| Mountain biking has taken the cycling world | | | | crashes are a regular part of such events. |
| by storm. It wasn't all that long ago when | | | | The racers fly down the hill at breakneck |
| the phrase "mountain bike" would've elicited | | | | speeds, the key being to have the fastest |
| blank stares. Now you see them everywhere. | | | | time down the slope. Many of these races are |
| Mountain bikes are made to handle almost | | | | held on ski slopes during the warmer months. |
| every terrain imaginable, and that's why | | | | Such competitions demand that the riders have |
| they've become so popular. Just like SUV's, | | | | the utmost skill and experience as it can be |
| most people who use them don't have a need | | | | an extremely dangerous endeavor. These races |
| for their full range of functions, but it's | | | | aren't for novices. |
| good to no the capability is there "just in | | | | |
| case". | | | | A competition rapidly growing in popularity |
| | | | is dirt jumping. This will be familiar to BMX |
| Mountain bikes are nice even for the urban | | | | enthusiasts as it's essentially the same sort |
| rider because they eliminate the worries one | | | | of competition. Such events aren't races, of |
| might have when encountering potholes, | | | | course. They're judged events wherein riders |
| gravel, and bad road conditions. Mountain | | | | compete to accomplish the biggest, most |
| bike riders utilize their bikes for a wide | | | | amazing jumps involving spinning the bike in |
| range of activities and competitions. A | | | | the air, doing flips, and even completely |
| number of races and competitions have sprung | | | | letting go of the bike and getting back on |
| up to make use of the mountain bike's many | | | | before it lands. |
| capabilities. | | | | |
| | | | Another form of extreme mountain bike |
| One such extreme mountain bike competition is | | | | competition is bike trials. These events |
| known as cross-country (or XC) races. | | | | involve navigating unbelievable difficult |
| Cross-country mountain bike races usually | | | | terrain without touching your feet to the |
| cover about 30 miles and cover a variety of | | | | ground. Bike trials require riders to balance |
| terrains. These races feature a mass start | | | | their mountain bikes on rails, boulders, |
| with all the riders taking off at the same | | | | posts, tree stumps, and any number of |
| time much like a marathon. | | | | seemingly impossible obstacles. The goal is |
| | | | to finish the course quickly and without |
| If cross-country races are too short for you, | | | | having to put your feet down. |
| there's always endurance (or enduro) racing. | | | | |
| These races cover in excess of 70 miles and | | | | If any of these extreme mountain biking |
| climb to elevations of 8000 feet and more. | | | | competitions appeal to you, start practicing |
| | | | and getting into shape. These events are for |
| For the real maniacs out there, the only way | | | | skilled and experienced riders only. They're |
| to go is downhill racing. Downhill races | | | | physically demanding and fairly dangerous. |
| typically have staggered starts to try to | | | | They are not for novices. |
| minimize crashing, but as you can imagine, | | | | |