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