Review

“I love to mountain bike after a long season of races like the Tour de France and the Tour of California. Mastering Mountain Bike Skills has helped me to ride more safely and have more fun on the dirt, which improved my skills on and off road.” Levi Leipheimer — 3x Tour of California Champion, Tour de France Stage Winner “Brian has amazing fitness and superb skills. I always step it up a notch when I ride with him, and I know that anyone who reads Mastering Moun (more…)

When you decide to go mountain biking on a long days ride expecially off the beaten path there are several things that you should take with you. You can never be too prepared. Things happen and you will want to be ready for the unexpected Below, you’ll find the essentials that you should have.

1.  Back pack – a camelback or mule pack are the best.
2.  Waterproof – the type that packs down very small is the best to have.
3.  Water – you need at least 2 liters for a long ride.
4.  Food – sandwiches and energy bars.
5.  Pump – take a good one with you, the small pumps are a waste of time.
6.  Tire levers if you need them.
7.  Two small inner tubes.
8.  A piece of medium emery paper about 3 inches long and an inch wide.
9.  A cut up tube of Crest for pinch punctures or to use as a tire boot.
10.  A carpet needle.
11.  A card of linen thread to repair torn tires.
12.  A good chain splitter
13.  At least two black pins.  Tape these to the inside lid of your puncture repair kit.
14.  A set of allen wrenches.  The penknife style is the best to get.
15.  A small screwdriver.
16.  A first aid kit that includes an elastic bandage.
17.  A Spokey spoke key.
18.  A felt tip pen that will show on inner tubes.
19.  A Helmet.

If you take the above with you, you should have no problems with long mountain bike rides.  Everything on the above list will serve a purpose should you need to make repairs.

If you’ve ever been mountain biking and ran into problems in the past, you should know first hand just how important the proper supplies can actually be.

Mountain biking is an exciting sport that can be enjoyed by anyone who knows how to ride a bike.  But compared to a leisurely ride around the block, mountain biking does present some danger, expecially if it has been a while since you where on a bike. Here are some basic skills you will need before hitting the trails or the dirt.  Once you practice these simple techniques and get the hang of them, you’ll be able to hit the trails feeling comfortable on your mountain bike. 

Your Essential Bike Buying Guide

Get a feel for your pedals

Practice moving your foot away from the pedal, first while sitting on your bike with one foot on the ground.  Next, move on to releasing and replacing your foot while pedaling around for a bit. 

Sit and spin for position

Simply sit on your bike and pedal around.  You should keep your arms slightly bent.  You should also adjust your seat height so your leg is 70 to 90 percent extended at the bottom of every stroke on the pedal.  Keep your body relaxed, as there will never be a position where you should have either your knees or your elbows locked.

Shifting gears

Get a feel for shifting gears with your bike.  The higher gears are harder to pedal and will go faster while the lower gears are easier to pedal to help you ascend hills.  As you get to steeper hills, its best to shift before you get to the hill rather than while your on it.

Coasting

You should spend a bit of time coasting while standing on your pedals, without actually sitting on the seat.  Keep your arms bent but don’t lock your knees.  Now, try experimenting with shifting your body towards the rear end of the bike.

Pedal while standing

You should get as comfortable as you can with pedaling while standing on your bike.  Try lifting yourself off the seat while standing on the pedals, then crank them around.  You should try this in higher gears on flat ground then again in lower gears while on a hill.

Dropping down a curb

Try finding a curb where you can easily get to the upper portion of it.  Practice at a moderate speed, standing and coasting right off the curb from the upper level to the lower level.  Try this at different speeds until it becomes second nature.

If it’s been a LONG while since you’ve rode a bike, you can practice these beginning skills at a local park, school, bike path, or simply around your  house. If you can, try to find a location with a steep hill.

A mountain bike is the one thing you need before you go mountain biking. :-) A mountain bike contains many parts, which will be covered below:

1.  Bottom bracket – This attaches the crankset to the body of a bike.

2.  Brake cable – This is the cable that connects the brake lever to the brake mechanism.

3.  Brake lever – The lever on the handlebar to activate the brakes.  The left side is the front brake and the right side is the rear brake.

4.  Chain – The circular set of links that transfer power from the chain ring to the cogs.

5.  Chain ring – The toothed rings that attach to the crank to hold the chain.

6.  Crank – The lever that extends from the bottom  bracket to the pedal, transferring the power to the chain rings.

7.  Derailleur – The mechanism for moving the chain from one cog to another.

8.  Down tube – The section of frame that extends downward from the stem to the bottom bracket.

9.  Front shock – The shock absorber on the front fork.

10.  Handlebar – The horizontal bar attached to the stem with handgrips on the end.

11.  Headset – The mechanism in front of the frame that connects the front fork to the stem and handlebars.

12.  Hub – The center part of the wheel that the spokes are attached to.

13.  Idler pulley – The bottom pulley of the rear derailleur that provides spring tension to keep the chain tight.

14.  Nipple – A threaded receptacle that holds the end of the spoke to the rim.

15.  Pedal – The platform to pedal on; attaches to the crank.

16.  Rear shock – The shock absorber for the rear tire on dual suspension type bikes.

17.  Rim – The metal ring that holds the spokes on the inside and the tire to the outside.

18.  Saddle – The seat.

19.  Seat post – Offers support for the seat.

20.  Skewer – The metal rod that goes through the hub, attaching the wheel to the dropouts of the frame.

21.  Spindle – The free rotating axle that the crank arms attach to; also a part of the bottom bracket.

22.  Spokes – The thick wires that join the hub to the rim.

23.  Stem – A piece that attaches the handlebar  to the steering tube.

24.  Wheel hub – The center of the wheel that the spokes are attached to.

There is a lot of history and information out there in regards to the history and origins of mountain biking, with some being recognized and some that depends on who has the best firm of public relations.

Some say that mountain biking unofficially began with the Buffalo Soldiers, which was a turn of the century infantry who customized bikes to carry gear over the rough and tough terrain.  They began in August of 1896, over  the course of 800 miles.  Their mission was simple – to test bikes for military use in the toughest of terrain.

It could have been more recently in history when in the 50′s 20 young biker enthusiasts created the Velo Cross Club of France and turned biking into a sport that resembles present day mountain biking.   

Or It could have also been John Finley Scott, who is considered the pioneer creator of the the first mountain bike in the U.S.  In 1953 he constructed what he called a “Woodsie Bike“, using a diamond frame, balloon tires, flat handle bars,  and cantilever brakes.  He was more than 20 years ahead of his time.  Even though he remained an off road enthusiast, there were many at that time who didn’t share that same passion.

The sport of mountain biking has taken many bumps and bruises over the last hundred years.  Even though there are many that say different things about the history and the beginning, we know one thing  for sure – one thing has led to another and the sport of mountain biking was born.

A great way to explore Cody and the Yellowstone area is by Mountain biking. Not only is it a great way to explore the outdoors but also to stay in shape, and have a great time doing it! Most of the streets in cody are biker friendly and provide a great alternative to site seeing. 

Styles of mountain biking

Mountain biking can best be characterized into three different styles – downhill, free riding, and cross country.  Even though the different styles are similar in some ways, they still require different skills.  The style that you pick will determine the type of bike you get.

Locations for mountain biking

The sport can best be thought of as biking on an unpaved surface. Many areas throughout Cody and Yellowstone have specific locations designed for mountain biking. Special trails can be found at Beck Lake Park, McCullough Peaks, Red Lake and Paul Stock Nature Trail.

The Cody Mountain Biking Guide is available at the Cody Chamber of Commerce or Absaroka Bicycles.

Absaroka Bicycles – 2201 17th Street # 7  Cody, WY 82414 (307) 527-5566

Becoming a great biker

Endurance and stamina are a must for a great mountain biker.  Like all other sports, it takes time and practice.  Those just beginning will have to get past the bumps and bruises from falling off the bike.

Selecting your mountain bike

The bike you select is more of a personal choice, and a big determining factor on the type of riding you will be doing.  Bikes come in all styles, shapes, and prices,  which will make selecting one for yourself very difficult indeed.  Before you buy a bike, always ask to try it out first.  A great mountain biker will become one with his or her own bike.  When buying, make sure you check for comfort, how it fits, even how it is geared.