| Mountain biking, as the name suggests, is a biking sport | | | | rules rather allows the rider to do 'anything and |
| in which bicycle-riders ride along mountain trails. Biking | | | | everything' - downhill rides (without clock), jumps, stunts |
| through a mountain terrain is pure fun, but it also has its | | | | - that require skill and are hence meant for |
| share of adventure and excitement. The best-known | | | | professionals. Freeride biking requires the rider to |
| locations for biking in mountainous surroundings have | | | | assemble the bike as per convenience and style, but |
| unpaved surfaces and so you need to be an expert | | | | these bikes are a bit heavier (weighing between 30 |
| biker to truly experience the thrill. | | | | and 40 lbs) and are amply suspended (generally has 6 |
| History | | | | inches of suspension front and rear). |
| Since their invention, bicycles have been used on all | | | | 3. Downhill, as the name suggests, involves riding |
| terrains, including rugged mountainous territories. | | | | mountain bikes downhill. It is generally associated with |
| However, it was not until 1970s that biking in the | | | | racing-oriented downhill riding. Downhill biking does not |
| mountains became an organized sport. Groups of | | | | require the rider to pedal up the hill. The bikers along |
| bicycle-riders from different parts of the United States | | | | with their bikes are transported up the hill with the help |
| played a pivotal role in the evolution of this thrilling | | | | of a truck or ski-lift. The downhill climb is indeed |
| biking-sport - experimenting with bikes of different | | | | challenging including jumps and drops as well as |
| makes and modifying them so that they could take the | | | | physical hindrances. Tough mentality, physical strength, |
| rigors of riding in the uneven, craggy mountainous lands. | | | | swiftness and mounted heavy bikes weighing some |
| The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, however, bestows | | | | 40-50 lbs make you eligible for these races. |
| the honor to a group of bikers in Marin County, | | | | 4. Trials riding, which is quite similar to skateboarding, |
| California. The group (consisting of famous names in | | | | involves hopping and jumping over obstacles with your |
| this field like Gary Fisher, Joe Breeze, Keith Bontrager | | | | bike. It demands great sense of balance and control. |
| and Otis Guy among others) undertook bike-ride down | | | | The riders make use of special bikes that make use |
| Mount Tamalpais (Mt Tam) on old 1930s and 40s | | | | of 20", 24" or 26" wheels fitted to small, low frames. |
| Schwinn bicycles retrofitted with advanced brakes and | | | | The following tips will prove helpful if you are planning a |
| fat tires. | | | | bicycle-trip in the rocky, hilly terrains for the first time: |
| The first 'proper' mountain bike was built by Joe | | | | 1. You must have stamina and endurance to bike |
| Breeze in 1977. The present-day mountain bikes are | | | | down a mountain. |
| based on the bicycle first marketed by the | | | | 2. Selection of a superior quality bike, especially one |
| MountainBikes Company. The frame of this particular | | | | that perfectly meets your type of mountain riding is |
| bike was built by Tom Ritchey and it was | | | | also very crucial. |
| accessorized by Gary Fisher and Charlie Kelly. | | | | 3. You cannot avoid minor cuts and bruises but you |
| Types | | | | can certainly prevent major mishaps by resorting to |
| Bikers usually engage in four different kinds of cycling | | | | precautionary measures, buying yourself some |
| tours in the mountains: | | | | protection in the form of helmets, knee-caps and |
| 1. Cross-Country (or XC) biking is the most familiar | | | | elbow-caps. A good pair of goggles will also prove |
| type mountain riding sport and naturally has the | | | | handy. |
| maximum number of followers. The sport involves | | | | 4. Special competitions are organized by various |
| riding between points or in loops. It includes ascents | | | | mountain bikers' groups and you can join in with them. |
| and descents on different terrains. (Cross-Country | | | | If you choose to go on your own, you will need to |
| racing competitions are different from cross-country | | | | collect all relevant information - routes, rules, et al. |
| biking). A typical XC bike weighs some 22-28 lbs and it | | | | 5. Whether you go with a bikers' group or go biking all |
| has 0-4 inches of suspension travel front and rear. | | | | by yourself, you must remember to carry your |
| 2. Freeride is the other popular type of biking in | | | | equipment kit so that you can take care of all your |
| mountain trails. It restricts the biker with no specific | | | | bicycle-repairs. |