Mountain Biking

A day of mountain biking can be a great way to get some exercise, socialize with friends, and see beautiful outdoor places that may be difficult to hike to by foot. With some preparation, you can make sure that you are happy and safe all day. Equipment you will need includes a mountain bike, a helmet, a backpack, plenty of water, a lunch plus some snacks, and perhaps sunscreen depending on the weather. It’s a good idea if at least one person in your group has an inner tube patch kit and a bike tire pump in case someone pops a tire.

You will want to bring more water than you expect to need. With several hours of biking, particularly in hot weather, you can easily lose a lot of fluid through sweating and you will want to make sure to replace it aggressively. Also be sure to stop for a long lunch in order to eat food and recharge. If you become hungry along the way, feel free to snack a bit since your muscles deserve the energy! If possible try to make sure that the hardest parts of the ride are in the morning when you are most fresh. You won’t want to do an aggressive climb when you are nearly dead at the end of the day! Be sure to stay with the group and get some tips from more advanced riders. Don’t do anything that you don’t feel comfortable with since not only is an injury unpleasant, but it can be very inconvenient if it happens far into the wilderness!