These days, sports are more about innovation and challenges than ever before. Not content to simply go surfing, people now drop in out of helicopters, get towed out to the middle of the ocean to ride weird swells, and take on waves taller than skyscrapers with little to no protection. And that's just the sport of surfing!
With so many ski resorts wondering how to attract guests in the off-season, it's no wonder that someone took a look at one of those ski runs once the snow melted and thought to themselves, "What a perfect place to go for a bike ride." Sure, the origins of mountain biking are a little bit more complicated than that, but that's basically the long and the short of it.
Rather than simply riding a bicycle across town, or even riding one around a track, mountain biking freed the bicycle from its pavement environment. Now, riding a bicycle was more about balance, since mountain trails had to be dealt with. Different riders, in urban areas, even put their own twist on things and figured out ways to make city riding challenging, taking to natural obstacles in much the same way that skateboarders did.
Yes, during the course of mountain biking, there have been many developments in different styles and techniques. Whether it's learning to do a backflip while flying through the air or just going out and riding a designated trail for a couple of hours, there are many different approaches to the sport of mountain biking, all of them correct, fun, and healthy.
The best way to get to know mountain biking is by getting to know the different categories of riding. There's trails, where bicyclists can be either in a more urban area or off-road, but the main goal of hopping over different objects without placing feet on the ground. It looks a little bit like those courses with jumps and hills, but is a little more extreme.
Next, there's dirt jumping, one of the other newer variations of the sport, which involves launching bicycles and riders off of man-made or naturally occurring jumps, where the object is to complete a series of tricks before landing on the ground. The protective gear for this is usually more extreme, and riders usually have a great deal of practice before heading into this style of riding.
Since not everyone has access to mountain trails or even large urban parks, a popular style for those living in cities, especially teenagers, is known as urban or street riding. The only gear needed here is a bicycle, usually one with a smaller frame and smaller wheels that is lighter to carry. Riders go out alone or in groups, and like skateboarders who used to figure out how to ride railings and sidewalks, do very much the same thing with their bicycles. Balance and creativity is a huge component to this style of riding.
The best jumping off point for most riders is simple cross-country, which can encompass any number of different environments, terrains, and conditions. A cross-country mountain bike ride can be a simple affair, with lots of break time to enjoy the weather, or it can be more strenuous and involve a great deal of attempting to ride uphill, to navigate slippery or muddy areas, or having to jump around obstacles.
For riders who have graduated past basic cross-country, a number of professionals in the field have more challenging styles ready and waiting. The newest and fastest take on cross-country is something called speed cross, which is also known as short cross. With short cross, a very short course with a great deal of obstacles is prepared, and riders take turns seeing who can maneuver it the fastest without falling down.
No matter the style, there's no mistaking how helpful this sport can be to building a connection for the young and the old alike with taking their sporting endeavors outside. Like many sports of innovation, mountain biking and all of its new forms is truly here to stay. - 30330
With so many ski resorts wondering how to attract guests in the off-season, it's no wonder that someone took a look at one of those ski runs once the snow melted and thought to themselves, "What a perfect place to go for a bike ride." Sure, the origins of mountain biking are a little bit more complicated than that, but that's basically the long and the short of it.
Rather than simply riding a bicycle across town, or even riding one around a track, mountain biking freed the bicycle from its pavement environment. Now, riding a bicycle was more about balance, since mountain trails had to be dealt with. Different riders, in urban areas, even put their own twist on things and figured out ways to make city riding challenging, taking to natural obstacles in much the same way that skateboarders did.
Yes, during the course of mountain biking, there have been many developments in different styles and techniques. Whether it's learning to do a backflip while flying through the air or just going out and riding a designated trail for a couple of hours, there are many different approaches to the sport of mountain biking, all of them correct, fun, and healthy.
The best way to get to know mountain biking is by getting to know the different categories of riding. There's trails, where bicyclists can be either in a more urban area or off-road, but the main goal of hopping over different objects without placing feet on the ground. It looks a little bit like those courses with jumps and hills, but is a little more extreme.
Next, there's dirt jumping, one of the other newer variations of the sport, which involves launching bicycles and riders off of man-made or naturally occurring jumps, where the object is to complete a series of tricks before landing on the ground. The protective gear for this is usually more extreme, and riders usually have a great deal of practice before heading into this style of riding.
Since not everyone has access to mountain trails or even large urban parks, a popular style for those living in cities, especially teenagers, is known as urban or street riding. The only gear needed here is a bicycle, usually one with a smaller frame and smaller wheels that is lighter to carry. Riders go out alone or in groups, and like skateboarders who used to figure out how to ride railings and sidewalks, do very much the same thing with their bicycles. Balance and creativity is a huge component to this style of riding.
The best jumping off point for most riders is simple cross-country, which can encompass any number of different environments, terrains, and conditions. A cross-country mountain bike ride can be a simple affair, with lots of break time to enjoy the weather, or it can be more strenuous and involve a great deal of attempting to ride uphill, to navigate slippery or muddy areas, or having to jump around obstacles.
For riders who have graduated past basic cross-country, a number of professionals in the field have more challenging styles ready and waiting. The newest and fastest take on cross-country is something called speed cross, which is also known as short cross. With short cross, a very short course with a great deal of obstacles is prepared, and riders take turns seeing who can maneuver it the fastest without falling down.
No matter the style, there's no mistaking how helpful this sport can be to building a connection for the young and the old alike with taking their sporting endeavors outside. Like many sports of innovation, mountain biking and all of its new forms is truly here to stay. - 30330
About the Author:
Damian Papworth adores the excitement of mountain biking, but always ensures he takes his bike water bottles before he goes. A cycling water bottle is so important to maintaining hydration in this grueling sport.
