Trail Bikers Blog

mcperson2k asked:


I just went mountain biking with a friend for the first time ever. We went down some trails… it was really scary but im hooked. I dont know much about bikes. Whats a good brand? The trails im talking about are very very rocky, and have natural jumps and what not. So i need something durable.

Wugga asked:


I am 18 and very active. I am a mountain bike racer, I ride 6-7 days a week (cross-country riding) during the season. During ski season I ski 4-5 days a week and I play racquetball. I also work out at a gym every other day. I eat pretty healthily (though not as good as I could), play very little video games and watch no television.

Yet, a friend of mine (who is 17); who often won’t leave his house for days at a time, plays hours and hours of video games a day — often in addition to watching tv, doesn’t work out at all, and pretty much only does active things when I make him because I need someone to go with… can pick up a weight that I cannot even lift and do 10 reps with it. Why is this? It is really, really bugging me and really makes me feel pretty pathetic.

(Note that I am in much better aerobic shape and I am stronger then him in my lower body. Still though… it doesn’t really make sense).

Robert Sheehan asked:


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.

imthewalruss asked:


I’m not a ******** rider. I live and work in Deer Park and Pasadena, respectively. When I lived in Houston I always went to Memorial Park but now that would be quite a daily trek. I’ve tried searching multiple websites including ghorba.org and there just doesn’t seem to be any links for bike trails other than the obvious ones (memorial and ant hills). I’d really like to find some closer to where I live, on the southeast side. Riding my bike through winding, wooded trails is, hands down, one of my favorite things to do. I’m discouraged by the lack of information out there or the lack of rider-friendly trails in general. Any ideas?
I’m located in Houston, TX area.

Christine asked:


I’m 16 years old and I looove mountain biking. I do track, so I have a lot of endurance and I have good muscles from gymnastics, which will help me a lot with my biking. I bike a lot but I just do it for fun– I’d really like to compete in a race, but I’ve never done a biking race before. How can I start? Where can I find a local race? How do I figure out what ability level I should enter in? I know track helps a lot with training for biking, but what else can I do? We also weight train a lot–which is good because I don’t do gymnastics anymore. Any answers are greatly appreciated :):)

watchout_above asked:


I am a cross-country / trail rider with a mtn bike that has 4 inches of travel.
Average height and weight.

jrc77355 asked:


I’m interested in mountain biking. The area I live in doesn’t have mountains so I’d be doing more of off road biking. There are some hilly mountain biking trails near my house. Where do I start? What should I look for in a bike? Any tips?

Ðo ¦dodo asked:


I don’t really know which one of the following bikes is the best deal for me. I was thinking of which of them has the best brakes in this price range (under 600$ before taxes) and also a better fork and maybe a decent derailleur.

My choices would be:
1.Marin Northside Trail - 600$
http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2007/html/bikes/bike_specs/specs_northside_trail.html
(on this one I don’t actually like the fact that the marzocchi fork does not have a lock-out and I think that will be a disadvantage when going uphill)

2.Norco Wolverine - 550$
http://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/adventure_x/wolverine.php

3.Cannodale F7 DISC - 520$
http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/08/cusa/model-8FS7D.html

4.Giant Youkon - 500$
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-CA/bikes/mountain/1751/30733/

5.Rocky Mountain Vapor - 520$
http://www.bikes.com/main+en+01_102+Vapor.html?BIKE=181#2

6.GT Avalanche 2.0 Disc - 520$
http://www.gtbicycles.com/usa/eng/default.aspx?fuseaction=product.displaySubcategoryid=19#5597

7.Norco Kokanee - 530$
http://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/cross_country_ht/kokanee.php

8.Rocky Mountain Soul - 600$
http://www.bikes.com/main+en+01_102+Soul.html?BIKE=179#2

I have no idea which one is the best deal. I’ve ridden each one and still can’t decide, so I’d really appreciate your opinion to help me make my decision.
I’m actually thinking of getting a bike with better components and without disc brakes, because I don’t ride in muddy or wet conditions and I do think that v-brakes do better than mechanical disc in most of the situations. I’ll probably go looking for Trek 4500. But you can still give me an answer on the question above I am really thinking to buy the Marin Northside Trail. Still wondering about the Rocky Mountain, but it has got cheaper components. What do you think, is the Marin a good option?

W C asked:


Looking to get into downhill mountain biking again and was wondering what brand of tires would be good for some rough downhill mountain biking. Also where and how much should it cost? Thank you.

jeremy newman asked:


Are there any bike clubs in long beach I can ride with while I’m in town for 2 months (Aug-Sept)