Tips for the Beginner Mountain Biker

When I first met my husband, he was an avid mountain biker. Eager to impress him, I immediately went shopping for the cutest pair of biker shorts and jersey I could find. I tried in vain to find a helmet that didn't make my head look like a bobble toy and ultimately settled on a cute little green one with stripes on the side. I was set...or so I thought.

The day we went riding was anything but the fun, carefree ride through the woods that I had planned. After a mouthful of mosquitoes, two skinned knees, and a run in with nearly every pine tree in the forest, I found out that I hadn't planned well at all. Mountain biking wasn't easy. It was hard work and it took months of patient riding before I began to improve and have a really good time. Luckily, your first mountain biking experience doesn't have to be this way. If you plan ahead and learn a few important tips, you will be well on your way to becoming a true mountain biker.

Mountain Biking Tip #1: Buying the Right Bike

No matter how well you prepare for your new adventure, nothing is as important as buying the right bike. There are bicycles that are built for larger men, and mountain bikes that are tailored for petite women. When you go to a bicycle shop, make sure you find a qualified sales person who understands the kind of trails you will be riding and who takes your body frame into consideration. It is important for you to be comfortable on your bike. When you are on the trails, your mountain bike should feel like an extension of yourself. If it feels wrong, it probably is.

Mountain Biking Tip #2: Find the right seat height.

If you are short, like me, you will need to adjust your seat so you are not over extending your knees. Proper seat height will prevent you from flying over your handle bars, and from leg and knee injuries. If your seat is too high, you will risk injury to your hips and make riding uncomfortable. But beware! If your seat is too low, you will put to much stress on your knee.

Mountain Biking Tip #3: Buy padded biking shorts

Nothing hurts so much as the day after a mountain bike trip. Your bones will ache, your muscles will be sore, and your rear end will ache when you sit down. All of that bouncing and jarring on the trails will inevitably take it's toll on a beginner's body. But you can make it a little better by investing in a good pair of padded biking shorts. Believe me, it is well worth the money$$$.

Mountain Biking Tip #4: Pick the right trail

The first several times you go mountain biking, try to pick an appropriate trail for your skill level. Do not try to tackle a trail that is too difficult for you. Read trail guides, talk to other mountain bikers, and park rangers to find the right trail for you. Not only can you get incredibly injured on a trail that you are unprepared for, you will quickly loose interest in the sport. If you spend the better part of your " adventure" pushing your bike up hills, running into trees, and tumbling over rocks and boulders, you will probably question whether mountain biking is really for you.

Mountain Biking Tip #5: Find a Mountain Biking Buddy

Whenever you are tackling something new, you can get by with a little help from your friends. Mountain biking friends are essential to have. Not only is it unwise to go mountain biking alone, especially in a new area, it is certainly more fun as a group. More senior mountain bikers can offer help in sticky situations and encourage you to improve your skills by challenging you on trails and up hills.

Mountain biking can be a great way to exercise and have fun at the same time. As a beginner, following these simple tips will make your first time on the trails a great one. But, like the trails you ride, learning how to mountain bike will always have its' ups and downs.