| Mountain biking, as the name suggests, is
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| | allows the rider to do anything and
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| a biking sport in which bicycle-riders
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| | everything downhill rides (without
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| ride along mountain trails. Biking
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| | clock), jumps, stunts , that require
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| through a mountain terrain is pure fun,
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| | skill and are hence meant for
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| but it also has its share of adventure
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| | professionals. Freeride biking requires
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| and excitement. The best-known locations
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| | the rider to assemble the bike as per
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| for biking in mountainous surroundings
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| | convenience and style, but these bikes
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| have unpaved surfaces and so you need to
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| | are a bit heavier (weighing between 30
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| be an expert biker to truly experience
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| | and 40 lbs) and are amply suspended
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| the thrill.
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| | (generally has 6 inches of suspension
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| History
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| | front and rear).
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| Since their invention, bicycles have been
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| | 3. Downhill, as the name suggests,
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| used on all terrains, including rugged
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| | involves riding mountain bikes downhill.
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| mountainous territories. However, it was
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| | It is generally associated with
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| not until 1970s that biking in the
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| | racing-oriented downhill riding. Downhill
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| mountains became an organized sport.
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| | biking does not require the rider to
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| Groups of bicycle-riders from different
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| | pedal up the hill. The bikers along with
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| parts of the United States played a
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| | their bikes are transported up the hill
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| pivotal role in the evolution of this
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| | with the help of a truck or ski-lift. The
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| thrilling biking-sport , experimenting
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| | downhill climb is indeed challenging
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| with bikes of different makes and
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| | including jumps and drops as well as
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| modifying them so that they could take
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| | physical hindrances. Tough mentality,
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| the rigors of riding in the uneven,
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| | physical strength, swiftness and mounted
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| craggy mountainous lands.
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| | heavy bikes weighing some 40-50 lbs make
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| The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, however,
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| | you eligible for these races.
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| bestows the honor to a group of bikers in
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| | 4. Trials riding, which is quite similar
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| Marin County, California. The group
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| | to skateboarding, involves hopping and
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| (consisting of famous names in this field
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| | jumping over obstacles with your bike. It
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| like Gary Fisher, Joe Breeze, Keith
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| | demands great sense of balance and
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| Bontrager and Otis Guy among others)
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| | control. The riders make use of special
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| undertook bike-ride down Mount Tamalpais
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| | bikes that make use of 20", 24" or 26"
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| (Mt Tam) on old 1930s and 40s Schwinn
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| | wheels fitted to small, low frames.
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| bicycles retrofitted with advanced brakes
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| | The following tips will prove helpful if
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| and fat tires.
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| | you are planning a bicycle-trip in the
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| The first proper mountain bike was built
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| | rocky, hilly terrains for the first time:
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| by Joe Breeze in 1977. The present-day
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| | 1. You must have stamina and endurance to
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| mountain bikes are based on the bicycle
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| | bike down a mountain.
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| first marketed by the MountainBikes
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| | 2. Selection of a superior quality bike,
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| Company. The frame of this particular
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| | especially one that perfectly meets your
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| bike was built by Tom Ritchey and it was
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| | type of mountain riding is also very
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| accessorized by Gary Fisher and Charlie
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| | crucial.
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| Kelly.
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| | 3. You cannot avoid minor cuts and
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| Types
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| | bruises but you can certainly prevent
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| Bikers usually engage in four different
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| | major mishaps by resorting to
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| kinds of cycling tours in the mountains:
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| | precautionary measures, buying yourself
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| 1. Cross-Country (or XC) biking is the
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| | some protection in the form of helmets,
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| most familiar type mountain riding sport
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| | knee-caps and elbow-caps. A good pair of
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| and naturally has the maximum number of
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| | goggles will also prove handy.
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| followers. The sport involves riding
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| | 4. Special competitions are organized by
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| between points or in loops. It includes
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| | various mountain bikers groups and you
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| ascents and descents on different
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| | can join in with them. If you choose to
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| terrains. (Cross-Country racing
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| | go on your own, you will need to collect
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| competitions are different from
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| | all relevant information , routes, rules,
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| cross-country biking). A typical XC bike
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| | et al.
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| weighs some 22-28 lbs and it has 0-4
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| | 5. Whether you go with a bikers group or
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| inches of suspension travel front and
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| | go biking all by yourself, you must
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| rear.
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| | remember to carry your equipment kit so
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| 2. Freeride is the other popular type of
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| | that you can take care of all your
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| biking in mountain trails. It restricts
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| | bicycle-repairs.
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| the biker with no specific rules rather
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