The sport of mountain biking is increasing in popularity year by year. It’s an exhilarating sport, but it’s also physically demanding. Both men and women take part, but its usually people kids, teens, and young adults.
As with any other activity, mountain bikers have devised their own culture, including a language of their own. If you want to get into the game, you’ll have to learn a few terms:
If you’re riding a “boing-boing” you’re riding a bike with both front and rear suspension. If you’ve “bonked” you’ve run out of energy. To “bring home a Christmas tree” is a bad thing, it means you’ve crashed through dense brushes and leaves and things are hanging off your helmet – it also means you’ve left a trace on the hill, which is something mountain bikers – and people in general, of course, are not supposed to do.
“Death cookies” are rocks that fly up into you as you go down the trail. This happens all the time and so that’s why you want to wear goggles or some kind of eye protection. To get “first blood” means you’re the first rider in a group who crashes and starts bleeding as a result. Some people perhaps feel this is a mark of honor for some reason.
If you’re doing an “endo” it means you’re flying over the handlebars of your bike do to a sudden stop. And then you’ll most likely do a “face plant” – hopefully into mud and not into a rock. Regardless, that’s why you wear a helmet and eye protection!
That’s only a small sampling of the terminology. Of course you’ll enjoy the sport even more if you can understand what the people around you are talking about, so take a gander at a few mountain biking slang dictionaries before you hit the trails.
Mountain biking is a great sport, but there is some controversy to it, as some people feel that the cyclists destroy the natural environment in certain areas, and bicycle advocates have to fight to keep the trails open to cyclists.
All cyclists can help by following simple rules – pack out more than you take in, respect pedestrians on the trails, don’t bike after heavy rains, and so on.
By using a respectful attitude toward the environment and common sense in dealing with other people, mountain biking will be a sport that will be around for a long time to come.
Necessary equipment for the casual bike rider consists of a helmet, and a headlight if there’s a chance of biking at night, and that’s about it. Anything else is gravy.
The same can not be said for the mountain biker. To have a safe and enjoyable ride, the mountain biker needs quite a bit of gear.
Even more so than for the casual biker, a helmet is a must. And take care about choosing a helmet. A poor-fitting helmet is of no use, so make sure it fits your head securely.
A good pair of gloves serve two purposes. You’ll get a better grip on the handlebars with your gloves, and of course should you take a spill your hands won’t get torn up.
Clothing
What to wear? Most people go mountain biking in the summer, so they wear shorts, t-shirts, and tennis shoes. If they’re the hardy sort, they’ll put on sweatshirts and pants for the colder months.
But it’s also a good idea to wear padding on knees and elbows. The thing about mountain biking is that it’s not a question of if you’ll fall, but when. So it’s only common sense to wear padding and prevent a serious injury. If you’re a dedicated rider you don’t want to have to spend any time off the bike recuperating from a broken arm when with a little common sense you could avoid the problem.
Shoes
Don’t forget the shoes! These days shoes are designed especially for every sport under the sun, and mountain biking is no different. As a mountain biker you want to make sure your feet stay on the pedals, and you want shoes that are comfortable to well as well.
Accessories
A new trend in mountain biking is riding at night. Well, if you’re going to ride at night you’ve got to have a light! If you’re going for long distances you’ll want to have a hydropack of some kind, so that you can drink liquids on the go.
It’s possible to scour the web for your clothes and accessories, but to be sure of a good fit, it’s always best to give as much business as possible to your local bike store.
The Bike
You’ve got the gear, now you need the bike.
And these are not your granddaddy’s bikes. Technology has improved the design of bicycles in every way, and quality bikes are offered at affordable prices – but you’ve still got to pick the right one for you.
The best thing to do when choosing a bike is talk to owners of various types of bikes – maybe even borrow a ride on them, so you can compare the differences in saddle feel, shock absorbers, handling, and most importantly, weight. Don’t just talk to one person, get a good cross-section of opinions.
If you’re going to be a competitive mountain biker – taking parts in races – you’ll need a more expensive kind of bike, of course, one with a titanium frame and all the bells and whistles. If you’re just going to be going out to the trails on the weekends in your version of kicking back and relaxing, you won’t need that much bang for your buck
There are two main types of mountain bikes: the Hardtail, which has a frame with no rear suspension and the Softtail, which has a frame with a small amount of rear suspension. The most comfortable bike is perhaps one with full or “dual” suspension – a front suspension fork and a rear shock.
The type of bike you get also depends on the kind of riding you’ll want to do: cross-country, enduro, free ride, downhill, etc. Again, you’ll want to talk to fellow riders to see which is the best kind of bike for the particular kind of riding you want to do.
When you first start out with mountain biking, it can be a bit overwhelming when you walk into a bike store to buy your first mountain bike and see all of the available accessories you’ll need when you first start riding. 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. 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. There have been many people who have experienced serious head injury, when it could have prevented by wearing a helmet. All mountain bike helmets are comfortable and stylish and everyone who rides on the trails wears one. Mountain bike gloves No matter what season you ride in, your hands can take a beating. Beginners will normally keep a death grip on the handle bars, which can be very brutal for their hands. When you crash, your hands will be the first thing to hit the ground – and everyone crashes at some point. Mountain bike gloves are a must have accessory, as they will take the beating for you. Mountain bike shorts After the first few mountain bike rides you take, you’ll notice that your rear end will be quite uncomfortable. Even though your body will adjust, bike shorts are great to have as they will help keep it at a bare minimum. You can get shorts that are very comfortable, making them a great addition to your mountain bike ride. Mountain bike shoes Depending on the type of pedals you have and the type of riding you do, you’ll want to pick your mountain bike shoes accordingly. If your bike has clipless type pedals, you’ll want to get shoes to accept the special cleat for your pedals. Good mountain bike shoes are durable, comfortable, and also a stiff sole for better efficiency when pedaling. Also, you should make sure to get the right shoe for the terrain you’ll be riding in as well. Eye protection If you get something in your eye, you can run off the trail in a matter of seconds. Sunglasses or clear lensed glasses can help keep your eyes safe from debris, as well as protect them from the wind. When you buy your glasses, make sure they are non-breakable. Hydration system Bringing a water bottle or hydration backpack with you is always a great idea. 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 be on the safe side, bring a multi-tool designed for bike repair, tire levers, and a patch kit for fixing flat tires.
rhinestones
The categories of equipment for mountain bikes include a great number of subcategories. These subcategories include the bikes, frames, accessories, biking apparel, and even the separate components that make up the bikes. There are a number of items that you can get for mountain biking, so it is imperative that you know what you want. You first need to determine what kind of biking that you do. Do you mountain bike for fun or are you into it for racing? If you have just started your mountain biking adventure, then your first purchase will need to be a bike that will meet your needs and wants.
Clothing that is specially made for mountain biking is much looser than the other clothing made for cycling. The difference between mountain biking apparel and other biking apparel is very noticeable and easy to see. All kinds of cycling have one thing in common, however, and that is helmets. Helmets should be worn anytime you are on your bike. This will help to protect your head from the many hazards that may be on the trail.
There are accessories that can help make your biking safer for you, too. One of these accessories is mountain bike lights. If you are going to be riding at night, then you will need some kind of lighting on your bike, whether it is LED lights or other lights. Lights enable mountain bikers to enjoy the trail at any time of the day or night.
You can find your mountain bike supplies at your local bike shop or online at many different bicycling retailers. You can find everything that you need-from knee guards to full body guards to helmets to other apparel and accessories. The shops will be able to assist you to find mountain biking gear for any level of rider, from the casual to the more extreme enthusiast.
Protective gear is essential in mountain biking, especially. It will help you to withstand the rigors of mountain and downhill racing. Many different body armor pieces help to protect different parts of the body to make sure that you will be protected if you have an accident. This gear is specially made to protect you without taking away from the experience and fun of mountain biking.
The most important thing that you need to purchase to help keep yourself safe is a biking helmet. A helmet can keep you alive in this sometimes dangerous sport. No matter how small the race, biking helmets are required to help keep you safe. To keep your hands free from burns or blisters, you may want to choose some gloves. They serve a functional use as well, because they help to give you a much stronger grip on the handlebars for maximum control.
Mountain biking demands comfortable clothing. Most races occur during the summer, so shorts and t-shirts are the most commonly seen clothing, but during the winter months, you may see pants and sweatshirts. You are sure to find the perfect clothing to ride in no matter what time of the year to help you be comfortable and to look cool.
