I’m a professional mountain biker. I’ve been racing on a bike for 13 years, I’ve been a professional for 4 years, and I’ve ridden on trails all over the world. A lot has changed over the years of racing. Bikes have gotten lighter, trails have gotten gnarlier,...
I know my local mountain bike shop rents bikes, and I’m in the market to buy. How do I test ride a mountain bike? To test ride a mountain bike, treat the demo bike as if it were your own. Make any adjustments required to the handlebar, pedals, tire pressure and...
It was very important to me that my new house was within commuting distance to my favorite destinations. As I looked at my old commuter, in desperate need of upgrades, I asked myself, “What are the best mountain bike pedals for commuting?” After some...
Out on the trails, everyone seems to use clipless pedals. I sometimes ride with flat pedals and was wondering, how to jump a mountain bike with flat pedals? To jump with flat pedals, first “preload” the front end of the bike by lowering your chest closer to the...
It seems like our riding group always has at least one person nursing an injury. What are the top 10 most common mountain bike injuries and what are some tips to avoid them? Common Mountain Bike Injuries Skin abrasions and scratches Dehydration Low back pain Knee pain...
One of the questions I often hear in the parking lot before a ride is, “how much does your bike weigh?” We don’t typically talk about personal weight, but bike weight is a hot topic within the mountain bike community. The major mountain bike manufacturers do not...
