Trail Bikers Blog

Jim Johnson asked:


Before you go mountain biking, be sure to bring along some standard items each time to avoid problems. It is essential that you have tools, supplies, food and water. Since you won’t want to carry any extra weight, only take what you need. With careful planning you can be prepared with a minimum of items.

One of the most important things is a spare inner tube, and the tools to change it. Nothing can stop your ride faster than a flat tire, and if you are far out on the trail, it can mean a very long walk home. If it’s late in the afternoon, you could also run out of daylight. Getting trapped in the dark is no fun. All you need to prevent this scenario is a spare tube (with the right valve type - there are two: presta and schraeder), 3 tire levers to get your tire off the rim, and of course a pump. Mini-pumps work just fine. Cautious types may also want to carry a tube patch kit in case of another flat. If you have never changed a tube before, it’s a good idea to practice at home first.

Mountain bikes are put together with allen bolts so make sure you carry a folding set of allen wrenches. Extended rides over bumpy trails can tend to make bolts loosen up. You also may want to make adjustments while on the trail to your brake or gear levers. Allen keys sets are quite small and inexpensive. If you know how to use a chain tool it wouldn’t hurt to bring one along in case your chain let’s go or requires adjusting.

Be sure to take adequate food and water for your ride. Powerbars are great bang for the buck. They work very well and prevent you from running out of energy. Riding when you are exhausted is no fun and risk of injury increases because of lack of focus. Water is critical. You can use water bottles if you bike frame has the mounts or a popular alternative is a Camelbak backpack bladder system. It also has ample room for tools and tubes. Or you can use an under-seat pouch.

Always make sure you are dressed appropriately for your mountain bike ride. Keep in mind you will warm up quickly after starting your ride, so don’t wear a heavy jacket that you’ll end up removing it after 15 minutes. It’s best to dress in a series of light layers. Keep in mind that if it’s wet or cold, your feet and hands will feel the cold the most. Wear riding gloves and socks suited to cycling. Your local bike store can assist you in selecting the correct gear for the kind of riding you will be doing so try and establish a good relationship with them.

Robert Sheehan asked:


Mountain bikes are specially meant for rough and rugged terrains. These extra traction and shock absorbing mountain bicycles are provided with fat knobby tires. However, a full front and rear suspension is becoming quite a common factor nowadays with bikes meant for mountain rides. Some bikes of this particular variety are fitted with bar ends on the handlebars, but with recent trends the use of handlebars and extensions are becoming less and less popular.

Mountain bicycles have both 26 and 29 inches wheels. The larger wheels of this bike type have better rolling capacities over rocks and boulders. Moreover, wheels, which are larger in diameter, also bring about an enhancement in rotational weight giving way to stable acceleration.

Mountain Bicycles – Kings On Rugged Roads

Based on suspension, mountain bicycles are broadly graded into four different kinds:

Bikes with dual or full suspension – These bikes have front suspension fork and rear suspension with a rear shock and linkage that is ready to make the rear wheels move on pivots

Hardtail bikes – These bikes have frames with no rear suspension and they are often supplied with front suspension forks

Soft Tail Bikes – These bikes have frames with small amount of rear suspension. The bikes are activated by flex of the frame rather than the pivots

Fully rigid bikes – These bikes have a sub-type of hardtail along with rigid fork system

The Different Types Of Mountain Bicycles

The Cross-Country Mountain Bike

This bike variety has small amount of suspension on the front or on the rear. These bicycles are comparatively light because they are constructed with lightweight materials both in frame construction and in components. Some XC bike varieties of this particular type are without any suspension. They make use of rigid front fork that helps in saving weight. Here, the skill of the rider to pass through rough terrains is more important.

Freeride Mountain Bike

These are very similar to enduro bikes and emphasize more on weight and enhanced suspension. These bikes have ample suspension and they are mostly constructed with heavier materials. Freeride bikes are absolutely versatile and they are fantastic for uphill travel. The frame angles of such bikes are usually steeper in comparison to downhill bikes. Most freeride bikes are 30 to 45 pounds in weight.

Trials Mountain Bike

These are trial specific bikes. Most of these bikes are without any suspension. The contemporary trial bikes come without seats as most of the time the rider is out of the saddle. This bike is particularly lighter than other mountain bicycles and it weighs between 15 to 25 pounds. The lightweight makes it easier for the biker to maneuver the bike.

Single-Speed Mountain Bike

This is a kind of mountain bike with one set gear ratio. The ratio of the gear depends on the kind of terrain the bike crosses, the skill and strength of the bike rider and the size of the bike too. A single-speed bike is completely rigid having tough steel frames. If you want to ride a single-speed bicycle on mild to moderate cross-country terrains you have to be strong and active.

North Shore Mountain Bike

North shore mountain bike is genuinely constructed for rough and rugged land surfaces. A rider of this particular bike type has to exhibit lots of skill and balance while riding the bike. This bike is a wonderful combination of freeride and downhill bikes.

The other mountain bike varieties include Enduro Mountain Bike, Downhill Mountain Bike and Dirt Jumping Bike.

Most modern bikes meant for mountains have lighter and stronger frames with innovative design and form. The geometry of these bikes encourages vigorous riding over several obstacles like logs, rocks, wooden bridges and manually fabricated ramps. In the front, the bikes have three gears and it has 7, 8, 9, or 10 gears at the rear wheel position.

Some notable companies who have introduced the latest models of mountain bicycles include Fox, Manitou and Rock Shox along with other significant bike manufacturers. It is quite likely for you to make mistakes while riding a mountain bike. The mishaps generally take place due to equipment failure or misjudgment on the part of the rider. Thus, several companies have come forward with protective gears referred to as armors to provide full protection from injuries. Some essential upper body protectors for riders include spine protector, full-face helmets and backpack hydration system.

It is quite an established fact that mountain bicycles are aptly designed following the present trend and demand. They are in fact the dream of every spirited and efficient mountain biker.

Robert Sheehan asked:


A mountain bike is particularly designed for riding on uneven and bumpy areas. Most mountain bikes have fat knobby tires, which ensure extra traction and appropriate shock absorption. A full front and rear suspension is becoming more common in the recent models of bikes meant to run on mountainous surfaces.

Modern bikers are less fond of handlebars and extensions though some bicycles under this particular variety are provided with end bars on the handlebars. Wheels of mountain bikes range from 26 to 29 inches. The larger wheels have better rolling capabilities and helps in rotational weight thereby making slower acceleration aptly possible.

The Best Varieties Of Mountain Bicycles

Enduro Mountain Bikes

The weight of Enduros vary between 30 to 35 pounds. These bikes feature greater suspension travel, say about 150mm of front and rear travel. They have been perfectly designed so as to ride the rough terrains with ease and satisfaction on the part of the rider.

Downhill Mountain Bikes

These bikes provide 8 or more inches of suspension traveling. The bodies of these bikes weigh less, which make them more apt for racing. Downhill mountain bicycles have tough construction and as they have provisions like large, high gears, they are aptly suited for riding down out-and-out downhill trails and racecourses. Most downhill riding requires high-speed movement for which these bikes are provided with one chain ring, a large bush guard and a chain guide. In fact, Downhill Mountain biking is the most popular form of competition biking.

Dirt Jumping Bike

Dirt jumping bikes come in two types, Urban and Street Mountain bikes. These bikes are variable combinations of trial bikes like, BMX bike and freeride bike. This specific bike variety is extremely strong and possesses 0 to 4 inches of front suspension. They are mostly without any rear suspension along with fast-rolling, slick and semi-slick tires

Some other significant bike forms include Cross-Country Mountain Bikes, Freeride Mountain Bikes, Trials Mountain Bikes, Single-Speed Mountain Bikes and North Shore Mountain Bikes.

Mountain Bikes – Monarchs Of The Mountains

Depending on suspension, mountain bikes can be largely classified into four different varieties:

1. Soft Tail Bikes – These are bikes with negligible rear suspension. These bikes are made active by the flex of the frames rather than the pivots

2. Fully rigid bikes – Such bikes are provided with hardtail along with firm fork system

3. Bikes having dual or full suspension – These machines on road come with front suspension fork and rear suspension along with rear shock and linkage. Such mechanisms enable the rear wheel move smoothly on pivots

Hardtail Bikes – These bike varieties have frames without any rear suspension. More often, such bikes are provided with front suspension forks

The contemporary bikes for mountains are provided with stronger and lighter frame types in addition to pioneering form and design. The built of these bicycles give way to forceful riding over rocks, logs, wooden bridges and fabricated ramps.

Some of the most notable and advanced companies who have come forward to introduce the up-grading models of bikes include Manitou, Rock Shox and Fox together with other notable makers. When you ride a bike, you are likely to make mistakes and the fault may not always be yours. Accidents and disasters can happen due to equipment malfunctioning or a wrong judgment as far as the rider is concerned. To put an end to such absurdities a number of companies have appeared on the scene with protective gears also known as armors.

Such equipments have been designed in a way so as to keep you absolutely safe from physical damages. The most significant upper body protectors for expert riders include full-face helmets, spine protector and backpack hydration system. Before unleashing the beasts on the craggy lanes, the makers of mountain bikes have indeed kept in mind the present trends and demands.

Gregg Hall asked:


Anyone who knows how to ride a bicycle can enjoy mountain biking. There are some dangers to mountain biking, when it is compared to the standard bike ride. It is for this reason that mastering the following beginner mountain bike skills is a necessity prior to taking off for your mountain bike excursion.

These skills can all be practiced by heading to any school, local park, around your house, or on a bike path. The key to the right location is if it has a steep hill for you to practice on.

The pedals are an important part of a mountain bike. You can practice getting a feel for the pedals by doing the following:

Sit on your bike

Place one foot on the ground

Release and Replace your foot while pedaling around

Note: If you have clipless foot pedals or toe clips, you will want to practice this quite a bit.

Sit and Spin for position with the following:

Adjust the seat height so that the leg is a minimum of 70% extended at the bottom of each pedal cycle

Bend arms slightly

Keep the body as relaxed as possible; a position should never occur that requires you to lock your elbows or knees.

Sit on the Mountain bike and pedal

Practice shifting gears with the following:

Make sure you know the differences in gears on your bike

Try a high gear-It is hard to pedal, but rides at a faster speed

Try a low gear-Easier to pedal, particularly useful while on hills

Try shifting prior to reaching the hill-This is important because it is easy to overcome a shift before the hill than it is while on the hill.

Practice coasting with the following:

Practice this while standing on the pedals, not sitting on the bike seat

Do not lock your knees

Keep arms slightly bent

Attempt coasting while shifting the body towards the rear of the mountain bike

Practice pedaling while standing with the following:

This is important in mountain biking

Try pedaling standing up in two different ways, once you have become comfortable with standing on the pedals.

First, pedal while standing in a high gear on flatter grounds.

Then, pedal while standing in a low gear on hills.

Practice dropping down a curb with the following:

Locate a curb in the area; it should be easily accessible in regards to the upper portion

Using a moderate speed, practice coasting and standing off the curb to the lower level from the upper level.

Continue this at different speeds until you are comfortable with it and it is like second nature

The above practicing techniques are important because they will give you the feel of the mountain bike trail, without having to be on one while you are training.