If you’re interested in mountain biking and are considering trying it out yourself, here are some mountain biking basics to help you get started. There are several variations of the sport and you may find one more attractive than the other. Once you know what type of mountain biking you’d like to try, you need to make sure you have the right gear. Then it’s just a matter of learning basic techniques and building on them. I wrote this post to provide a quick sketch of the options available.
When you say “mountain biking,” people see different things in their mind’s eye. Cross-country mountain biking is probably the most traditional form of the sport. It involves a bike, a trail and you. There are no time trials or special objectives. This style of mountain biking is more about building your own skills and pitting yourself against the trail, the obstacles and the environment.
An even more exciting form of mountain biking is dirt jumping. This takes place on a specialized course and requires a great deal of skill. For many, this style of mountain biking is more of a spectator event than some in which to actually participate.
Would-be mountain bikers who live in the middle of an urban area have created a new style of mountain biking that transforms everyday man-made features into a course to be conquered. Steps, curbs and other parts of the urban landscape can be combined for an exciting ride, although the presence of pedestrians and vehicles can create problems and confrontations from time to time.
An emerging extreme mountain biking activity called “short cross” involves short, very difficult trails on which mountain bikers compete. This may be something to which you can aspire, but it’s definitely not for beginners.