Mountain Biking is one of the Best Outdoors Sports in Existence!

The Bike Buying Guide

Mountain biking is one of my favorite outdoors activities. While I enjoy hiking immensely, I love mountain biking even more. Why? Two reasons: the intensity is greater because of the greater speeds (especially downhill… yahoo!) and longer distances can be traveled in a shorter time (hence more scenery and wildlife encountered).

At the very least, you’ll need three things: a reliable mountain bike, a helmet, and a good mountain bike trails guide. Without any of these three essentials, you’re swimming on dry land. Additional recommended essentials are a first aid kit, flat tire repair kit, plenty of water, some nonperishable food items, and clothing that won’t snag in your bike gears and passing plants. And as always, when taking a trip out into the outdoors, let somebody know where you are going, so that if you do not come back at the appointed time, somebody can go search for you.

I have been caught in the middle of a trail when the sun was setting, and my back was sprained. My wife, who is diabetic, had low blood sugar and she had run out of apple juice. Both of our mountain bikes had malfunctioning gears or seats, which made it that much harder to ride them. Our situation looked bleak, indeed, until a very experienced rider happened to pass us on the trail. I told him our situation, and he led us back to camp via a shortcut. He also had some power gel packs, which quite literally saved my wife from encountering more serious problems that night. He was a godsend, and what made the situation more amazing was that nobody knew we were out there. If we had gotten lost in the darkness of nightfall, we would have been on our own. Don’t get caught in a situation like that… Think! Be prepared.

Believe me, mountain biking is exhilarating. The more intense trails are not for beginners though, so please, be sensible and work your way up from the easier trails. I once had a friend ride along with us who didn’t have any mountain biking experience, and I didn’t think it would be that difficult for her, but it was. She fatigued quickly, often lost control, and once almost ran straight into a cactus. Another time she fell, and almost bashed her head on a rock. I chided myself for being so foolish a friend and not thinking to recommend she wear a helmet (I myself, foolishly, was not wearing a helmet either).

After that experience, I decided that from then on I would wear a helmet and require all those riding with me to wear one also, because mountain biking is more dangerous than it appears, even to more experienced riders (have you noticed the pros always wear a helmet?).

Get a mountain bike trails guide! I have one written by a guy (an experienced ride, by the way) who spent thousands of hours (and probably dollars) riding hundreds of trails, of which he narrowed the list down to the best 25 trails in the state. Each trail was described in detail, from the length of the trails, to the difficulties, and that guide has been absolutely indispensable in my mountain biking experience. I can’t recommend a trails guide enough! Have fun, ride smart, and ride safe!

Ready to Hit the Trail? How do you know which bike to buy? Prices range from a hundred to a couple thousand for a bike these days. How can you make sure you get a quality bike for the least amount of money? Do you even know which bike size/style is right for you? Get the Bike Buying Guide and start riding today!

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