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