Looking for your First Mountain Bike

The excitement of mountain biking is overwhelming and is gaining popularity all the time. Like everything else, it becomes more pleasurable if you have the right equipment.

Deciding on which is the ‘right’ bike for you always depends on several aspects. Questions that need to be answered are how often do you ride, what type of mountain terrain you do ride in regularly and how much can you afford?

Full Suspension vs. Front Suspension

This means choosing between a front suspension bike that includes only a shock absorber on the front wheel, and a full suspension bike which contains shock absorbers on both wheels.

Surprisingly, this is one time where less is more.

Biking trails in higher elevations can range from flat to long steep climbs. A full suspension bike becomes difficult to when the terrain contains steep and long climbs.

A front suspension bike tends to perform better in climbs than a full suspension one and is due to simple physics. When ascending up a sharp rise with a mountain bike, most of the force is placed on the rear wheel.

A full suspension bike takes a much greater amount of energy to ascend to any higher plateau of a hill or mountain incline.  Although many full suspension bikes do allow you to lock the rear suspension, this becomes cumbersome to do it every time before you climb any hills.

However, if you tend to prefer more technical downhill riding or ride in locations without a lot of steep climbs, you might want to reconsider the choice of your mountain bike. When landing with a full suspension bike, the landing will be smoother since the front and rear shocks absorb the impact.

Cost

Not only do you have to take into account where and how you will be riding, but also the size of the budget you have allocated towards your purchase.  Front suspension bikes are usually much less in cost than their full suspension counterparts. Having a rear shock absorber does add quite a bit to the price tag, since it is a more complicated system.

Final considerations

Either suspension bike type can ride on most trails with perhaps some extra added endurance needed.  Your ultimate decision is a matter of preference. But remember to keep in mind some of these hints when purchasing your mountain bike.

Even though the tires of mountain bikes are thicker and durable to the vast types of terrains they ride over, there is still always the chance of a flat. PatchNRide allows you not to miss the thrill of your ride by their innovative less than 60 second tire fix that is permanent. Remember always to have it on-hand with all your other biking equipment.

Beginner’s Mountain Biking Tips

“Just like riding a bike” implies that the task you are about to do is easy.  That expression does not pertain to those who are new to mountain biking. However, the objective is to ride and as with anything new experience, the best way master it is by taking it slow and practicing as much as possible. For beginners, whenever you feel unsure, it is better to walk your bike than risk injury.

With a little attention placed on these procedures, before you know it, you will be whizzing up and down hills and mountains before you know it.  It may sound complicated but didn’t you think that way when you took off those training wheels on your first 2-wheeler?

Know your gears

Learning to shift the gears properly and understand the way they work before venturing out will be 90% of the training in mountain biking. There are different systems  of gears, and depending on the bike you use, you should feel confident that you know how maneuver them.

Balance

Balancing differs with mountain biking to a certain extent. Instead of balancing from left to right, you also need focus on center and front to back, as well. For example, to gain traction and keep from slipping, shift the body weight towards the back tire.

When climbing

The more challenging elements of mountain biking is usually climbing uphill. Instead of riding with the body in the center, you need to rock back and forth, in time to the pedaling and make sure to shift down in gears. Using a higher gear can risk injury due to strain from the incline..
When descending

You would think that heading down would be the easiest technique, but you need to take proper caution. Shift your weight back on the bike, particularly on steep hills. Until you get a true feel of your bike and security in maneuvering it, no one will give it a thought if you walk the bike downhill.

Braking

The front and back brakes should be used simultaneously when braking. The front brakes slow down your speed, while the back brakes give you more control. Just a word of caution, never lock the back brakes as they will cause you to skid.

PatchNRide’s innovative tire fix is an item that should always be on-hand. There’s always a chance to get a flat even with the durable treads on a mountain bike. In less than one minute, you can be climbing or descending once again.

Top Places in North America for Mountain Biking

Mountain biking can be for everyone regardless of age and ability. It builds up great endurance to any individual, and there are easy courses for the novice. More powerful and experienced mountain bikers opt for downhill and four cross.

With organizations such as International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) instrumental in providing sustainable trails and bike facilities for mountain biking, new trails just for the sport are popping up everywhere. There are plenty of areas across the Americas to indulge in this sport. Peddle those feet at some of these amazing trail systems that are made to order for the mountain biker.

Asheville, NC

Set in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville contains absolutely amazing riding opportunities. This is nothing new to Asheville as it has been a preferred mountain biking destination since the 1990s. Things have advanced a for the better in the past two decades with new in-town trails such as Bent Creek to complement more than 80 miles of world-class single-track in DuPont State Forest.   

East Burke, VT

East Burke is a small Vermont city known as a mountain biker’s heaven. Many are calling this region as the “best trail system in the country.”  Save your ride for autumn and venture along the 100-mile Kingdom Trails as you meander through wooded forests during the peak season of the changing hues of the leaves.

Park City, Utah

Really get that heart pumping in among the scenic Rocky Mountains. Park City is the place for all ability levels. It has the best technical single-track anywhere and  great trails. The altitude is high in Park City and sits at 6000 feet above sea level. If that’s not enough, the trails go even higher by a few thousand feet.

Santa Fe, NM

If heading up and down mountain trails seem too intense, then the Santa Fe Rail Trail has plenty in its favor for a straight leveling adventure.  Riding past adobe architecture and high desert pinion forest, riders can pedal to more than 12 miles with a mix of dirt single and double track including gravel and rocky sections. It is ideal for the novice. More active types can venture along the Windsor Trail to eight miles of downhill action. Santa Fe offers many more trails ideal for intermediate and advanced riders.

Whistler, Canada

Whistler, a renowned area for skiing is just as active during the summer months and is measured to be one of the best destinations in Canada for mountain biking. Once ski season is over the lifts get a new lease by accessing mountain bikers to new heights. Inside the Whistler Bike Park, there are 120 miles of trails that cater for beginners through to experts.   
 
Bring along the one minute tire fix found exclusively at PatchNRide. It will work just as well on mountain bikes as with a conventional bicycle if flat tire occurs.