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Riding a mountain bike is great exercise and a lot of fun…and while it’s hard on your legs, it’s hard on the machinery itself. Keeping your bike maintained will keep you safe, and keep the bike in better condition for years to come. There are three basic time frames for maintaining your bike:

- Just before you ride,
- just after you ride,
- long-term storage and repairs.

Just before you ride, bike maintenance is fairly straightforward: Check the tire pressure, fill them up to the level you’re comfortable with and so on. Make sure that the seat is canted at the right angle, make sure that the quick release levers on the wheels are locked tight, and run the pedals with your hands to make sure that the derailleur is working clearly. Your aim is to make sure that if anything is going to need attention, it gets it now, rather than after you’re out on the trail.

After the ride, especially if it’s been damp or muddy, you should set the bike upside down (so it’s balanced on the seat and handlebars), and run a damp cloth over the derailleur, and the other moving parts that shift the chain around for shifting gears. The aim here is to get any mud, twigs, and brambles out before they provide an avenue for moisture to enter. This is also the time to pop the wheels off and clean them before throwing the bike into the car to drive back home.

After you get the bike home, give everything a thorough cleaning. If you use a dry lubricant on the chain, about once a month, break the chain and re-apply it. (We regularly boil our bicycle chains in paraffin, but that’s because we ride in the winter, and it holds up better to snow and salt). It’s also probably time to just take things partially apart, to the limits of your skills, and put them back together; this is great for adjusting shock absorber systems (and getting rid of annoying squeaks), and tightening cables for brakes, inspecting brake pads, and the like.

Mountain bikes in routine use get a fair bit of wear and tear. Always check to make sure that things are setting properly when you’re off the bike and have it at home; again, the aim is to find anything that could break and fix it before you go on the trail rather than have your fun curtailed by equipment failure.

If you are not an all weather cyclist (and not many people are), its worth carrying out some steps to prepare your bike for storage and to take it out again for the road in the spring.

Firstly, when storing your bike, take the wheels off and hang the frame. When the wheels are off, its worth running the inner tubes through a bucket of soapy water to locate any slow leaks and patch them, and its worth tightening and tuning up anything you can reach.

A good book for this process is the Complete Bike Repair Handbook, which we use in our shop for getting bikes ready for sale. It’s also a good time to true your wheels with a spoke wrench. (Some dedicated mountain bikers true their wheels after every ride…)

When you’re putting the bike back into roadworthy condition, the top priority is checking the breaks, followed by running the gear shifts – cable housings can shift when the bike is in storage, which can make things a bit noisier than they should be. (Remember, if it’s making noise, then parts that probably shouldn’t be rubbing, are rubbing.)

With this advice, you should be well set for mountain biking fun!

Mountain biking is now one of the most popular hobbies because it allows you to get outside, enjoy the environment, meet new people and get some exercise at the same time. If you are a beginner and do not have your own bike and are unfamiliar with mountain bikes, you should learn the basics first.

Mountain bikes are available in many shapes and sizes and come with a wide range of price tags. Some bikes have thick tires that soften the impact of high-intensity riding and are excellent to use on rides where you will spend most of your time on rough and uneven terrain. Other mountain bikes have thin tires and are ideal if you plan to ride mostly on a smooth surface such as pavement.

A sturdy and durable helmet is one of the most important things that you will need. Biking helmets are usually lightweight so they won’t feel too heavy or uncomfortable. Most helmets are made partially out of hard Styrofoam with a plastic outside so they can protect your head and not cause any discomfort.

It is easy to fall off mountain bikes especially if you are a beginner so knee and elbow pads will come in handy. Plan ahead to protect any areas that may feel the impact as mountain biking can carry some risks and hazards. Even if you are not riding on rough terrain, you should still protect yourself just in case.

Plan to buy a car rack or truck rack if you live far from any available trails. Doing so will allow you to easily transport your mountain bikes. Roof racks offer the flexibility of having your bike accessible quickly. However, it is difficult for some to live their mountain bikes to place them on their car’s roof. In this case, a trunk rack may be a better choice.

You will need to buy a bottle rack for your mountain bike as it is hard work so you are likely to get very thirsty. You need to have a place on your bike to store water that is immediately accessible that way you can stay hydrated during your ride.

You may want to also pick up some tools to carry with you on rides. You may find the need to adjust the height of your seat or the need to fix a flat tire in the middle of your ride. Buy a small bike pump and an extra inner tube. Your mountain bike can get a flat at any time, so you will want to be prepared.

Mountain bikes are an exciting adventure so plan ahead to make the right decisions to get the most out of it. Purchasing the right kind of mountain bike for your personal needs is the beginning. Stocking up on all of the biking gear you will need ensures both your safety and fun when you ride.

Learning more about mountain biking will help you enjoy the sport more. Knowledge is key to having the right bike and equipment for your ride.

If you want a good way to spend time outside having fun, then you may want to try mountain biking. If you are looking for a fun adrenaline rush, then going very fast down the side of a mountain can be great fun, but it is also dangerous. If you are careful and take precautions, though, it is a sport that the whole family can enjoy.

Mountain Biking Styles
There are three styles of mountain biking. The three different styles include cross-country, free riding, and downhill biking. The styles are somewhat similar to each other, but they each have different skills that are needed. The mountain biking style that you want to do will determine what kind of bike that you need to purchase.

Where to Mountain Bike
Mountain biking is usually done on an unpaved surface. You can find many different areas throughout North America that have specially designed biking trails for you. It is important to check with your local park before you just take off down a trail to make sure that you know the rules and regulations that they have.

There are also groups that you can join to compete against and ride with. It is easy to find a group via the web or in your local paper. You can even ask at your local bike shop if they know of any groups. You can find groups for any experience level – from beginner to more advanced.

Great Biker
To be an accomplished mountain biker, you must first build up your stamina and endurance. If you are racing, then you will want to add a lot of practice and ambition to the mix. Just as with any other sport, mountain biking takes practice to get good at. If you are just beginning, you will have to practice and take those bruises and spills until you get better. There is no way around it.

Mountain Bike Selection
Depending upon what kind of bike riding you will be doing, your bike choice revolves around that fact and your personal desires. You can find bikes in many different price ranges, shapes, and styles, which makes it somewhat overwhelming to find the right one for you.

The internet is a great place to start your bike search. It is easy to compare prices and look at different features of bikes on the internet because there is not stress. You will want to try out the bike before you purchase it, though, so you may have to go to the local bike shop for that. When trying out a bike, you will want to consider the comfort, fit, and how it is made and geared to help you make the best decision for you.

Safety First
Riding a mountain bike can be very dangerous because you are riding on uneven terrain. It is important that you wear a helmet no matter where your riding and elbow and knee pads to help keep yourself safe. If you choose to ride in a wooded area or are going to be following other riders, then you may want to consider adding some goggles to your equipment to help keep your eyes safe. Safety should be your top priority in preparing and riding.