes - “leave nothing but tyre tracks.” Before you head out for your first ride you need to know a little about trail etiquette. Mountain bike trails are often vulnerable to being closed, so some riders can be very sensitive to how you use the trails. While the rules may vary from place to place and country to country, if you are patient, friendly and respectful of the world around you, you shouldn’t go far wrong. Your local shop or trail association should be able to help you understand the rules in your area. 

Safety always comes first, for mountain bikers and that means making sure your bike is in good working condition for the trail. This checklist will help you cover the basics of setting up your mountain bike. 

All of our bikes come 80% assembled with all the tools and instructions to be ready to ride. We also offer guides to help you find the right settings. However, if you are not confident in assembling or setting up your bike, we would always recommend checking in with a professional mechanic to make sure.  

Ready for the next step in your mountain biking journey? Whether it's a hardtail, full-suspension, or e-MTB, our mountain bike buyer’s guide has everything you need to choose the right Canyon bike. 

If you have got this far, we hope you feel ready to go out and start enjoying the trails. Some people will want to make mountain biking simple, with simple bikes and simple rides, others love the technology, technique and complication. The only thing that really matters is that you are having fun when you are riding. We are just excited to see new people come and try the sport we love so much. We hope you have fun! 

Happy trails.