There have been times when I have been so excited to get out on my mountain bike and hit the singletrack that I have forgotten to bring along an essential bicycle tool or something else that is important, like food or sunscreen. Not having the right bicycle tools or gear can not only make your mountain bike ride uncomfortable, but can be a safety issue.

A hydration pack works well for keeping all your bicycle tools and gear organized, which is basically a backpack that has a water bladder with a tube connected to it. Another option for carrying your tools and gear is to get a bicycle seat bag and a couple of water bottles if you have room on your frame for a couple of water bottle holders.

It is always a balance between how much weight you want to carry with you and what needs to come along on the trail. It's good to get lightweight gear, but make sure it is also functional and that you know how to use it before you get stuck in an emergency on the trail.

Multi-Tool:

This is a good item because it reduces the weight of carrying a bunch of tools. It should have various sizes of allen wrenches, hex wrenches, and both types of screwdrivers. Many multi-tools also include a chain tool and a spoke wrench. If your multi-tool has all these tools, you do not have to worry about bringing these tools separately.

Chain Tool:

A bicycle chain tool is necessary for repairing a broken chain. A couple extra links and pins for your chain are also important to have along.

Spoke Wrench:

If you wheel starts wobbling, this can be unsafe and cause your bike to malfunction. A spoke wrench is useful for tightening up the necessary spokes to straighten out the wheel.

Flat Tire Gear:

A spare tube and tire levers are important to take along on your mountain bike ride. There are many different types of tire pumps on the market that attach right to the bike frame. CO2 cartridges are great for quickly filling the tire with air. A tube repair kit is also good to have along in case your spare tube also goes flat. Believe me, it happens!

Water:

Having water along is a necessity. Hydration backpacks are handy but a couple water bottles work fine too.

Energy Snacks:

Mountain biking burns a lot of calories. Try to eat a good meal before riding and wait an hour or two after eating before hitting the trail. It is also important to bring some food along when riding, such as energy bars, gel shots, energy drink powder, fruit, and other lightweight snacks.

Sunscreen:

Being out on your mountain bike for hours means being exposed to the sun for prolonged periods of time. Do not forget to protect your skin. Chapstick with SPF is also great for protecting your lips.

Cash and ID:

It is a good idea to bring an ID and a little cash. You never know when you may need it. You can also use a dollar bill to temporarily patch a sidewall cut in your tire.

First Aid Kit:

It is important to bring along a first aid kit with basic essentials like bandages, medicine packets (such as ibuprofen, antibiotic ointment, and corticosteroid cream), and antibacterial wipes.

Warm Clothing:

Be prepared for changes in weather, especially in areas of high altitude. I have often run into cold or rainy conditions after beginning a ride in sunny hot weather, so now I always bring lightweight rain gear and extra layers of clothing. Cycling leg warmers and arm warmers are convenient because they are lightweight and easy to keep stashed in a jersey pocket, seat pack, or hydration backpack.

An extra pair of cycling socks is also good to have along in case your feet get wet. For cold weather conditions, full-finger mountain bike gloves and a cycling cap are good to have along since our head loses heat quicker than any part of our body in cold weather.

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You need to purchase your mountain bike in the ideal size to suit your height. You can do this by taking certain standard measurements. Having a bike in the correct size is important in order to optimise your bike's use for comfort, efficiency and safety.
There is definitely a great deal to be said for having the ideal bike size and measurements for getting the maximum overall performance out of the bike and you. After all you intend your mountain bike to last you a long time and give you plenty of fun days out. So it is important to get the basics right to start off with. There is a way to find the best mountain bike size to suit a particular person. All bikes follow a particular standard of measurement with which a person can base their size on. All the best bike brands follow this same measuring standard for calculating the bike's size which makes things nice and easy.

Finding Your Inseam Measurement

The inseam measurement is the most practical measurement that's used for calculating a person's size for a bike. The ideal way to find the best mountain bike size for you to get the measurement from your inseam and compare that to a bike's measurement.

In order to get your particular inseam measurement, you will probably need to stand with your back up against the wall. Putting some object like a book or some other flat solid object up against the apex of your legs will help you get a fixed measurement of the inseam. You can lightly mark with a pencil the top position from the book nearest to the apex of the legs. From there to the floor is your inseam measurement. This will then be able to give you the ideal bike match for you personally as found below.

Finding The Best Mountain Bike Size For You

Of course the best mountain bike for you is always going to be the one that fits you correctly. A bike that is too small could make you feel tired very easily whereas one that is too large could be hard work to ride successfully. The best mountain bike ought to properly fit you and provide no strain or challenges with regards to handling and pedalling - unless you want to adjust it to provide a way of creating a challenge to help in one's physical fitness. By knowing your inseam measurement, you can now convert it to finding the best mountain bike size for your inseam size.

The way to do this is to first multiply the inseam measurement with.65. The answer rounded up to the nearest whole number is the frame size that will suit you for a normal road bicycle. However, since we want to get the best mountain bike fit you now need to take away an extra 10 centimetres from this and then convert it to inches since most bikes are usually measured in inches. The frame dimension is basically measured from the seat post towards the crank.

Although, this is an accurate way to measure your requirements, you should still test ride the chosen bike size even if you have measured it against yourself. This really is the recommended option since the ease and comfort of a particular bike brand and style that suits you is just as essential as the theoretical correct measurements. So now you can purchase the best mountain bike for you with confidence that you will enjoy your fun days outdoors mountain-biking in comfort and safety.

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Mountain biking is an exhilarating and intense sport which is enjoyed by thousands across the globe. It is one of the most versatile ways of enjoying cycling as mountain bikes can be used across nearly any terrain. Mountain biking can be dangerous at times but if done correctly, this only adds to the exhilaration when you reach that downhill section and free-ride to the bottom.

When becoming a mountain biker there are several things you need to take into consideration, not only to keep you safe but to make sure you get the maximum amount of enjoyment out of it.

1. Research mountain biking - the more you know about mountain biking, the easier and more enjoyable you will find the whole process. There are plenty of mountain bike magazines and sites full with information about everything from the newest and best bikes to buy, to the best places to ride and even places to talk to fellow mountain bike fanatics. This may at first be a bit of information overload however, when you have done the research, it puts you in a good position to know what our looking for in a bike and understand the difficulties in trails.

2. Buy the right type of bike - The first and most important tip for any beginner mountain biker is to get hold of the best bike you can afford. Mountain bikes come in an enormous range of styles and specifications. As a beginner you do not need the most expensive, top spec bike but it is recommended that you purchase the best bike at a reasonable price. It is advised to go into a bike store and try out a few different styles to get a feel for the right bike. You need to feel as comfortable as possible on this bike as you are going to be riding some tough terrain. One thing to invest in is a comfortable seat as this could be the difference between enjoying your ride and being so uncomfortable you never ride again. Commencal bikes are recommended as they provide a huge range of specifications and designs to suit every body shape and price band, so you are safe in the knowledge you are getting a great bike at the right price. The Commencal furious is a great starter bike as it provides all the specialist parts you need but is suitable for both beginners and more advanced riders so will last you as you progress.

3. Learn to correctly ride your bike - if you have chosen a specialist mountain bike such as a Commencal mountain bike, then the ride will vary enormously from that of a road bike. You need to learn how to control the bike and most importantly, how to work the brakes correctly. This may sound very simple however, during mountain biking and especially the fast downhill sections, you will rely heavily on your ability to brake correctly and if you go wrong, you may end up injuring yourself.

4. Choosing the right trails - As a beginner, you first couple of rides are the most important. You are no longer just riding alongside the road with flat surfaces or through the woods; you have taken the next step onto a more unstable surface. There are specific mountain bike trails that have ratings of difficulty so it may be an idea to start with those well-known ones. To build up your confidence it is important to start on the easiest ones and progress onto more difficult ones slowly. You will find the trails a lot more challenging than ordinary riding and it is vital that you do not rush onto a trail you are not ready for as it could result in serious injury.

5. Find other people to ride with - The mountain bike community is vast and it is a good idea to find some companions to ride with. It is recommended by most mountain bikers to go riding with a friend. This is due to the safety factor and that it is better to have someone preferably with more experience than you to come along and work a new trail together. This ensures that if you fall off or injure yourself, there is another person there to call for help. It also tends to be more enjoyable and satisfying to ride with another as you can experience something together and achieve more by working as a team.

This will give you a greater sense of satisfaction and give you that freedom to go out and try even harder trails. As a beginner it would be vital to go with someone else when trying more difficult trails to ensure your safety. For those who are set against riding with others and feel they must ride alone, it is essential to leave a map of where you're going, take a form of first aid kit with you and let someone know where you are and your estimated time of return. This is because if someone is expecting you and you have not turned up for an hour because you are injured somewhere, they will sound the alert and come looking.

Overall, mountain biking is a fantastic and rewarding sport which can provide hours of enjoyment every weekend. However it is important for those beginners out there to know what they are getting themselves into and be prepared as to not injure themselves and ruin that enjoyment.

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When you look into the sport of mountain biking, you soon realize that there are quite a few different variations involved. From relaxing scenic mountain trails to challenging cross-country riding and to the more extreme downhill racing; all are popular with thousands of people worldwide.

.Downhill biking in particular is proving to be popular and there have been many people who have chosen to specialize purely in downhill biking.

Why Downhill Mountain Biking?

The main reason why most people choose to take part in downhill mountain biking is because it really gets the adrenaline pumping. You go at extreme speeds downhill and you also take part in various tricks and jumps too. It is certainly not a sport for the beginner and the chance of having an accident is extremely high. Whilst you may not pedal as much in downhill biking, due to the high speeds involved, when you do pedal it makes the sport even more dangerous. The reasons why downhill bikers choose to pedal even though it may seem that they don't need to, is to gain an advantage over their opponents.

There are two things which could happen in downhill mountain biking. The first is that you race against an opponent and the second is that you race against time. When you choose to enter races where you race an opponent, it is known as a dual slalom. You set off at the same time as your opponent and you have to race them to the bottom to the finish line. When you race against time you usually take part in the same course twice at least. You see which one is your best time out of the two races and from that you see whether you have qualified to the next round.

No matter which type of downhill racing you do take part in, you should always wear protective gear. This helps to protect you in case you do fall off the bike. However as downhill mountain biking is a potential danger to the whole body, it is not possible to protect every single part of yourself. So there is always the risk of injury even if you have got the right protection on.

Overall as long as you wear the right protection you will have a lesser risk of hurting yourself. However you can never fully guarantee that you won't get hurt and that is why downhill biking is such an extreme and dangerous sport to take part in.

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Downhill Mountain Biking combines different hobbies and therefore it is so especially for me.
No.1: To do handicrafts on cars / motorbikes / bicycles

No.2: Enjoying nature and doing holidays. While riding downhill mountain bikes you will visit the highest mountains, the deepest forests and see a lot of nice places within your surroundings.


No.3. Of course, doing sport. You can keep yourself in shape while riding downhill mountain bikes. The funniest part is of course, going downwards within seconds or minutes and enjoying the adrenalin rush. But the healthiest and exhausting part is going upwards with your bike and then rest for a moment, enjoying the silence and the nature before jumping toward the bottom.

It is no team sport which can be positive as well as negative. Normally you can decide how long you want to ride your bike or whenever you stop it and you are not dependent on somebody else.

Downhill Mountain Biking is also really relaxed. If you are not in the mood, you just stop and drink a beer or drives back home. In other sports you have fixed playing times like basketball or football you have to persevere. Moreover you do not have to be extremely good in shape to start Downhill Mountain Biking. If you are not fit anymore you just stop and make a pause and continue whenever you like to.

To begin Down hilling you do not need any especial experience nor need to be talented. You just start by buying a mountain bike and testing your skills while driving some hills.

The risk of injuries - like many think - is not that bad and I would say that it is not worse than playing soccer. The good thing is, when something happens you are responsible for your injuries and not somebody else like it is while you are playing soccer.

For me it is one of the best extreme sports I enjoy as often as I can and it gives me every time an amazing feeling.

Lucas Dorothy is an extreme sport fanatic who loves to share his ideas, thoughts and experience in different sports with others.

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