Voodoo, Vitus or Pinnacle: which is the best mountain bike for you? We review the market leaders for 2021

Mountain biking surged in popularity over the lockdown - with mandated daily exercise in local mountains, dirt trails and off-road locations providing solace to millions of bikers up and down the country.

With lockdown now becoming a memory, many people will be looking to continue their mountain biking habits, developing their skills and practising newly acquired ones on the increasing numbers of maintained routes across the UK.

What to look for in a mountain bike?

There is no one size fits all approach to choosing the right mountain bike - they come in all shapes and sizes so we’d recommend speaking to a mountain bike expert to discuss your biking style, the kinds of terrain on which you’ll be looking to cycle and how to navigate other factors such as your height, weight and frame, which will all have a bearing on what kind of mountain bike you’ll feel comfortable on.

How much to spend on a mountain bike?

There’s no getting away from the fact that some of the best bikes out there are expensive, but it’s worth remembering that spending more doesn’t always absolutely guarantee you increased quality, and it isn’t always a direct sliding scale.

Generally, most mountain bikes are made up of a number of parts from suppliers and manufactures, and the more customisation options you get generally the more you’ll be paying. You can find a reasonable bike for between £400-£500, and upwards of £1000 you get more bespoke parts added as stock from more reputable brands.

If you’re lucky enough to have upwards of £2000 to spend, you’re entering into the realms of carbon fibre frames and custom lightweight components.

Interested in touring with your bike? Look at our guide to touring bike essentials. Or if you’re interested in commuting, we have a guide to the best hybrid bikes, or the