Extreme Sports Mountain Biking

Mountain biking has been classed as an extreme sport, especially now with all the latest bike equipment which is available on the market. The new mountain bikes are nothing short of space age technology, and with the manufacturers targeting people of all ages and both genders, no matter what your age, there is a mountain bike waiting for you to take to the mountains. We all learn how to ride bikes as kids, and they are always fun, a new bike makes the perfect Christmas gift, or even for a birthday, and the added bonus is that it is a good way to keep fit.

 Mountain Biking is a term used for riding a bike off-road, usually over rough terrain and are commonly called Trail Riding bikes. Mountain Bikers learn every aspect of their bike before setting off into the mountains or forests, this is because if they get a flat tyre or have an accident with their bike, they need to know how to fix it, so they do not get stuck in the wilderness. Survival instincts also come into play, as many Mountain Bikers stay in the wilds for days at a time, taking in the beautiful scenery and the exhilarating views of the mountains, lakesand rivers that they come across on their treks. Serious Extreme Sports Mountain Bikers, will spend days or weeks in the wilderness, catching fish from the rivers and lakes, camping out every night, foraging for food, setting traps for animals and generally fending for themselves, it is a great adventure for all the family, and can bring people closer together.

The Mountain Bikes are very similar to normal bikes, with small, but very important differences. The tyres of a mountain bike range from 1.7 to 2.5 inches, and are 26 to 29 inches in diameter. Each mountain bike also has suspension, with individual or fork type suspension, which is important for shock absorption on rough terrain, the frames are smaller than an average bike  but are much lighter weighing approximately 9 - 13 kilos. The brakes are also different, usually being disc brakes to allow for better braking in different conditions.

Mountain Biking to many, is an exhillerating sport, which allows the biker to gain fitness and stamina, there are different types of mountain biking such as cross country, downhill, trials and free ride.

 Extra Equipment

Many Mountain Bikers carry extra equipment which is essential for cross country biking such as water hydration bags, dehydration is a constant worry, and a GPS, usually on the handle bars, getting lost is no fun in the wilderness, well not all the time. A first aid kit is essential with anti-histermines in case of snake bites and insect stings, a tool kit is also carried with a puncture repair outfit.