The Mountain Bike- Guide for beginners

Mountain biking has come a long way since he was born in California in the 70s. Back then, the intrepid cyclists rushed down dangerous roads on practically destroyed bikes called "klunkerz" due to the sound they made. 

Soon after, the first mountain bikes were created and they looked a lot like road bikes but with larger wheels. Over the years, mountain bikes have evolved to look more like off-road machines capable of driving at high speed and over rough terrain. 

If you are a fan of nature and the desert and want to dive into a multifaceted sport that has more places to practice than ever, mountain biking will guarantee you happiness!

Content [ show ]

How to start with the Mountain Bike

The different types of mountain bike

Mountain bikes can be divided into two main types:

Hardtail

As the name implies, hardtails do not have suspension in the rear, but often have a suspension fork in the front. Without rear suspension means maximum power transfer.

Complete suspension

These bikes have a suspension fork and shock absorber in the rear. There are several designs of different pictures. Bicycles with full suspension cost more due to the more complex frames and the cost of unloading.

Wheel size

There are three main sizes of wheels (diameter) used in mountain biking. Traditionally, mountain bikes had 26 "wheels and this was the norm for many years. One of the original klunkerz and pioneers of the sport, Gary Fischer, promoted the use of 29 "tires and these became popular among cross country riders. 

The larger wheel rolls more easily on the obstacles and moves the bicycle more for each pedal stroke. The disadvantage was greater wheel bending and less steering. 

Then someone arrived with 27.5 "wheels as a compromise and this took off in a huge way. In the 2017 World Cup of Downhill, the 29 "wheels were used for the first time in this sport genre and are also popular among some enduro riders.

After all the discussions about what is faster, the industry and users of the stubborn forum slowly realize that it is reduced to the height and preference of the users.

What kind of mountain bike do I need?

The cheapest way to try mountain biking is to rent a bike for some rides and decide if you really like it or not. Then, once you have decided to invest, a hardtail is the cheapest option to get a capable mountain bike. 

You can even buy a used or ex-rent bicycle, but it is advisable to do it with someone who has experience in mountain bikes to avoid having a bad business or a seriously damaged bicycle. 

If you can afford it, then, of course, look for a bicycle with full suspension. It does not make sense to spend large amounts on a medium or long bike (140 mm or more rear suspension) at the beginning since you will not have the skills to use the bike for what you want.

A longer trip means a heavier bicycle. To begin, look for something with 100 mm or 120 mm suspension. As your skills advance, at some point you will realize that you could do it with a sturdier bike with more trips.

Suitable clothes for the Mountain Bike

Mountain biking is not different from other sports in the fact that it has special clothing. Specific clothes for mountain biking can seem expensive, but it will increase your comfort on the bike.

T-Shirts, Shoes & Pants

A good shirt will help you stay cool and absorb the sweat and the mountain bike shorts are cut to pedal. It is highly recommended to invest in a good pair of MTB padded shorts. With the pad also known as "suede", you can travel for many hours with greater comfort compared to underwear. 

The mtb cycling shoes interact correctly with the pedals and offer protection against objects on the side of the road or in a crash. You do not have to spend a fortune on clothes since there are budget items on offer.

Helmet

Always wear an MTB helmet . There is no exception to this rule. If you are on your bicycle, there is no reason not to have a helmet on. Some people take it off when they go up because they think they will not crash. 

While the probability of crashing at low speed is reduced, what happens if someone is riding fast on the same road, comes around the corner and crashes into you? You need to wear a helmet all the time.

Glasses

After a helmet, the most important safety item is a pair of cycling sunglasses so that wind and dust do not come in contact with the eyes. Even in winter you should wear a pair of clear sunglasses because a surprising amount of small traces of the road can end up hitting your face. If something falls into your eye, then you will not be able to see it correctly.

Gloves

A pair of specific mountain bike gloves will allow you to better grip the handlebar and protect your hands in a crash. After a helmet, gloves are the first security item you should buy. As your driving progresses and you begin to walk on more rugged terrain, you may want to get a pair of knee pads.

Kneepads

It is inevitable that you will fall while riding, no matter how skillful you are. Having knee pads will prevent your knees from getting scratched and possibly a kneecap. They are not so expensive, get some!

Others

Some backpacks have back protectors and there are other armor elements available for really extreme driving. Carrying a first aid kit and a basic toolkit with you is a very good idea. Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. 

If you are returning from the trails after dark, you will need LED lights to be seen by other road users. Having an MTB backpack to carry all your gear is almost a necessity, especially if you plan to ride a bike all day. 

Look for one with hydration bladder , a bottle of water will not be enough.

Parts of a Mountain Bike

Picture

The frame of a mountain bike defines its character. Different materials and geometry create a different sensation along the way. All other parts are attached to the frame in some way.

Fork

The fork holds the front wheel. Most modern mountain bikes will have a suspension fork to soften the impact and provide better traction. The amount of travel a suspension fork has depends on the driving style, and the ride increases as the driving style becomes more extreme.

Shock absorber

On a bike with full suspension, the shock absorber absorbs impacts that hit the rear wheel and provides better traction when cornering.

Wheels

Formed by a hub subject to the tension of a rim with spokes, the wheels keep the bike moving.

Tires

As in a car, rubber tires give traction to the bicycle and soften some of the "talk" of the road. There are a large number of tires available with different widths, profiles and compounds. Here are our recommended MTB tires .

Transmission

This refers to everything that transfers the power of your legs to the wheels. Your feet sit on the pedals, which are connected to the cranks. A plate (or plates) connected to the cranks pulls the chain forward, which rotates the cassette on the rear wheel, causing it to spin. Optionally you can transform your bike with an electric bike conversion kit. 

Having a good set of pedals will make driving more efficient. There are two types, Flat or Platform and Clipless. You can read more details about the MTB pedals here. 

The cassette is a nest of gears for different gears. A diverter moves the chain from one gear to the next. There may also be a derailleur in the front if there are multiple dishes there.

Brakes

As you probably already guessed, the brakes reduce the speed of the bicycle. You can still find some mountain bikes with rim brakes, but most of these days they have disc brakes. A metal disc is screwed into the hub and a clamp presses two brake pads into the disc. 

The most powerful brakes have hydraulic lines instead of wires. A larger disc means more braking power.

Handlebar and Shank

The stem is connected to the steering tube on the top of the fork and held straight by the headphones. The MTB handle connects to the stem and is obviously there for your hands to guide the front wheel. The controls for the brakes and the gears are mounted on the handlebar. 

A long stem puts more weight on the front wheel, while a shorter stem gives a faster direction. A wide bar slows down the steering, but provides more leverage, which is an advantage, especially when driving at high speed on rough terrain. The modern bicycle tends to have short stems with wide bars.

Saddles

In what you feel is called the saddle. Finding the right saddle is important to feel comfortable on both short and long trips. The saddle is attached to the seatpost, which is attached to the frame.

Where should you start?

In terms of location, start biking around your local forest or on easy trails at your nearest trail center or park. Get comfortable with the use of the gears and brakes, and also how the bike feels before moving to the next level of the road. 

You may want to think about taking an introductory course. Many test centers offer these or find a friend of mountain biking to guide you through the basics. To help you get started, here are some

Tips to help you ride safely:

Plan

Always have a clear idea of where you want to travel and the weather conditions. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. Otherwise, it can make any rescue operation much more difficult. 

Look forward: keep your eyes high and look as far as possible from the path you can see. If you start on the immediate path in front of your tire, you will not see the next obstacles. It's okay to look down briefly, but you should immediately look up to choose a line on the road and use your peripheral vision as much as possible for the obstacles you have already detected.

Get up

It is okay to sit and pedal when the road is smooth. As soon as you need to cross obstacles like rocks or roots, you must stand up, keep your feet and pedals at the same height as the ground and lower your heels. 

Heavy feet, light hands: do not lean too much on the handlebar or you will not be able to handle it correctly. Keep a relaxed grip on the handlebar otherwise you will be stiff and using too much energy. 

Keep calm and progress slowly: breathe and relax. You will be surprised what a mountain bike can do to give new challenges. Do not take big steps as this could cause injuries. Once you have achieved one thing, find something similar that is a little bit bigger.

In this way, you can develop your skills constantly without putting yourself in danger. As a general rule, if you can not see yourself doing something in your head, you should not try.

Register it

There are many bicycle computers with GPS available with a variety of features. At a basic level, you can see how far you have completed a cycle and how fast. You can also use a computer to navigate a route and see maps of the surrounding terrain. You can also record your attractions with activity tracking applications such as Strava or upload them from your computer. Then you can see how it has improved over time.

Another great reason to use Strava is the large number of "segments" around the world. These are stretches of road or trails where you can see how fast you have ridden compared to other Strava users. You can see a table with all your times and you will receive a notification every time you surpass your personal best mark. This, along with competing against others, is a great motivation to be fitter and faster.

Riding at night

Once you have confidence, you may want to take a night walk. This is a great way to keep riding during the darkest winter months, but it has its own risks. 

If you want to try it, the first thing you'll need is an appropriate headlight specifically designed for mountain biking at night. If you can not see the road correctly, you will not get far! 

The absolute minimum is a light on your helmet to ensure that there is light in the place you are looking for. You must also mount one on the handlebar and if you are traveling with others, a red LED light directed backwards will help prevent it from crashing into you!

Start on very easy trails when riding at night. You will be surprised at how much more challenging the mountain bike is in the dark, but you will also have a lot of fun!

conclusion

Mountain biking is a wonderful sport because it includes a wide variety of people. Everyone can find something they like, from relaxed walks on the fire road to extreme descents and freeride. 

There are many skills to learn, but as long as you can ride a bike, you can start. The world is full of trails, so you will never run out of places to travel and you will surely meet many wonderful people and make new friends along the way. 

And last, but not least, enclose your bike with a good lock and, to transport your bike, consult the recommended bike racks.