Five Things About Mountain Biking I Learned the Hard Way

I began my mountain biking career over 15 years ago, and to use the old cliché I wish to god I knew the things then that I know now. Had I know some of the basic secrets to mountain biking I would of saved myself bodily injury, time spent healing and several doctors bills (I am sure that I could buy a new car with that money if I had it). Yet I did not know these secrets, and even if someone had tried to give them too me I am not sure I would have listened. However it is my hope that the following secrets will benefit you so you can maybe buy that new car when you are in your thirties.

1.  Just because all your friends jumped off the bridge does not mean you have too!So okay, we have all heard numerous times the above statement. The truth is that just because we have a tendency to confuse complete stupidity with bravery, does not mean we need to follow our friends every where they go. Sure being a bit reluctant to go down a hill or trail that seems a little bit above your skill level may get you some teasing, but when it is one of your friends who you are limping down the trail instead of you, who gets the final laugh?

When you are just starting as a mountain bike rider, remember that the point is to enjoy the sport, not to make your doctor more money. At first take easy trails, then as you grow more confident, expand your horizons by taking more difficult trails. Also realize that if you are gripping your handle bars in fear its hard to enjoy the scenery.

2.  Food and water are your friend not the enemySometimes we forget that the human machine needs fuel. Sometimes as we get psyched about the next trail, or just in a hurry to get out the door, we forget to top off our water bottles and to pack an apple or a carrot for the trail. While this is not a big deal for quick trails, not having food or water during a long trail can mean some very bad things such as dizziness, muscle cramping and even in some cases, a visit to the local hospital. This is easy to prevent by remembering to have a full water bottle (two if you are either going on a real long ride, or in a very arid area) and by bringing along high water food such as apples and carrots. Also apples and carrots are full of vitamins and easy for the body to digest.

3.  It may make you look stupid but stretching is always a good idea

One of the hardest things for me to make myself do before biking used to be stretching. I didn’t want to take the time to do something that I felt provided little to know benefit. However after a few pulled muscles I thought better of this and now stretching is something I do every time I go for a ride.

For those new to the idea of stretching the trick is not to overdue it and cause yourself injury. Start with simple toe touches and neck rolls. This will limber up your legs and shoulders which are the areas that will take most of the beating on the trail. Also you might want to add a couple sets of push ups and sit ups to warm up the torso muscles. Believe me you will feel a lot better during the ride if you do these simple exercises.

4.  A spare parts kit is worth the weight

I think virtually every biker on the planet has had a time when they wish they had brought along an extra inner tube or chain. Let’s face it, the trails we tend to ride do not care one little bit about our bikes and their conditions. In fact sometimes it seems a trail is out to get you from the start. Over my time as a mountain bike rider I have developed what I call the essential repair kit and I have used it more times than I care to count. Admitted it means taking a pack with me, but when it comes to either fixing a flat, or hiking my bike out, the pack seems a pretty small price to pay. Below is a list of items I always carry.

• Patch kit (you can pick one of these up at any bike store or even Wal-Mart)
• Extra tube (sometimes I get a flat no patch in the world is going to fix, but having and extra tube gets me off the trail and back home.)
• A set of wrenches and bolts. (this can actually take some time to put together, however I have been very glad whenever I have had to make an emergency repair to my seat, handle bars or other parts of my bike. I also recommend getting small plastic tackle box to hold all of it in.)
• An extra chain (most of my friends just bring extra links, but for me I find the chain is quicker and the cost difference is not that great, but at the very least bring a few extra lengths)
• Air pump (what good does fixing your flat do if you can’t put air back in your tire?)

I do have friends who have found ways to mount entire tires on their bikes, but the above should cover most situations that don’t involve major types of repairs, and will get you home.

5.  Biking and drinking is almost as dumb as drinking and driving
Maybe I have just had some bad luck with idiots, but I swear nothing is worse on the trail than having to deal with a drunken rider. Not only are they a risk to themselves, they are a risk to everyone else. I realize it may not seem to be a big deal to drink a couple of beers before a ride, but really you are doing something that requires your total attention. IN fact some trails you wind up on have very little room for error. So if you feel like a drink, do it at the end of the road not the start.

Big Drop Brian Head Mountain Bike Trail (Parowan, Utah)

Length: The descent of the big drop is about three miles. However the trail can be taken for almost twenty miles into the heart of Parowan Utah.

Difficulty: Moderate to expert. The initial descent is quite taxing and not recommended to anyone who is new to biking. However the valley trail is fairly easy riding.

Location: The big drop trail (one of the many names) starts at the northern edge of the Brian Head ski resort in the rocky mountains of Southern Utah. Brain Head is located about twenty miles south of Parowan Utah, a small farming town located off of I-15. The nearby city of Cedar City Utah offers many standard services as does the ski resort itself.

Time of year: The big drop is only accessible from late spring through fall until the first snow fall of the year.

Special considerations: Brian Head is located at a very high elevation. This means the drop can cause problems for people who are sensitive to oxygen levels.

The trail: The big drop begins at the southern edge of Brian Head and follows a level and smooth path for about 500 feet or so. At the end of this path is a sudden and very steep drop of about ten feet. It is recommended that during the drop you keep your body weight low and to the back of the bike until the trail levels out slightly. If the first drop is a bit more than you feel you can take, there are alternate paths to both the east and west of the path.

Once you have made the drop you will be spending the next three miles in an intense descent that will cover over three thousand vertical feet. During this drop will be several steep inclines that are ideal for gaining speed. However use caution as what appears to be a level trail can lead to another sudden drop. During the descent you will have several opportunities to engage in daring Ariel maneuvers such as high jumping and table topping. In fact there are a few areas that those of a very brave and robust nature can attempt jumps over a deep gorge. However do this only at your own risk as the Iron County search and rescue often can take a minute to get to you.

After the intense three thousand foot jump may people bail out onto the road and stow their bikes and gear and ride either back up to Brian Head for another run or a different trail. The honest truth though is that these early leavers are missing some of the most beautiful terrain crafted by the hand of nature. While the trail may no longer be as intense it offers a good ride with several hills and valleys through beautiful forest land. If you are going through during an early morning or late afternoon ride do not be surprised if you spy some of the local wildlife such as a deer or beaver as both are common to the area.

While this valley trail goes on for about twenty miles there are several ideal areas to leave the trail and get back on the road. However there are also many prime and open to the public camping areas. Those who either have the time or were looking to camp in the first place will find there is no shortage of wonderful camp sites. However, if you were only planning on a day trip that is fine as well. The valley trail ends at the edge of the town of Parowan near a small convenience store where you can buy a cool drink or meet with whoever you had plans with to drive you back to where ever you mean to go.

All in all the big drop is a great trail that leads through and astonishing array of trail types and scenery. If ever you have the chance to visit Southern Utah try to make it to Brian Head for this and many other fine trails.

Magura Mountain Bike Brakes and Suspension

Believe it or not there was a time when Mountain biking was in its infancy that several of the luxuries we take for granted today were not available. Indeed the first mountain bikes were little more than ten speeds with heavier and more durable frames and wheels. In those early days taking a rough path was a whole new experience in back and knee pain. Well as with everything else over time, mountain biking has addressed many of the comfort and injury issues that plagued the sport in its earliest days. Now almost everyone has specialized forks, shocks, frames and tires all designed to make a ride more comfortable and reduce the amount of wear and tear on our joints.

While many companies offer great products, one of the best is Magura. Magura offers a wide range of products ranging from brake sets to rearshocks, and while these products kick butt, where Magura really kicks butt is in their offering of front forks. Somehow these guys manage to offer not only a couple of high quality forks, but they manage to offer forks for almost any riding style. If you are into going a little crazy freestyle, than you want to check out their 2008 Wotan suspension forks. If you are a just more of a functional rider than Odur style is something you want to look into. It really doesn’t matter what kind of riding style you have Magura bike parts certainly offer something for everyone. However their forks are really only the beginning.

Among the many offerings from Magura are some of the best brake sets you will find on the planet. With a combination of unique design and high quality materials, Magura has managed to create both disc and rim brakes. While true you can only do so much with a rim brake, going anywhere else but Magura for disc brakes is a waste of time. The disc brakes that Magura offer have two ideas in mind, that they work, and that they are easy to remove when you need to get to the tire. Overall they just plain rock.

So what is it that makes Magura so special? They have a passion that is almost unmatched in the field. The people at Magura want to make the best product not just for the sake of making a few bucks, but because they want the best ride they can get. This fierce dedication and passion to making bike parts has truly allowed Magura to rise above the rest of the crowd. If only all parts and bike manufacturers approached their craft in the same way.

TAG Wheels Mountain Bike Wheelsets Are Indestructible

If you were to take a poll of most bikers around the world, without a doubt one of the biggest fears you would find would be the fear of a flat down deep on a trail with no way to repair it. It makes sense; nothing in the world can ruin a kickin trail ride quicker than the loss of a tire, or even worse, a wheel. Most bikers carry a repair kit that can handle the occasional flat. However sometimes the flat is worse than can be easily fixed (pinch flats anyone) or the entire wheel decided to croak on you. With this in mind the guys over at TAG Wheels have decided to come out with some of the best wheels available.

I know there is a whole lot of techie mumbo jumbo about aerospace engineering and something known as the lost core molding process, but don’t let all that confuse you. What they really mean to say is that their wheels are damn near indestructible because they are made right. Basically their idea seemed to consist of interviewing my psychopathic nephew and following him on a couple of trails. When they learned that by observing him they could witness first hand the insanity a biker can inflict on their bike, they must have put their heads together and said “We can make something even this force of nature can’t destroy!” The final result is a wheel that to date my nephew has not been able to destroy.

So the wheels kick butt but what about flat problems. Well again semi scientific words like high impact, glass reinforced, composite materials let you know that they spared no expense in helping every rider meet the end of their trail with their bike in one piece. Again I figured they must have followed my nephew around to find every possible road threat to a tire. Again they made something near indestructible. I mean when was the last time you didn’t have to worry about a puncture flat? Admitted they still haven’t conquered the problem with pinch flats completely, but even these horrors are highly reduced compared to other wheels.

So okay with all this good stuff you got to wonder what the down side is right. Well despite the totally awesome wheels they offer, the one downside is that you are adding weight. The composite wheel alone weighs 1600g and the front hub 220g and rear 330g, so the total wheelset weighs 3750g.  However weight is a pretty small price to pay when you are looking at the fact that trails you have not been able to consider because of how rugged they were are now just a kick away. Admitted if you are doing a lot of hill climbing the weight can get kind of gruesome. So why not make a compromise? When you are doing a trail or just plain ride that weight is an issue, use normal wheels, but when you are planning on taking on a trail known for wrecking tires and wheels throw on the TAG Wheels and go nuts.

In the end the hobby of mountain biking is about seeing as much as you want to. Isn’t it a good idea then not to limit yourself because of fear that you might thrash a wheel or tire? Here at MTO bikes we believe on making sure everyone can reach their chosen peaks, so do so today.

Buy Now – Each wheelset comes with DT Swiss 440 freeride hubs and DT Swiss Skewers.  The other benefits are that the wheels switch out very easily to accomodate all axle diameters with simple end cap adapters.

FRX5 Front Wheel 100mm QR – $343.00
FRX5 Front Wheel 110mm 20mm Thru – $358.00

FRX5 Rear Wheel 135mm QR – $456.00
FRX5 Rear Wheel 135mm 10mm Thru – $456.00
FRX5 Rear Wheel 135mm 12mm Thru – $456.00
FRX5 Rear Wheel 150mm 12mm Thru – $487.00

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Call today to place your order, 770.676.6289!

Top of the Mountain, Bottom of the Valley

A trail experience in the mountains of Southern Utah

I recently had the opportunity to go biking in the mountains and desert hills of Southern Utah. The whole region is majestic and beautiful with a combination of red rock hills, high mountain peaks and open valleys. It is no wonder that Moab Utah is on the top of almost every bikers list as a place to visit. However the trail I will be covering is located not in Moab Utah, but a little farther west near Cedar City Utah.

Not far from Cedar City is the ski resort of Brian Head Utah. Brian Head is located among the peaks of the Southern Utah Rocky Mountains. While the major draw to this resort is winter skiing the last few years have seen an increase in summer recreation due to the raising popularity of mountain biking in the area. Perhaps the best known trail in the area is called many names including the Parowan chute, the big hill and many other monikers. However no matter what name you give the trail there is not a biker alive who would refer to the run as anything less than exhilarating.

I started out the day early in the morning while the early morning dew was still abundant on the grasses and leaves of the mountain vegetation. I had dressed warm for that morning though in clothing that could be removed at one of the many breaks available on the trail. I had a full intention of traveling the full twenty mile trail that day and thus had made sure to bring a pack and some trail food. Double checking all my gear I approached the start of my trail made some small talk with my friends and then mounted my bike and began making my way on toward the days adventure.

I had heard from some other people that the trail head was the mellowest part of the whole trip, I found myself agreeing as the trail was mostly level and flat. Then after about five minutes of biking the descent came into view. I say came into view but more accurately it was more like approaching the edge of the world. As I got closer I felt a peculiar sense of anticipation mixed with dread similar to that of going on a roller coaster. I slowed my bike down a bit as I got to the edge and stopped and looked down the steepest longest trail I had ever seen up to that point. Then taking a deep speed I launched myself over the edge and was gone.

At first the only thing I could seem to keep track of was doing my best to keep my bike on the trail. The combination of loose dirt and being almost completely vertical made doing anything else seem a little less important. However after the initial and sudden drop of about ten feet the trail widened and leveled out a bit allowing me to take a breath and actually take a look around. The only word I have to describe what I saw was magnificent. The trees were in full bloom and the early morning light was streaking through them creating an almost dream like haze as we traveled along the trail. It was one of those moments I knew why I was a biker, I think everyone else on that ride agreed.

We continued along a steady decline trail for about a half mile when we came upon another steep drop. This drop was not quite as intense as the first but was much longer (I later learned that you drop three thousand feet in the first couple miles) and by the end my arms and legs both had a good burn from working to keep myself upright, but I barely noticed for the scenery was beautiful. A blend of aspen and pine trees dominated the valley we were riding through as we made our way to the next big drop.

At the start of the drop we all stopped for a bit and looked at the view, stretching out in front of us was a vision of high peaks reaching up to the sky that seemed to glow at the top as the late morning sun slowly began to offer light to this part of the trail. I took a drink of water checked my tires and once again took another plunge off a hill.

This drop was one of the most interesting because we spent most of it riding along the side of a hill as we continued to descend. It gave kind of a weird feeling of being upright and slanted all at the same time. However staying on the trial was easy as thousands of bikes going this same way had created a pretty easy to stay in groove. We finished the drop by following a small stream bed down to the bottom of the valley where we all stopped and looked back. The only way to describe looking back at the drop we had just made is amazing. Towering up above us were mountain peaks one of which we had been at the top of not to long ago.

As I looked up at those peaks I was lost in a moment of sheer joy, to of been able to make that journey on this day was indescribable, and while the rest of the trail would be a lot less intense it was still a beautiful ride through some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen. I look forward to my next time taking the big drop, or taking another of the many trails that lead from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the valley.

Overall Difficulty: Intermediate – Expert
Technical Difficulty: Intermediate
Physical Difficulty: Intermediate
Configuration: curvy descent
Length: base trail is a three mile drop, but the full run could go a full 20 miles

What you Need (A Beginners Guide to Mountain Biking)

One of the most common questions people have when they begin the active and awarding hobby of mountain biking is “what do I need?” While some of the answers are pretty obvious such as getting a bike, there are several things that many new mountain bikers overlook. In many cases the fact that some of these things were overlooked often leads to injury, or a complete loss of interest in the hobby. It is the intent of this article to provide those who are new to the hobby a good look at what they will need to begin this exciting sport.

• Bike weight: When you are first entering the hobby remember that lighter is not always better. Most people learned how to ride a bike on a medium or even heavy weight bike. This means that when you are first starting the hobby try to select a bike that feels good as you ride it. If you are having a hard time moving the bike, chances are it is too heavy. If you are having an easy time moving the bike but can’t seem to control it well, your bike is most likely too light. Remember you can always do things to lighten the bike as your skill increases.
• Safety equipment: Even the most experienced biker will have a fall on occasion. The trails and terrain that you will be riding your bike along can at times be very rough. The last thing you want is to have to end a ride early because of injury. It is strongly advisable that not only should you buy a good helmet, but to also invest in knee and elbow pads. While this may take some of the mystique away from the hobby, you will be thankful you have such equipment the first time you wipe out on a muddy turn and go flying off your bike. When selecting safety equipment you want to make sure it fits well and is comfortable to both walk and ride in. After all, if you take off your safety equipment because it’s not comfortable, it is not doing any good.
• Repair kit: Every biker has a story about having to stop their ride in order to help another biker fix a flat or a broken chain. Also many bikers have a story about getting a flat or breaking a chain and having to push their bike back up the trail for miles instead of spending the day riding. This is why having a basic repair kit handy is a great idea.
• Proper Attire: Dressing properly for both the weather and the environment you will be riding in is a very important thing to give consideration. If you are expecting rain on a day you plan to ride, wear water proof or resistant clothing. Also if you plan to be gone most of the day, bring some warm clothing with you just in case of a sudden temperature drop. While bringing extra clothes means extra weight, having them when you need them is always a good thing.
• Snack food and water: Biking burns a lot of calories (in fact that is one of its chief benefits), however riding too long without some kind refueling of the body could create several problems. When selecting food granola bars or trail mix are probably the best. These kinds of foods tend to be light weight and easy to store while providing a lot of energy. Pure water is always the best thing to take for drinking on the trail, however Gatorade or a similar sports drink can replace much of the bodies salt that is lost during exertion.

As you gain experience with biking you will find other things that you may need or want as your ride. Some riders always bring a flashlight with them, while other riders try to remain as light as possible. The main thing is to consider safety and comfort as you begin to ride. As you become a veteran of the beautiful trials offered in the world, you will start to develop your own list that has been earned through experience. So good luck and may you find many trails as you begin this wonderful hobby.

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