| Most People can ride a bike, so have the general skills | | | | suspension lightweight bike. |
| to start Mountain Biking. The best way to improve on | | | | Downhill - riding on very fast downhill sections - suits |
| these skills is to join a Mountain Biking club, have a | | | | a full suspension Mountain Bike which needs to be |
| look in your area, with the sport becoming so popular | | | | very strong, also a full face Helmet (motorbike style) |
| there are Mountain Biking clubs popping up all over | | | | and body amour should be worn. |
| the country. Riding with like minded individuals is fun | | | | Free-ride - riding on man made obstacles such as |
| and conducive to improvement. | | | | ladder drops, north shore, skinnys, this discipline is |
| How much do I spend on a Mountain Bike? At first, | | | | usually extreme, body armor, full face helmet and a |
| not too much, if it's not the sport for you then | | | | full suspension very strong Mountain Bike are required. |
| spending a fortune will be a waste. As your skills | | | | Dirt Jumping - jumping off man made dirt jumps |
| improve you will naturally want a better Mountain | | | | which are sometimes 8 foot high. Suits usually a very |
| Bike, I suggest a 'HardTail' at first, which has front | | | | strong Hardtail |
| suspension forks and a rigid rear end. Look to spend | | | | 4x - 4 riders compete together down a course made |
| no less than £450, this will buy a Mountain Bike | | | | up of jumps, banked corners (berms) and humps. |
| that will not fall apart after a few rides. | | | | Suits either Hardtail or Full suspension bikes. |
| When investing in a bike make sure you try out | | | | Whatever discipline you prefer, you will always need |
| many different brands, and if you can, test ride | | | | a helmet, it may not feel 'cool' but then neither is a |
| these. Most Mountain Bike shops will have a 'loaner' | | | | fractured skull. I know which one I would choose!! |
| that you can use, or ask a friend to let you ride his | | | | Protective glasses are also a good idea, with knobbly |
| bike. When settled on your brand and style of bike, | | | | tires mud and stones will get flicked up into your |
| why not get the previous years model, most bike | | | | face, so it makes sense to protect your eyes. |
| shops will have these at a heavily discounted price | | | | Gloves are also a good investment and will save |
| sometimes as much as 50% off. | | | | many a 'skinned' knuckle. |
| As your skills improve you may want to invest in a | | | | Flat and clipless types of pedals are used in Mountain |
| Full Suspension Bike which has front suspension forks | | | | Biking, flat pedals usually lean towards dirt jumping so |
| and a rear suspension shock. This will depend on | | | | you can 'bail out' if the jump goes wrong. clipless |
| which discipline of Mountain Biking you prefer, these | | | | pedals allow the rider to lock into the pedals |
| disciplines can be categorized as follows:- | | | | mechanism for extra power and speed, especially |
| XC - cross country - as the name suggests riding or | | | | when climbing a steep hill on sometimes very |
| racing cross country off road, probably the most | | | | technical terrain. |
| popular category. Suits either front suspension or full | | | | |