When you decide to go mountain biking on a long days ride, there are several things that you should take with you.  Below, you’ll find the essentials that  you should have with you.

1.  Back pack – a camelback or mule is a good idea here.

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 are the best to  have with you to eat.

5.  Pump – take a good one with you, as the small mini pumps are a waste of time and money.

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.  You should 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.  Some lunch and phone money.

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, all you have to do  is give them a chance.  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.

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 are several mountain biking accessories and  related products that you can purchase.  Although  the sales staff will try to sell you anything they can, the real question for those on a budget isn’t  what’s cool, but what accessories you need to make  your rides more safe and enjoyable.  By starting  with these accessories, you’ll be just fine when you hit the trails.

Bike helmet The bike helmet is the most important mountain biking accessory that you can buy.  No one should ever be  on a bike without a helmet.  There have been many  people who have experienced serious head injury, when it could have prevented by wearing a helmet. All mountain bike helmets are comfortable and stylish and everyone who rides on the trails wears one.

Mountain bike gloves No matter what season you ride in, your hands can  take a beating.  Beginners will normally keep a death grip on the handle bars, which can be very brutal for their hands.  When you crash, your hands will be the  first thing to hit the ground – and everyone crashes  at some point.  Mountain bike gloves are a must have accessory, as they will take the beating for you.

Mountain bike shorts After the first few mountain bike rides you take, you’ll notice that your rear end will be quite uncomfortable. Even though your body will adjust, bike shorts are  great to have as they will help keep it at a bare minimum.  You can get shorts that are very comfortable, making them a great addition to your mountain bike ride.

Mountain bike shoes Depending on the type of pedals you have and the type  of riding you do, you’ll want to pick your mountain bike shoes accordingly.  If your bike has clipless type  pedals, you’ll want to get shoes to accept the special cleat for your pedals.  Good mountain bike shoes are  durable, comfortable, and also a stiff sole for better efficiency when pedaling.  Also, you should make sure to get the right shoe for the terrain you’ll be riding in as well.

Eye protection If you get something in your eye, you can run off the  trail in a matter of seconds.  Sunglasses or clear lensed glasses can help keep your eyes safe from debris, as well as protect them from the wind.  When you buy your glasses,  make sure they are non-breakable.

Hydration system Bringing a water bottle or hydration backpack with you is always a great idea.  It’s very easy to get dehydrated so you should always bring water with you and drink it on the trail to ensure that your body stays properly hydrated at all times.

Trail repair kit It’s easy to get stuck in the woods or on the trail if you  don’t bring the proper repair kit for your bike.  To be  on the safe side, bring a multi-tool designed for bike repair, tire levers, and a patch kit for fixing flat  tires.

If you don’t apply your brakes, the rock will stop your wheel.  This isn’t good, as the rock can throw you off balance and completely kill any type of  momentum you have.

Relaxed riders won’t slow down as much.  The  combination of extra momentum, no front braking at crucial moments will allow the wheel to bump over the rock and continue onward with little effort.

If you are going slow, it’s essential to release  your brakes as much as possible when you approach an obstacle.  This may entail going a bit faster,  although the result is much less painful.  On  steep hills, going really slow will always make things much more difficult.

One exception to this is a very tight turn.  If a  hop is out of the question, you’ll need to slow down to allow the smallest radius of turning circle. This kind of thing takes practice, although track standing isa great way to improve on your balance.

Although down hilling is one of the most extreme methods of mountain biking, it can also be one of  the most dangerous.  If you’re new to mountain biking you shouldn’t start out with down hilling, as it takes a lot of practice.

With a bit of practice and knowing the right  techniques, technical down hilling is something you’ll find fun.  It can provide quite a rush and a lot of excitement for those who seek adventure.

Just as cross country riders are a different breed, the bikes they ride are as well.  The cross country bike is completely different in many ways from other types of mountain riding bikes.  The premise for  cross country riders is speed.  Everything about their bikes revolve with the idea of making the bikes faster and faster.

Bikes used in cross country mountain biking can be fully rigid frame, hardtails, or even full suspension frames.  Through the years, the cross over to full suspension has become very popular.

The weight difference between free ride bikes and cross country bikes are considerable.  You’ll be extremely hard pressed to find a bike that weighs  more than 24 pounds, and even that weight can be heavy.  Free ride bkes weigh close to 40 pounds, which makes the difference in weight pretty close.

If you’ve never tried cross country mountain biking, you’ll probably find it to be a break from the ordinary.  Even though this type of biking involves trails, it’s normally the type of terrain that  beginners wouldn’t want to ride.  Involving hills and rough terrain, cross country biking offers  quite the rush.

For mountain bikers everywhere, cross country is the way to go.  It offers you a new assortment of bikes, new areas to bike, and a new twist to  mountain biking as you know it.  If you’ve been looking for a mountain biking rush, cross country  mountain biking is what you need to be experiencing.

1.  BMX BMX is a style where the bikes offer 20 inch wheels. These bikes are commonly used at skate parks or with dirt jumps.  Because of their smaller wheels and shorter wheel bases, BMX bikes are much easier to perform tricks and stunts with.

2.  Cross country This type of mountain biking involves riding your bike up and down hills.  Although it’s the least extreme form of mountain biking, most cross country riders are very fit and go on long rides.

3.  Cyclo cross This is a cross between road and mountain biking. These riders have to go over obstacles, cross through rivers, and race on and off the course.

4.  Dirt jumping Dirt jumping involves jumping the bike over large man made dirt jumps then doing tricks while they are in the air.  These jumps are normally close together so riders can go over six or more jumps in one run, gaining a flow to give them more  speed for bigger jumps.

5.  Downhill Downhill mountain biking involves racing downhill as fast as possible.  This type of riding is very intense and extreme, offering riders the chance  for ultimate thrills and excitement.

6.  Freeride Free riding involves finding the perfect line down the mountain using all of the terrain to express yourself.  These competitions are very popular,  as riders can express themselves any way they see fit.

7.  Single speed No to be confused with fixed gears, this is a form of cross country biking that’s done using a bike with only one gear and fewer components.  The idea with single speed is simplicity.  The straight chain line will provide efficient pedaling, and the lack of components mean less mechanical  problems and a lighter bike.

8.  Street and urban This type of riding involves riding in urban areas, ledges, and other types of man made obstacles.   Riders of street and urban biking will do tricks as well, such as stalls and grinds.

9.  Trails  Trials are considered an aspect of mountain biking,  although the bikes used look nothing like mountain bikes.  They use 20 or 26 inch wheels and sport  small, low frames.  Trail riders will hop and  jump their bikes over obstacles, which requires an extreme amount of balance and concentration.

By riding in control you’ll not only prevent crashes, but keep others on the trail safe as well.  When  riding out of control you loose the ability to  adjust to the terrain as you ride over it.  This can and usually does result in serious injury to yourself and others.

Follow these helpful guidelines and you’ll remain safe when riding your mountain bike.

Gear Always make sure that you wear a helmet and other  necessary safety gear for the conditions that you  plan to ride in.

Never ride beyond your control There is never any shame in walking the areas of  the trail that you don’t feel comfortable in riding and you should never let anyone else tell you that there is.

Keep your speed under control Always make sure you keep your speed at a level  where you can quickly adjust to any obstacles or  change in the trail.

Knowing your trail You should never push the limits on trails that you aren’t familiar with.  You should take trails you aren’t familiar with at slow speeds until you learn them better.

Slow down around blind corners If you can’t see past a corner you should always  slow down, as you never know who or what is around it.

Start small then go big Work your way up to stunts or obstacles.  Practice in less difficult or dangerous situations before you  move up to something more dangerous.

Playing it smart If you start to question what your doing, you probably shouldn’t be doing.  Always think about what you are  doing and go with your instincts.

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.

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.  Those with toe clip and clipless type foot pedals will want to spend a bit more time  practicing.

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 and will 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.

Once you practice these techniques and get the  hang of them, you’ll be able to hit the trails feeling comfortable on your mountain bike.  Even though it may take some getting used to, it’ll become second nature before you know it.

Mountain biking is a great way to explore the outdoors,  stay in shape, or just have fun. Racing down the side of a mountain is a lot of fun indeed, although it can also be quite dangerous.  Even though it’s dangerous,  if you ride with caution, it can be enjoyed by the  entire family.

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 North America have  specific locations designed for mountain biking.  Before you decide to go down a trail, you should always check  with your local park to get the routes, regulations, and any rules that they may have.

You can also find groups that have mountain bike rides  and competitions.  You can look on the internet or even in a local paper and see exactly what’s available in your area.  You may be able to find groups for the more  advanced riders as well as beginners.

Becoming a great biker Endurance and stamina are a must for a great mountain biker.  It will also take ambition and practice to succeed as well as conquer the course.  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.

You should use the internet to help you shop for a bike,  even do some price comparisons online as well before you make a purchase.  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.

Staying safe when riding Mountain bike riding on unpaved roads can be very  dangerous, as mentioned earlier.  Anytime you are riding, you should wear a helmet, along with knee and elbow pads.  If you are following a group or riding in the  woods you should strongly consider a pair of goggles as well.  Safety should be your top priority and never  taken lightly anytime you are mountain biking.

1.  Cross country Almost all mountain bikes will fit into this category. Cross country mountain bikes are light weight, making them easy to ride over most terrains, even up and down hills.  This is the most common mountain bike and it can be used with ease for riding on the path or even commuting.

2.  Downhill These types of bikes are for serious bikers who  crave the ultimate adventure.  Downhill bikes have front and rear suspension, strong parts, and disc brakes.  Rarely available off the shelf, most riders like to custom build their own.

3.  Trials Trail mountain biking involves a great degree of  skill and is classified as the precision riding of the sport.  Similar to downhill bikes, trial riders will often build their own bikes rather than purchase one off a shelf.  Generally very light and very  strong, these bikes require a lot of discipline.

4.  Jump and slalom Slalom and jump bikes are very strong and designed for jumping, street racing, and slalom.  They offer a front suspension and use very strong components dedicated to what they do.  These bikes are very popular with the sport of mountain biking.

Even if you are new to mountain biking, the sport can be a lot of fun.  There are several bikes to choose  from, all of which depend on your style.  If you are still looking for the best style for you, all you have to do is try out several bikes and see which one suites you the best.