Learn Mountain Biking and Cycling

How to Mountain Bike:
The Secrets to Going Off-Road Like a Pro

A mountain biking beginner may feel totally overwhelmed when introduced to bikes, maintenance basics, and all the trails and tribulations of riding!

However, introducing some basic skills will quickly give a mountain biking beginner the ability to start enjoying the sport, and to tackle obstacles with confidence. It doesn't have to take years to reach this point!

The first and most important step in beginner mountain biking is to make sure that you have a well-fitted helmet. No biker, beginner or otherwise, should ever be on the road without this vital piece of equipment. Buy the best you can afford - your life may depend on it!

When you are learning the ropes as a mountain biking beginner, you are less confident, and more likely to make contact with the road at some point! Protect your hands with a good pair of gloves. This will also be more comfortable than gripping the handlebars with bare hands.

For a mountain biking beginner, Lycra cycling shorts is still a good choice, especially if you are planning a long ride. Padded mountain biking shorts is another good option, gaining in popularity. It is a matter of personal choice. Try both, and decide which one you prefer.

Clipless pedals necessitates special mountain biking shoes, designed to clip into the cleat. A good pair of sunglasses will help to protect beginner mountain biking eyes from flying insects and other strange objects! Also make sure that you have a full water bottle, and something to eat.

Beginner mountain biking can be daunting, but if you make contact with knowledgeable personnel in a specialized shop, talk with experienced bikers, and do some reading, you will soon get the hang of it.

To buy a bike suitable for a mountain biking beginner, find someone you can trust to give you the best advice. Your budget, and the terrain on which you will use the bike, will determine your choice. Go for full suspension if at all possible. Make sure that the saddle is adjusted according to your height.

A long list of accessories are available. Not all of these are necessary for mountain biking beginners! Use your common sense, and buy according to your needs. One must-have is a repair kit for use on the trail. This will contain the basics for fixing a flat, and a multi-tool for bike repairs.

As a mountain biking beginner you have to be ear-to-the-ground for valuable tips from experienced riders, who know how to take care of small mishaps.

Make sure that the store where you buy your bike, offer a repair service. Make a note of maintenance advice, such as cables needing to be wiped and relubed. As a mountain biking beginner, a good habit to get into, is washing your bike immediately after any ride. Some sticky stuff becomes a permanent part of your riding kit if you don't do this!

Beginner mountain biking skills will quickly progress from the basics, such as getting to know your pedals. Practice will soon give you the confidence to start taking your foot on and off the pedals while pedaling. Remember that your body weight needs to be to the rear of the bike on a steep descent.

Shifting gears is an important skill to master as a mountain biking beginner. Lower gears will help you up a hill, but you need to shift gear before you actually get to the hill. It is a question of timing, which will become second nature with experience.

To stop your bike, use the front brake more than the back. Use a series of quick, tiny micro-braking actions called "feathering". If you feel your brakes are getting less effective, one common problem is pad residue on your rims. It is easy to fix this, by cleaning the rims with steel wool.

As a mountain biking beginner, you will find that learning specialized techniques is a confidence-builder. Perfecting your bunny hopping will help you to get over all those obstacles, and will impress your riding companions no end!

Keep in mind that a common mistake mountain biking beginners make, is trying to avoid an obstacle. This is the surest way to crash! Always focus on where you want to go, not on the obstacle itself.

Most importantly, learn to relax and enjoy yourself. When you finish that first trail ride, you will forget all about the hard work that preceded it.

Riding like a pro, is just around the corner! Soon you will no longer be a mountain biking beginner, but the one other novices approach for advice...

For more information read Mountain Biking Apparel - Getting Into Gear! at http://www.best-mountain-biking.com/mountain-biking-apparel.php | Rika Susan of http://www.Article-Alert.com researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web.

How to Mountain Bike DVD
This mountain biking instructional DVD is almost 3 hours long and contains insight from some of the world's leading experts on mountain biking. Learn mountain biking techniques by simply watching how the pros do them. It's like a personal lesson - in your own home. Also some helpful advice on bike set-up.

Mountain Biking How-To Mastering Mountain Biking Skills
I don't usually recommend instructional books when great videos are available, but this guide is an exception. With over 100 color photos and tons of diagrams, you can truly learn some quality mountain biking skills and be able to apply them yourself. And if you really take to mountain biking, Expert Mountain Biker Brian Lopes covers techniques in multiple riding styles, including downhill, cross country, mountain cross, free riding, dirt jumping and urban terrain. Not a bad investment if I say so myself.

Video: How to Ride a Mountain Bike Over Obstacles

How to a Ride Mountain Bike Over Obstacles

Mountain Biking DVD for Women Excellent video for beginners. Pro Cyclist Sue Hayward demonstrates drills you can practice off the trail, plus instruction on body position, ascending and descending, clearing obstacles, cornering and slow speed riding.Hayward also gives important tips on basic bike care and safety. Get out there and have fun!

Mountain Biking Gear - What Should You Get?

When buying a mountain bike, first think about where you'll be riding it. In general, most moountain bikes are ridden on prepared trails. If this is you, you want to look for a bike that has a moderately stiff frame and a good shock absorber system.

Secondly, consider the weight of the bike. Bikes made of aluminum (rather than steel) are more expensive - but are about 40% lighter than steel. Riding a heavier bike (especially uphill) can be a lot more work and may make it more difficult to keep up with a group of other riders on lighter bicycles.

It's a good idea to test-ride several bikes before making your purchase, and then getting your bike properly fitted to you. If you find a bike you like in a store, and then find it online much cheaper, you can buy it online and then take it to a bike shop to get fitted (for a small fee).

Essential Gear for Mountain Biking

Mountain Biking Destinations - Where Can You Go?

SingleTracks
Awesome! Mountain bike trail maps, videos, photos, mountain bike reviews, community forums, bike races, GPS data, training logs and mountain biking gear.
Mountain Biking Colorado
Cyclist Robert Hurst shows you 70 different mountain biking rides in Colorado's popular San Juan Mountains near Durango and Telluride. Comprehensive trail descriptions, with directions, and helpful elevation profiles.
Biking Northern California
Find 67 of the best mountain biking trails in Northern California from coastal trails to mountain adventures. Detailed descriptions make trails easy to find and follow, plus rating guide give you a good idea of technical and physical difficulty before you attempt the ride.
Mountain Biking Utah
For riders of all levels: a great assortment of rides varying in length and difficulty. Find rides in the Wasatch Mountains around Salt Lake City and in Southern Utah - in and around Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. I can't imagine a more beautiful place to bike.
Biking North Carolina
Tim Muth looged more than 2,000 miles on his mountain bike to bring you information on any kind of trail you would want in North Carolina. Easy-to-read maps and ratings on technical and physical difficulty levels.
RentABikeNow.com
Find bike rental shops nationwide, so you can turn a regular vacation into a biking vacation - and not have to haul your bike around.

Who to Mountain Bike With

Find People to Mountain Bike With
Find people in your area who are interested in mountain biking, and make new friends who enjoy spending time exploring new trails as much as you do.
Mountain Biking Groups
Find a group of mountain biking enthusiasts (at all different riding levels) near you and around the world through a free online service called Meetup.com. Mountain biking groups can be fun, and make the sport more challenging and rewarding at the same time. Highly recommended.