Hello all, just a quick post to put up some pictures on my son on a recent ride. Check them out. He lives in Spokane, WA so he has some beautiful places to ride. Mountain Biking is one of his passions also. Let me know what you think or send me some pictures of your rides.
Get Out There - Just Go Ride
So you want to learn about Mountain Biking!
Mountain biking is a great way to explore the outdoors,
stay in shape, or just have fun. Racing down the side
of a mountain is a lot of fun indeed, although it can
also be quite dangerous. Even though it’s dangerous,
if you ride with caution, it can be enjoyed by the
entire family.
Three styles of mountain biking:
Mountain biking can best be characterized into three
different styles - downhill, free riding, and cross
country. Even though the different styles are similar
in some ways, they still require different skills. The
style that you pick will determine the type of bike you
get.
Locations for mountain biking:
The sport can best be thought of as biking on an unpaved
surface. Many areas throughout North America have
specific locations designed for mountain biking. Before
you decide to go down a trail, you should always check
with your local park to get the routes, regulations, and
any rules that they may have. Remember Go For It, but do it safely.
You can also find groups that have mountain bike rides
and competitions. You can look on the internet or even
in a local paper and see exactly what’s available in your
area. You may be able to find groups for the more
advanced riders as well as beginners. And you can follow my blog
and learn more.
Becoming a great biker:
Endurance and stamina are a must for a great mountain
biker. It will also take ambition and practice to succeed
as well as conquer the course. Like all other sports,
it takes time and practice. Those just beginning will
have to get past the bumps and bruises from falling
off the bike. Oh yea you will fall at first.
Selecting your mountain bike:
The bike you select is more of a personal choice, and
a big determining factor on the type of riding you will
be doing. Bikes come in all styles, shapes, and prices,
which will make selecting one for yourself very difficult
indeed.
You should use the internet to help you shop for a bike,
even do some price comparisons online as well before you
make a purchase. Before you buy a bike, always ask to
try it out first. Your local bike shop will usually let you try it
out at least around there area. A great mountain biker will become
one with his or her own bike. When buying, make sure
you check for comfort, how it fits, even how it is geared.
Staying safe when riding:
Mountain bike riding on unpaved roads can be very
dangerous, as mentioned earlier. Anytime you are riding,
you should wear a helmet, along with knee and elbow
pads. If you are following a group or riding in the
woods you should strongly consider a pair of goggles as
well. Safety should be your top priority and never
taken lightly anytime you are mountain biking.
So take the plunge – you know you want to!
Hi guys, im planning working both summer and winter seasons at either Whistler Blackcomb or Fernie. My mates are heading to Whistler but I have the option of working in a Bike/Ski Shop in fernie. I am very passionate about Skiing and Mountain biking and would love to get the most out of this working Holliday. Thanks. James
I've been to Blackcomb, but I haven't been to the other resort. I have been to both towns though, and I much prefer Whistler. That's just my opinion though.
Maybe you'd have a better time with your friends along though. Some people have trouble starting out on their own in a new place; sometimes it's nice to have along someone you already know.
Hello,
I am looking for some good mountain biking trails close to Winnipeg Manitoba. In particular I am interested in some really long trails which would be multiple day excursions.
Thanks.
run down to your local bike dealer and ask them…I couldn't find you one on google…
I want to keep up with husband better when we go mountain bike riding…so how do I slowly build my endurance and power on the bike?
I already work out…I run 4-5 days a week, strength train 4 days a week, and will go riding once or twice a week.
I do a lot of other activities so I don’t to become a better athlete overall but for awhile I want to focus on mountain bike riding.
Anyone have any tips or suggestions?
Hum… Very good question!
First of all, running and weight lifting are great, but to go faster on a bicycle you need cycling specific strength. Nothing develops your cycling specific muscles like riding a bike. Thus, cutting back on your other activities and upping your cycling will improve your mountain biking. Keep in mind, riding a mountain bike on rough trails can be really hard on the body. Too reduce stress on the body many top mountain bikers do a significant amount of conditioning riding on the road.
Secondly, you need to figure out why you are unable to keep up with your husband. Is he able to ride through tough spots better? Does he descend like a God? Is he fearless? If he pulls away from you for one or more or these reasons, it would indicate you need to improve your technical skills. Or, does he pull away from you on ascents? Does he have more endurance? These things would indicate he is in better bicycling condition.
Hope this helps.
I would like to do some mountain biking in mexico. I currently travel to Guanajuato a lot, but I am also interested in any other good Mexican mountain biking destinations.
Here's bicimapas index and it looks like they have 3 routes with maps and fotos in the Guanajuato area
http://www.bicimapas.com.mx/Indice%20de%20Bicimapas.htm#Mapa
just wondering what kind of shoes guys wear when they go downhill mountain biking. ive been watching some freeride clips and it looks like they're wearing skateboarding shoes but I couldnt really tell for sure. thanks in advance for your help.
Im a big fan of clipless pedals, if you get Shimano M540 pedals and shoes to suit, you can try them out! If you cant get on with them, then use another pair of shoes as this pedal has a platform as well!
Worth checking out eh?
What are some good sites online to shop for mountain biking shoes? Both of the local bike stores near my house have an extremely limited selection of shoes (like three pair each). Performance and Nashbar seem to have a good selection, but never the right sizes. What I'm looking for is a shoe (SPD) that you can get off the bike and walk around easily. I'm not looking for the type of shoe that looks like a road shoe with a little tread. Any help would be appreciated.
Honestly, I would try a few more Local Bike Shops, even if you have to travel a bit. Shoes vary greatly in their geometry, and it's relatively easy to end up with a pair that doesn't fit well. At least try them on at the shop, and then if the price differential is huge, consider getting them online.
if you can't find what you want online at Perf or Nashbar, try REI. Decent selection and they're having a sale. They are also good to deal with.
Many of my friends who know me say that I am a bicycle freak. It's true though. I like to ride my bike down the hill a lot with my riding buddies. However, people keep asking me isn't dangerous or scary to do that kind of sport? I replied, I think riding downhill on your bicycle is just as dangerous as playing soccer or hockey or rugby as you could get hurt as well or even break your body parts from doing those sports. So, what do you guys think about extreme mountain biking, if you ever seen or tried it before?
To follow up with what Alex said - I just bought new disability and life insurance. Bicycle racing of any type was not even listed on their form for 'hazardous activities'. They had over two hundred activities listed, and more than half of them were related to motorsports, followed by dozens of water sports, skiing sports, cave/mountain related categories, they even had a 'Swamp Buggy' category, but no cycling of any kind.
Of course you can get hurt, To quote for the standard atheltes release for cycling "I realize cycling is an inherently dangerous sport". So is walking across a city street. I've been racing for 20 years, had dozens of crashes, but alway managed to walk (ok, hobble) away. Yet, I have a friend who was in a local soccer league, did a sweep kick, caught another guys leg just the right way and shatterd his ankle, requiring two surgeries and a series of pins. He still can't run after 5 years (my friend, not the other guy).
I don't think of riding down a local hill with your buddies as extreme. Careening down a ski slope at 60 MPH on a full downhill rig? That's extreme.
Don't be stupid about it though. Always wear a helmet, always make sure your brakes work, and your tires are properly inflated. You don't want to _invite_ disaster.
YOUR ESSENTIAL MOUNTAIN BIKE BUYING GUIDE"
Are you new to Mountain Biking? Or perhaps you've been riding for years without making an effort to advance your skills and overcome your fears? If this sounds familiar then I'll be willing to bet that you will really benefit from this book! Click Here to check out "Killer Mountain Biking Skills"
an extreme Mountain Bike Crash with 170 kph