When your mountain bike breaks down on the trail there’s no nearby repair facility to visit. Flats, slipped chains, loose handlebars, lost pedals, and more are all common in off-road riding. Having a well stocked kit can keep a minor mishap from ruining your ride. If you have tubed tires a repair kit is a [...]

For many years one kind of bicycle dominated the scene: racing bikes. With narrow seats, downward curving handles, and a sleek look, they were what everybody rode. Now, mountain bikes are everywhere. There are several good reasons for that, not least of which is that mountain bikes greatly expand the territory for cyclists. To see [...]

Choosing a mountain bike can be complicated. Can be. But need not be. There are a few different designs geared around the type of riding a potential buyer has in mind. A little bit of technical information is helpful, followed by a dose of common sense. Not too tough. A Cross Country bike, for example, [...]

Ok, the word ‘essential’ in the title might not be 100% accurate. The only real essential is your mountain bike. But there are a number of items that will seem essential if you take a long trip without them. A hydration system is one of them. It’s possible to just throw a store-bought bottle of [...]

Cyclists are often advised to wear a helmet, and the advantages of following that advice are pretty obvious. Over 150,000 riders suffer head injuries yearly. But there are several other items of apparel that are still essential for a safe, enjoyable mountain bike ride. Gloves are near the top of the list. After two hours [...]

Cycling itself is healthy. That’s a commonplace observation. But there is also a whole array of mountain bike gear specifically designed with fitness and health in mind. For any ride over an hour a pair of padded shorts is in order. Those that also lack a seam down the middle are even better. Both those [...]

Mountain bikes are designed to meet very different criteria from a street racer. A bike with steep head angle and shorter wheelbase handles more quickly than one with larger angles and a longer wheelbase. Wide tires and long travel suspension are designed to take rougher terrain. Combine all those characteristics with your desired type of [...]

Despite the presence of so many manufactures offering dozens of tire models, choosing a good one does not have to be difficult. First, consider the terrain you plan to ride in most. If your riding habits take you to very different areas, consider purchasing more than one set of tires and wheels. It isn’t practical [...]

Dirt, mud, and gravel all conspire to keep your mountain bike in less than ideal working order. Fortunately, combating them takes only a few minutes of maintenance. You’ll need some basic items: water and liquid soap in warm water, degreaser, several brushes of different sizes, and a soft cloth. Chain cleaner is helpful, too. Some [...]

Before you look into the specific attributes you want in a mountain bike, it’s helpful to know a little bit about the different designs available. All share some of the same basic characteristics, but the devil is in the details. All Mountain (Enduro) The name really says it all. All Mountain or Enduro bikes are [...]