Prepare for a cycling race
 

Welcome to our mountain biking racing Archive!

 

Article #158: Mountain Biking , For The Adventure Loving Lot

(Browse for more articles)

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






1 - A - B - C - D - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 - 32 - 33 - 34 - 35 - 36 - 37 - 38 - 39 - 40 - 41 - 42 - 43 - 44 - 45 - 46 - 47 - 48 - 49 - 50 - 51 - 52 - 53 - 54 - 55 - 56 -