Cross Country Mountain Biking

Cross country mountain biking is cross country at

its finest. Where free riders and downhill bikers

use four wheel bikes and ski lifts to get them to

their destination, cross country bikers get to

the top of the mountain by the ride. Though free

riding is very popular, the life vein of the sport

has always been cross country biking.

Just as cross country riders are a different breed,

the bikes they ride are as well. The cross country

bike is completely different in many ways from other

types of mountain riding bikes. The premise for

cross country riders is speed. Everything about

their bikes revolve with the idea of making the

bikes faster and faster.

Bikes used in cross country mountain biking can

be fully rigid frame, hardtails, or even full

suspension frames. Through the years, the cross

over to full suspension has become very popular.

The weight difference between free ride bikes and

cross country bikes are considerable. You'll be

extremely hard pressed to find a bike that weighs

more than 24 pounds, and even that weight can be

heavy. Free ride bkes weigh close to 40 pounds,

which makes the difference in weight pretty close.

If you've never tried cross country mountain biking,

you'll probably find it to be a break from the

ordinary. Even though this type of biking involves

trails, it's normally the type of terrain that

beginners wouldn't want to ride. Involving hills

and rough terrain, cross country biking offers

quite the rush.

For mountain bikers everywhere, cross country is

the way to go. It offers you a new assortment of

bikes, new areas to bike, and a new twist to

mountain biking as you know it. If you've been

looking for a mountain biking rush, cross country

mountain biking is what you need to be experiencing.

Introduction To 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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

Mountain Biking Accessories

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

Mountain Biking Safety Tips

There are numerous ways that you can improve your

mountain bike safety. Many riders will tell you

that wearing a helmet is the most important step to

staying safe. The second most important step is

that you should always ride in control of your

mountain bike.

By riding in control you'll not only prevent crashes,

but keep others on the trail safe as well. When

riding out of control you loose the ability to

adjust to the terrain as you ride over it. This can

and usually does result in serious injury to yourself

and others.

Follow these helpful guidelines and you'll remain

safe when riding your mountain bike.

Gear

Always make sure that you wear a helmet and other

necessary safety gear for the conditions that you

plan to ride in.

Never ride beyond your control

There is never any shame in walking the areas of

the trail that you don't feel comfortable in riding

and you should never let anyone else tell you that

there is.

Keep your speed under control

Always make sure you keep your speed at a level

where you can quickly adjust to any obstacles or

change in the trail.

Knowing your trail

You should never push the limits on trails that you

aren't familiar with. You should take trails you

aren't familiar with at slow speeds until you learn

them better.

Slow down around blind corners

If you can't see past a corner you should always

slow down, as you never know who or what is around it.

Start small then go big

Work your way up to stunts or obstacles. Practice in

less difficult or dangerous situations before you

move up to something more dangerous.

Playing it smart

If you start to question what your doing, you probably

shouldn't be doing. Always think about what you are

doing and go with your instincts.

Mountain Biking Vacation

Taking a mountain biking vacation is an excellent

way to unwind and explore America. There are several

companies that offer mountain biking tours that go

through scenic routes, and they often arrange any

accomodations for travelers as well. For athletic

couples, these types of vacations offer the perfect

way to relax and enjoy some exercise together.

Each and every region in the United States has some

truly awesome mountain biking trails. It's not just

the major mountain ranges that offer these trails, as

any hilly, scenic, rough trail can provide riders with

the adventure they seek. Some of the best areas to

mountain bike ride in the United States are the Pacific

Northwest, Southwest, and Southeast states such as

North Carolina.

Even though the entire American West area is great for a

mountain biking vacation, the Southwest area is rapidly

becoming a popular area for the sport as well. In the

Southwest, some of the best trails include Pinery

Canyon Road in Arizona, South Boundary Trail in New

Mexico, and Flume Trail in Nevada.

Each and every trail deserves it's reputation as a

tough ride. Each one of these trails is over 20 miles

in length, with Pinery Canyon being the longest, at

over 50 miles! Keep in mind though, just because you

go to a trail it doesn't mean you have to ride the entire

length.

The Pacific Northwest is also a great place for a

mountain biking vacation. The three best trails in

the entire region are Surveyor's Ridge in Oregon, Mount

Tamalpais in California, and the Methow Trial System in

Washington.

A mountain biking vacation is perfect for athletic people

who have the desire to explore regions at their own

pace. These trips are much less expensive than other

trips, yet they can easily be the adventure of a

Technical Down Hill Mountain Biking

The key to down hilling is relaxing your upper body.

The steeper and rockier the hill is, the more tightly

the rider tends to put a death grip on the handle

bars. Most riders tend to slow down as they approach

obstacles such as rocks, then apply both brakes.

If you don't apply your brakes, the rock will stop

your wheel. This isn't good, as the rock can throw

you off balance and completely kill any type of

momentum you have.

Relaxed riders won't slow down as much. The

combination of extra momentum, no front braking at

crucial moments will allow the wheel to bump over

the rock and continue onward with little effort.

If you are going slow, it's essential to release

your brakes as much as possible when you approach

an obstacle. This may entail going a bit faster,

although the result is much less painful. On

steep hills, going really slow will always make

things much more difficult.

One exception to this is a very tight turn. If a

hop is out of the question, you'll need to slow

down to allow the smallest radius of turning circle.

This kind of thing takes practice, although track

standing isa great way to improve on your balance.

Although down hilling is one of the most extreme

methods of mountain biking, it can also be one of

the most dangerous. If you're new to mountain biking

you shouldn't start out with down hilling, as it

takes a lot of practice.

With a bit of practice and knowing the right

techniques, technical down hilling is something you'll

find fun. It can provide quite a rush and a lot

of excitement for those who seek adventure.

The History Of Mountain Biking

There is a lot of history and information out there

in regards to the history and origins of mountain

biking, with some being recognized and some that

depends on who has the best firm of public relations.

Some say that mountain biking began with the Buffalo

Soldiers, which was a turn of the century infantry

who customized bikes to carry gear over the rough and

tough terrain. They began in August of 1896, over

the course of 800 miles. Their mission was simple -

to test bikes for military use in the toughest of

terrain.

Others say it was the Velo Cross Club of France

that started mountain biking. The club was comprised

of 20 young bikers from Paris, who between 1951 and

1956 developed a sport that resembles present day

mountain biking.

It could have also been John Finley Scott, who was

the first mountain biker in the U.S. In 1953 he

constructed what he called a "Woodsie Bike", using

a diamond frame, balloon tires, flat handle bars,

and cantilever brakes. He was more than 20 years

ahead of his time. Even though he remained an off

road enthusiast, there were many at that time who

didn't share that same passion.

Today, we 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.