I guess that, with the development of the Internet from a middling bunch of computers on a network to a worldwide network of millions and millions of PCs and Macs, you can find anything you want online with just a smattering of keywords and Google (or Yahoo!, or MSN, or AOL, whichever you prefer). I have found a lot of bigger surprises or worse shocks on the Net myself, so this discovery shouldn't even begin to astound me in the first place.

So why was I surprised when I discovered that mountain biking has its own place on the Internet? And not just a sport, but an entire, growing community and culture of pedaling enthusiasts that spans the globe. Going back to my self-imposed question, why was I surprised to see this? Probably because in my privately-held and biased opinion, I've never expected mountain bikers to be Net-savvy enough to build a website, let alone a full-grown network of like-minded individuals.

I was certainly proven wrong, and how. Mountain biking is definitely getting more and more exposure on the Internet, and well-deserved exposure, I might add. As I said, I have discovered that there is already a booming population of closely-knit communities of mountain bikers in cyberspace. You can practically find hundreds of websites, blogs, and forums dedicated to the sport. A wide array of topics are being discussed and presented at length in these communities, from brake levers to bike trails. And of course, with the spurt of the e-commerce trend, it cannot be avoided that shops catering to the specialized needs of mountain bikers have sprouted online as well.

But is this bad? Personally, I think not. The emergence of e-commerce has brought along with it an unsurpassed convenience and availability of products and services that your local bike shop will be hard-pressed to match. Unless, of course, your local bike shop has established an online presence as well. Mountain bikers are benefiting from the extensive range of products that are available from virtually anywhere in the world, via the Internet. Whether you're just looking for the cheapest price you can get for that crankset you need, or you're looking for a cross country frame for your trek mountain bike, shopping online can be the best way to go.

You don't have to be a technical wizard to enjoy online shopping for your bike gear. Cycling websites usually feature helpful hints and tips to guide the less-than-expert shoppers make the most out of their website. Are you looking for a particular product for your specialized mountain bike? Or perhaps you just want to see all available products from your favorite manufacturer? Online stores like LA Mountain Bikes allow you to search for any item you want using keywords. You can also shop by using the categorized menu. Everything is arranged and laid out to enable shoppers to find and buy products faster and easier.

Visit our shop at http://www.lamountainbikes.com to find out more about mountain bike gear