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

Technorati Tags: mountain bike, mountain biking

It is much easier to see where you are going if you know where you have been.

History is often dependent on who has the loudest voice. There is a lot of information out there in regards to the history and origins of mountain biking. Some being highly recognized and some that is influenced by the best public relations firms.

According to some “Mountain Biking” got its’ start with the Buffalo Soldiers. These guys were a turn of the century Army Infantry Battalion who customized some bicycles to carry their gear and equipment over the rough and tough terrain. There mission was simple, over the course of 800 miles beginning in August of 1896, was to test bikes for military use in the toughest of terrain and conditions. The Army wanted to test this concept to see if this was a viable tactic for the infantry solder.

Still others say that the French were the ones to invent the sport of “Mountain Biking”. Some say it was the Velo Cross Club of France that started mountain biking. This club was made up of about 20 young bikers from Paris, who between 1951 and 1956 developed a sport that resembles present day mountain biking sport.

Yet still others believe that it could have also been John Finley Scott, who was the first mountain biker in the U.S. This guy was more than 20 years ahead of his time. In 1953 he constructed what he called a “Woodsie Bike”. He put together his design using a diamond frame, balloon tires, flat handle bars, and cantilever brakes. There were many in this era who didn’t share Johns same passion. He remained an off road enthusiast, even though many disagreed with his vision. Tragically, Scott was murdered in his California home in 2006.

Today, many believe that the history of the mountain bike is most apparent in Northern California. There are a few areas that claim to be the first community for mountain biking, although each and every history book will tell you Marin County.

The sport of mountain biking has taken many twists and turns over the last several hundred years. Even though there are many that say different things about the history and the beginning, we know one thing for sure - one thing has led to another and the sport of mountain biking was born and is here to stay.

GET OUT THERE - GO RIDING

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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!

Get Out There - Just Go Ride

Technorati Tags: mountain biking

There are several mountain biking accessories and related products that you can purchase. Although the sales staff will try to sell you anything they can, the real question for those on a budget isn’t what’s cool, but what accessories you need to make your rides more safe and enjoyable. You need to consider accessories carefully By starting with these accessories, you’ll be just fine when you hit the trails.

Bike Helmet

The bike helmet is the most important mountain biking accessory that you can buy.No one should ever be on a bike without a helmet. Serious head injurys can be prevented by wearing a helmet, there have been many people who have been unfortunate enough to have experienced this.

Mountain bike helmets are stylish and comfortable people who ride on trails wears one.

Mountain Bike Gloves

It doesn’t matter which season you ride in your hands can take a hammering It can be brutal on your hands if you are just starting out as you keep a tight grip of the handle bars If you fall off your hands will the first thing to hit the ground. Your hands will take a huge beating so having mountain bike gloves are a must have accessory

Mountain Bike Shorts

After the first few mountain bike rides you take, you’ll notice that your rear end will be quite uncomfortable. Although your body will get used to the bike position, bike shorts do make your ride more comfortable. Shorts are a great addidtion to your mountain bike ride as they make your ride more bearable.

Mountain Bike Shoes

You will need to pick your mountain bike shoes accordingly dependent on the type of pedal and the type of riding
you do.
You’ll want to get shoes to accept the special cleat for your pedals, if your bike has clipless type pedals. When purchasing mountain bike shoes things to take into consideration are their durablility, do they have a stiff sole for better efficiency when pedaling and are they comfortable. Also, you should make sure to get the right shoe for the terrain you’ll be ridingin as well.

Eye Protection

You can run off the trail in a matter of seconds if you get something in your eye. Sunglasses or clear lense glasses can help protect your eyes from any debris which may kick up from the trail as well as protecting them from the wind. Make sure they are non-breakable when you buy your glasses.

Hydration System

It is always a good idea to bring a water bottle or hydration backpack with you. It’s very easy to get dehydrated so you should always bring water with you and drink it on the trail to ensure that your body stays properly hydrated at all times.

Trail Repair Kit

It’s easy to get stuck in the woods or on the trail if you don’t bring the proper repair kit for your bike. To cover all eventualiities bring a multi-tool designed for bike repair , tyre levers and a patch kit for mending flat tyres

Off road riding is made much easier thanks to the innovations in the bikes design and build. So you can take on more demanding terrain, harder rides and thanks to the advancement in safety equipment take on much more dangerous descents.

Gears
With up to 27 gears available even the steepest of hills can be taken on.

Suspension
One of the greatest leaps forwards has been the development of your bike’s suspension which makes the roughest of rides much more comfortable. Most mountain bikes have at least front suspension – great for uneven descents. A full suspension bike provides greater control, comfort and agility when the ground is bumpy and rocky – but probably isn’t needed if you only plan to cycle on light tracks.

Frames
Improved suspension makes harder rides more fun, so your bike gets puts through its paces and this increases the strain on you bike’s frame. This is why super-strong materials and specialised shapes are de rigueur. Your bikes frame has of course got to be strong but at the same time must be light weight for maximum performance.

Brakes
Disc brakes are found on even budget mountain bikes these days. By moving the braking system to the middle of the wheel they are much easier to keep clean as do not come into contact with the ground which will often be wet and muddy.

Tyres
Mountain bike tyres are thicker and more ‘knobbly’ than on road bikes. Better absorption of shocks and greater grip on slippery tracks makes these tyres idea for off-road terrain. You can change your tyres to deal with different conditions.

Women-Specific
Women’s bikes are tailored to a woman’s size and shape. That means smaller reach from seat to handlebars, smaller reach on brake handles and seats shaped for greater comfort. Many brands now offer both men and women’s bikes enabling ladies to try both to see which is most comfortable and best suited to their needs.

To help the individual to grab this game in the best way it is important that baseball id introduced to then while they are in their formative years. There are several summer baseball camps which have mushroomed all over the country over a period of time and who introduce to the kids this sport from the very basic. These baseball summer camps will bring to them this game of base ball in its best form. They will get the opportunity here to work on their basic foundations and therefore take on this game totally prepared and well learnt.

But if baseball is not sufficient to provide you with your desired rush of adrenaline then there is present the option of Mountain bike riding. This is a kind of an ultimate sport and provides you with all the thrills that you need. Bikes used for Downhill Mountain biking have to endure racing over roots, rocks and jumps. The gear needed for this kind of biking is special and exclusive. Riders on the world circuit have bikes which are as lightweight as possible and they have front and rear shocks, disc brakes and air-sprung suspension forks.

Padded shorts or pants should also be worn, or shin and knee guards. There are amazing shoes that should be used for Downhill Mountain biking. The soles have a grip, adequate to avert slipping. These shoes are reinforced in the toe area and have ankle protectors. Riders have to make tight turns and the bike has to be able to do that and at great speed. If a crash occurs these are necessary to guard the skin. Elbow pads and chest protectors are also obtainable.

Another form of mild sport which is very competitive is that of table tennis. This sport requires no major infrastructure and involves table tennis paddles and a table tennis ball. The recreational table tennis paddles are easily available in any sports shop. But while buying these table tennis paddles one has to ensure that they are strong and do not snap after a couple of games!

Dirt Jumping (DJ) is one of the names given to the practice of riding bikes over shaped mounds of dirt or soil and becoming airborne. The idea is that after riding over the ‘take off’ the rider will become momentarily airborne, and aim to land on the ‘landing’. Dirt jumping can be done on almost anything with wheels, but it is usually executed on a bicycle. tricks e.g backflips are performed in the air as well.

Downhill (DH) is, in the most general sense, riding mountain bikes downhill. The rider usually travels to the point of descent by other means than cycling, such as a ski lift or automobile, as the weight of the downhill mountain bike Mountain Bike often precludes any serious climbing. While cross country riding inevitably has a downhill component, Downhill (or DH for short) usually refers to racing-oriented downhill riding. Downhill-specific bikes are universally equipped with front and rear suspension, large disc brakes, and use heavier frame tubing than other mountain bikes. Because of their extremely steep terrain (often located in summer at ski resorts), downhill courses are one of the most physically demanding and dangerous venues for mountain biking. They include large jumps (up to and including 40 feet), drops of 10+ feet, and are generally rough and steep top to bottom. To negotiate these obstacles at race speed, racers must possess a unique combination of total body strength, aerobic and anaerobic fitness, and mental control. Minimum body protection in a true downhill setting is knee pads and a full face helmet with goggles, although riders and racers commonly sport full body suits to protect themselves. Downhill bikes now weigh around 35 -40 lbs, while professional downhill mountain bikes can weigh as little as 33 lbs, fully equipped with custom carbon fibre parts, air suspension tubeless tires and more. Downhill frames get anywhere from 7 to 10 inches of travel and are usually mounted with an 8 inch travel dual-crown fork.

Freeride / Big Hit / Hucking. Freeride, as the name suggests is a ‘do anything’ discipline that encompasses everything from downhill racing (see above) without the clock to jumping, riding ‘North Shore’ style (elevated trails made of interconnecting bridges and logs), and generally riding trails and/or stunts that require more skill and aggressive techniques than XC. Freeride bikes are generally heavier and more amply suspended than their XC counterparts, but usually retain much of their climbing ability. It is up to the rider to build his or her bike to lean more toward a preferred level of aggressiveness. “Slopestyle” type riding is an increasingly popular genre that combines big-air, stunt-ridden freeride with BMX style tricks. Slopestyle courses are usually constructed at already established mountain bike parks and include jumps, large drops, quarter-pipes, and other wooden obstacles. There are always multiple lines through a course and riders compete for judges’ points by choosing lines that highlight their particular skills. A “typical” freeride bike is hard to define, but 30-40 lbs with 4-7 inches of suspension front and rear is a good generalization.

Trials riding consists of hopping and jumping bikes over obstacles. It can be performed either off-road or in an urban environment. It requires an excellent sense of balance. As with Dirt Jumping and BMX-style riding, emphasis is placed on style, originality and technique. Trials bikes look almost nothing like mountain bikes. They use either 20″, 24″ or 26″ wheels and have very small, low frames, some types without a saddle.

Short Cross or Speed Cross (SC) is the newest form of mountain biking. The idea is to ride short, narrow forest paths with rocks, roots and dints, but not necessarily any ramps on them. The optimal length of the paths are from a few tens to hundreds of meters. The shortness is to provide extreme speed and thrilling to get through the hindrances as fast as possible without crashing. The altitude of the paths does not have to vary much. The ultimate direction of the paths from vertical aspect can be the both ways, either up or down. The transitions between these essential parts are to be taken lightly and stopping at the beginning of every path is to provide maximum amount of thrilling action gained through the speed. The bikes for this purpose can vary from XC to FR.

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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.

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…