Mountain Biking

The sport of riding bikes on rough terrain and down mountain slopes is an extreme sport called mountain biking. The bikes used are specially designed to withstand the rough ride, such as wide, round wobbly tires. There are four classes of mountain biking – downhill, cross-country, trials and freeride. Although each one requires a different method of handling the bikes, all require the same equipment.

The bikes used in this sport are different from regular bicycles in that have a smaller frame and more specialized gears. These gears allow them to navigate steep inclines more easily. They also need a suspension system that allows the bike and the rider to recover from large bumps in the terrain. The other types of equipment that riders need are:

Pedals – platforms where the rider rests the feet.
Helmet – this is to protect the head if the rider should happen to fall off
Gloves – the gloves used are made of heavy material with protection for the hands and fingers
Glasses – the glasses are essential, not only to allow the rider to see in the glare of the sun, but to protect the rider from any debris that may fly from the wheels of the bikes of other riders.
Shoes – special shoes need to be worn for the pedals and to provide comfort for the rider
Clothing – this must be able to withstand the rough terrain and physical exertion, as well as being comfortable
Hydration system – when traveling in the back country, riders need to carry water with them or a system that will allow them to obtain water
Pump – the tires may become flattened in rough terrain and a pump helps to inflate them
Bike tools – riders may encounter mishaps where they have to fix problems with the bike and need the proper tools with them to do so.

Cross-country biking is just as the name suggests. It involves riding from Point A to Point B and the terrain that is between them. This is the most popular form of mountain biking as it involves a variety of different terrains and obstacles.

Some riders enjoy dirt biking, which involves jumping the bike over high mounds of dirt or trying to ride up one side of the mound and down the other.

In downhill biking, riders try to ride the bikes down a steep hill with its ruts and different terrain to reach the bottom without overturning the bike.

Freeride biking involves all the various styles. For competitions, riders do have to compete to see which ones advance to the next round in small races called trials.