Mountain Biking Tips for Advanced Bikers

Mountain biking is an adventure sport that has become extremely popular over the years. It is an adrenalin filled sport which costs very little and is ideal for a wide range of fitness levels. Advanced mountain biking requires a great deal of skill and yet does not have the level of maintenence costs of many similar sports. Bicycle touring has also become very popular, many individuals like to travel long distances on bikes requiring endurance.

Although mountain biking is accessible to almost everyone, advanced mountain biking requires high levels of fitness and skill. You need to make sure that while your ride is exciting, it is also safe. Make sure when going mountain biking off road, you have carefully planned your trip in advance. Carefully study a map to locate existing trails and do not stray from them. Also consider the weather and season when planning the difficulty of your trip. For example, in the summer look for trails that are shaded and avoid biking midday, try to ride in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid intense heat.

There are some general tips to follow when advanced mountain biking. It is important to keep a loose grip on the handlebars. Also make sure your shoulders are loose and your elbows are bent. This will help you to absorb shock and will mean you will tire slower.

When riding make sure you keep looking ahead, not down at your wheel. You need to be alert to obstacles in order to keep safe. Don`t only look at the immediate obstacle but potential obstacles further up the trail. If you are in mud, water or a similar soft surface you should change to an easier gear and shift back in your seat. This will allow you to glide through across the surface.

It is vitally important to ensure you have a top quality bike for advanced mountain biking. Your bike should be of a high quality and kept in top condition. One of the most highly regarded mountain bikes of this year is the Trek Fuel EX 8. This is a high end specialised bike that has a light alloy frame. Other top bikes include the Scott Genius 10, Raleigh XXIX Pro, Santa Cruz Blue LT and the Cannondale Rize 3.

As well as a high quality bike, advanced mountain bikers require the correct biking gear. Make sure you have a good quality waterproof jacket for insulation and for keeping dry, vital for any trip. A waterproof jacket is particularly vital for winter, do not skimp on this item. You should buy waterproof jackets from recognised adventure sport brands such as Cannondale, Rip Curl, roxy clothing and O’Shea. Make sure you also have suitable gloves and in the winter, wear a base layer. You can find a whole range of accessories from many extreme sports brands and retailers.

Reviewing Mountain Biking History

Mountain biking history began in California in the 1970s, when a group of friends began to alter their street bikes by fitting fat tires. Actually, there are many different stories about the true origin of mountain biking. Most would agree that mountain biking is the sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over very rough terrain.

Buffalo Soldiers

Some claim this group of infantry soldiers, who in the late 1800s customized their bicycles to carry gear over rough country, were the beginning of mountain biking history. They rode on a journey from Missoula, Montana to Yellowstone National Park and back, a total distance of 800 miles, to test the durability of their customized mountain bikes. The testing in mountainous terrain by the military proved very useful in future wars.

Velro Cross Club Parisien

This group of cyclists in the mid 1950s developed a sport that was very similar to mountain biking today. Approximately 20 riders juiced up their bikes and roared up and down the French Alps.

John Finley Scott

In 1953 John Finley Scott, a pioneer of mountain biking history, built what he called a “Woodsie Bike” using a Schwinn World diamond frame, balloon tires, flat handlebars, derailleur gears and cantilever brakes.

The Cupertino Riders

Also known as the Morrow Dirt Club located just 75 miles south of Marin County, California, they were modifying their bikes to help them get up and down the steep hills of San Francisco. They were grafting thumb shift operated derailleurs and motorcycle lever-operated drum brakes onto their klunkers. They just disappeared after few years.

Most mountain bikes are built with strength, durability and high performance in mind, using wide tires, large round frame tubing and shock absorbers, that transfer into a far heavier bicycle weight to rider ratio.

Categories of Mountain Biking

Through the history of mountain biking, four distinct categories have emerged, being cross country, downhill, free ride and trails or street riding. Cross country is the most popular form and involves riding point to point. Downhill is riding mountain bikes downhill. Free riding encompasses everything from downhill racing to jumping and generally requires more skill and aggressive riding.

The history of mountain biking is still in its virgin years and still developing. The purists love the sport because it requires a variety of different skills, such as endurance, bike handling skills and self reliance. Riders become very proficient at fixing flat tires so they are not stranded hundreds of miles from home.

Rides often occur in isolated areas and they always involve more than one rider for safety reasons. Mountain bikes are so comfortable and flexible, they now make up 80 percent of all bicycles currently sold in the USA.

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