Mountain biking is a fantastic way to explore the outdoors, stay in shape, get the adrenalin moving, or just have fun. There is an element of danger involved, but if you ride within the your skill limits and stay in control, it can be enjoyed by the entire family.

Mountain Bike Styles

There are three main styles of mountain biking -

• cross country,
• downhill, and
• free riding.

(and yes, I know, there is Super-D, Dual Slalom and a lot more, but we will get to that in another article) The styles have many similarities, but they do require different skills and different types of bikes. The style you choose will determine the type of bike you will buy.

The image on the right shows a hard tail cross country bike. It has about 4 inches of travel and weighs less than 25 pounds. Some of the carbon fibre hard-tails weigh in at less than 20 pounds.

Locations for mountain biking

Mountain biking is the best on unpaved trails and even better where there are differences in elevation. Gravity matters! The best locations for the sport include single track. Many areas throughout North America have specific locations designed for mountain biking.  Many places, like trails in Marin County have limitations on where mountain bikers can ride. Always check with the local park, county or open space district on what rules, restrictions, routes and regulations apply to mountain biking.

There are a large number of groups that have mountain bike rides and competitions. Our teams are involved in the in the Norcal High School Mountain bike league.

The Marin County Bike Coalition has an excellent map that shows all the legal trails in Marin County. This map is the best ten bucks that you can spend and it can be purchased from MCBC directly or from most of the independent bike shops in Marin.

The picture on the left shows a dual suspension Stumpjumper FSR Pro cross country bike. It has an adjustible Fox Talas fork with 5 inches of travel and 4 inches at the back. It weighs around 25 pounds.

Becoming a great biker

Endurance and stamina are a must for a great mountain biker. Ambition and practice are crucial requirements to succeed and to conquer the course.   Like all other sports, it takes time and practice to improve stamina and ability to handle different types of terrain.  Those just beginning will have to get past the bumps and bruises from falling off the bike.

I typically do different types of training. On top of my daily commute (23 miles) I would go on long rides with my road bike to help improve my stamina. These rides keep my heart rate up for an extended period of at least an hour, preferably more. I have found a cycling computer an indispensable tool to help me to push myself.

As the racing season approaches, I will start riding more and more on my mountain bike. The hills in Marin county are typically much steeper than anything that you would normally experience on a road bike and it is good to train for these. Riding Mt. Burdell or  Queenstone to the towers is a good aerobic workout and it also teaches a lot of balancing skills. On my road bike I would typically stand and power up a hill and since there is enough traction between the asphalt and tire I never have an issue with wheel slip. Not so on the mountain bike. It is always tricky to leave enough weight on the rear wheel so that the power that you would apply going up a steep incline does not cause the wheels to slip. Practice that balance, and practice starting on an uphill. I've been on numerous rides where one rider looses it on an uphill stretch, it stops a lot of people and you may have to start on the uphill.

Selecting your mountain bike

The bike you select is more of a personal choice, available budget and 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. Price is not everything. You can go to one of the retail stores and see some bikes that resemble a mountain bike. I bought four for my family. It was a mistake. Our new bikes were bought from bike local bike stores. They helped us select the correct bikes, assisted us with fitting them and made becoming one with our bikes much easier. You are going to spend a lot of time on the bike, so make sure you check for comfort, how it fits, even how it is geared.

The image on the left shows a typical downhill setup. The fork has longer travel, 8 inches in the front and rear, and is much beefier than cross country bikes. The rider wears a full face helmet, goggles and a Leat Brace to protect his neck. He is also wearing elbow and knee pads for protection.

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.
• For downhill riding add knee and elbow pads and consider getting a full face helmet and a neck brace.
• Always ride with a buddy.
• Safety should be your top priority and never taken lightly anytime you are mountain biking.