Mountain Biking
Mountain Biking is any bike ride that is not on a paved surface. Mountain biking requires a bike with adjustable gears, fat tires, and a bike helmet. Especially in the fall, winter in the southern climates, and in the spring, mountain biking opens up a world of outdoor adventures. If you already have a suitable bike, check out our local area guides for hot spots and best-kept secret trails.
If you don’t have a suitable bike, renting a bike is a great way to get started. Bike shops that rent bikes can be tough to find, but they can usually be found around the busiest biking trails. Renting a bike offers the following benefits:
1. Save the up-front cost of buying a bike before you determine if mountain biking is right for you.
2. Bike rental shops will usually provide you with basic additional gear that you need, such as a helmet.
3. You should expect that a bike rental shop will take care of any maintenance.
4. You don’t have to store or transport a rental bike.
5. Renting a bike gives you the opportunity to try before you buy, so you know what kind of bike you are looking for.
Our local area guides can help you find recommended bike shops that rent bikes to get you started. If you decide to purchase a mountain bike, it is usually best to shop at a local shop so you can determine that you like the fit, and they will ensure the bike is properly setup for you. New bikes out of the box require quite a bit of tuning and setup. If you decide to purchase a mountain bike online, you should still plan to take your new bike to a local bike shop to have it set up for you.
Some of the best routes to get started are in local town and county parks. These trails could be within biking distance of your house, and if you start close and stay local, then you have the advantage that you can always get home in case of a flat tire, an exhausted biker, sudden rain, or other inconveniences. For trips that are close by and local, you need very little additional gear.
A bicycle helmet is the most basic and important piece of gear for mountain biking. Not only does the helmet protect your head, it provides ventilation and a visor, and the right helmet looks cool. Even if you decide to rent a bike, you will probably want to buy your own helmet instead of a helmet someone else has worn. Check out Amazon for a wide selection of reasonably priced helmets, with styles from daring to cool to sophisticated.
You won’t make it very far on a bike ride without a water bottle. The most common source of hydration is a “cage” that attaches to your bike’s frame with a specialized water bottle that snaps in and out of the cage. Many bikes have spots on the frame for two water bottles, but most bikers only use one bottle unless it is a long ride. If you choose not to use a water bottle and cage, some bikers use Camelback Hydration Packs, or just put water bottles in a backpack.
If you plan to bike farther than walking distance from your car or home, you will need to have a bike tire pump. Models that attach to the frame of your bike are essential for the convenience of easily having it handy in case you need it.
As you bike farther, you or someone in your group might get a flat tire that requires a patch. Don’t worry if this is something you have never done before. Everyone has a first time for everything, and youtube has handy videos to show you how anyone can do it. You should have with you a bike tire patch kit just in case.
Car bike racks are a necessity if you’re bringing your bike to the trail. If your vehicle has a hitch receiver, a bike rack that slips into the hitch receiver is probably your best bet.
Even if your vehicle does not have a hitch, the right bike rack can transform your vehicle into a capable outdoor adventure machine.