When it comes to mountain biking, there are certain designated fandoms that exist for the activity. You have some who simply view MTB as a leisure activity, and then there are those who go full throttle into the sport of MTB, in both professional and amateur capacities. Then there are those of us who are simply mountain biking fans; people who enjoy the sport and the entire culture that has been built around it for decades. This one is for those hard core mountain biking fans out there!
A hard core mountain biking fan can be best described as someone who enjoys MTB throughout every activity, aesthetic presentation, media portrayal, and even commercial enterprise. A hardcore mountain biker is fiercely committed to achieving a state of zen with the sport, and a hardcore MTB fan is similar about the activity as a whole.
Chances are that you have probably seen or heard about the level of fierce dedication and passion that is found in a hardcore mountain biking fan. Just like the NFL or Nascar, MTB fans can be casual or hardcore, and in this article, we are going to explore what it means to be a hardcore mountain biking fan. We will look at MTB media, fan commitment, and even a range of categories that explore the commerce of mountain biking and its retail appeal.
YouTube Mountain Biking
In all of the fandom that exists for MTB, perhaps the most popular and comprehensive hub for all things mountain biking can be found on YouTube.
A simple channel search on the video-sharing platform will return results of multiple channels dedicated to all things MTB, by passionate fans for like-minded passionate fans.
Since there are many channels on the platform worthy of your consideration and your subscription, here are some of the most noteworthy to consider.
Global Mountain Bike Network
The best of the best is no surprise here. The Global Mountain Bike Network is the best MTB YouTube channel because it has videos for everyone who loves dirt: from the full-face helmet downhill mountain biker to the lycra-clad cross country rider along with everyone and anyone in between.
With the help of pro and ex-pro riding teams, GMBN makes to their mission to inform, entertain and inspire you to become a better mountain biker, including videos on how to ride faster with expert knowledge, how to fix anything and everything with pro-know-how, and how to ride anything with world-cup winning skills.
If you only consider one MTB YT channel, make it this one.
Matt Jones
Matt Jones is one of the most famous professional mountain bikers thanks to his superior skill when it comes to jumping. His YT channel offers an insight into his life as a professional mountain bike rider and Red Bull athlete.
Nearly all of his videos are MTB every day, whether it’s downhill, enduro MTB, dirt jumping, or slopestyle. He also uploads videos of his various MTB competitions from around the world at Crankworx MTB competitions and many more.
Matt’s channel is a great way to spend time with a tried and true professional mountain biker and is also a great resource due to the technical skill on display in his videos.
Berm Peak
Berm peak is a channel that is run by an MTB fan named Seth, and Berm Peak is what he calls his very own backyard. The channel was originally known as Seth’s Bike Hacks and has gained quite a reputation as being one of the most useful and engaging MTB channels on YouTube.
Seth turns his backyard into a super miniature downhill mountain bike park and makes family-friendly video content in the process.
In a popular episodic series called Berm Peak’s shop, Seth and others work on bikes, build new ones, and share the love with the mountain bike community through their extensive parts bin.
Red Bull Bike
Another popular YT channel for MTB is the Red Bull Bike YouTube Channel, where you can watch weekly updates from the world of UCI MTB World Cup, Downhill, and Cross Country, and get your dose of BMX videos, cyclocross, bike hacks, tips, news, and much more. A great aspect of this channel is that it allows you to connect with elite riders from MTB Downhill, MTB Slopestyle, BMX, trials, and everything in between.
Be sure to check out the weekly series every Friday and LIVE streams on the weekends, from Red Bull Rampage to Crankworx and many more of the events the channel extensively covers. Red Bull Bike takes you behind the scenes and closer to the action, introducing you to the world of professional MTB in ways you may never get a chance to see if it weren’t for a channel like this one.
Hut To Hut Mountain Biking: An Overview
Hut-to-hut mountain biking can be a fun alternative to traditional MTB or Cross-country MTB. It can provide you with the same adventure but with the convenience and comfort of cabin camping. In this section, you’ll be learning what hut-to-hut mountain biking is, a few examples of some hut-to-hut trails, and the advantages of this type of hiking that makes it a hit with hardcore MTB fans.
So, what is hut-to-hut mountain biking? Hut to hut MTB is using strategically placed huts on mountain trails where you can comfortably sleep when you’re doing a strenuous region-to-region MTB ride. These are small lodges that can typically fit 10 to 50 mountain bikers providing a roof, bed, flushable toilet, and a stove. In some cases, they can also be much more minimalist and only provide shelter with no extra amenities.
Advantages of Hut-to-Hut MTB
A great advantage of the hut-to-hut MTB over the long-distance trails is the amount of equipment that you can carry behind your back. With a place to stay and eat, there is no need to carry a tent, sleeping bag, or food and cooking utensils. All the things that you will need are your clothes, rain gear, water, and snacks during the day, and this will free up a lot of stress on your back when riding.
Another great advantage of staying at a hut provides safe emergency shelter for backcountry travelers stranded by poor weather conditions or injuries. You will also have a great hot meal when you decide to do a hut-to-hut ride. No need to worry about cooking on a fire that takes ages to start. Having to stay at a hut gives you a hot and cold shower as well as a toilet that flushes.
The material things are not the only thing that is great about taking advantage of a hut-to-hut mountain bike excursion. You will get to meet a lot of different people and have great conversations with them when staying in a hut. It is also great to hear different adventures from different people. That’s not all that is great about staying at a hut is that it reduces the potential for human or wildlife conflicts by separating people, food, and wastes from wildlife.
Huts also allow environmental damages to be minimized by controlling human use. Another great thing about the huts is that it prevents fossil fuels by providing more efficient, centralized cooking, water purification, and lighting systems. It lets you enjoy nature without having to go through a lot of processes in making yourself comfortable.
Challenges of Hut to Hut MTB
There are many advantages to hut-to-hut MTB but there are also challenges that you may face along the way. One of the main challenges is overbooking. If you do not plan your riding trip right and it is the peak season on the trail, then you might have trouble reserving a hut for yourself.
Another disadvantage is if you are not comfortable using materials that have been used by other people. As we all know there are a lot of people that rent huts over time. One more disadvantage is using the bathroom with a lot of people in your way. It may be uncomfortable to some when doing their thing in the bathroom.
Also, not all of us spend the same amount of time in the bathroom. There are some people who only spend a few minutes while others can spend an hour or more when they are in the bathroom. It is like living with your siblings again on the same roof. Another disadvantage is it may take a while for you to reach one hut during your ride depending on how far you plan to mountain bike.
Some hut-to-hut MTB sites take three hours to reach and others may take longer. If you want to take a rest or use the bathroom, you have no choice but to use whatever nature has to offer. Though there may be some disadvantages when doing hut-to-hut MTB, it is still a great way to enjoy your time on the trail.
Unicycle Mountain Biking
The more hardcore of a fan you become with MTB, the more outlandish and interesting the modifications and challenges become with the sport. Mountain unicycling is an adventure sport that consists of traversing rough terrain on a unicycle. Mountain unicycling is undertaken on similar terrain to mountain biking. However, MTB unicycling requires much more attention to the micro features of the short distance in front of the wheel.
Unicycles’ lack of a freewheel means that descents must be controlled all the way, and the typical lack of a gear system (though two-gear hubs are available) prevents the rider from reaching high speeds. Unicycle MTB usually takes place on specially designed unicycles, which are equipped with strong hubs, large, knobbly tires, high-grip pedals, and rugged frames.
Some are also equipped with rim or disc brakes, having the lever mounted under the nose of the saddle. The brake primarily helps to compensate for the downhill-slope force, while more expert riders also use it to decelerate or stop. Unicycle MTB riders also need a few additional skills than required for either mountain biking or regular unicycling, with core strength, endurance, and balance is key.
The ability to jump over gaps or to stop pedaling to keep the crank clear of the ground features is also helpful.
Unicycle MTB Tips to Keep in Mind
- High Speed gliding is a technique to rush down a smooth path with the feet off the pedals and braking with one shoe on the top of the tire. The unicycle typically has broad tires with a grippy profile, filled with medium air pressure.
- The grippy pedals may have a tilt front contour (viewed from the side). The cranks should not be too long – relative to the rim size – to maintain clearance from bigger stones on the ground.
- Rims are rather broad to be sturdy and may have bores between the spoke holes to save weight, as a typical trial bike wheel.
- The banana saddle is fixed (not spring-suspended) on the fork and carries a front and back bumper made of stiff plastics (strange, I know).
- The front bumper is used by three fingers from underneath as a handle when the rider jumps or dismounts – or falls.
- The rider wears shoes with grip, uses a helmet and protectors at shins, knees, and at least gloves on the hands.
- A helmet camera needs a wide-angle lens and picture stabilization because the rider makes sudden and quick head movements to watch the trail.
The Best Vehicle For Mountain Biking
Unless you are a casual MTB fan that prefers to ride their bikes along established public trails, chances are you know full well the necessity of using a good vehicle to haul MTB equipment. It makes sense then, that mountain bikers should have a car that suits the needs of their passion.
Though it’s entirely possible to shoehorn a bike into just about any car, the best car for mountain bikers is usually one that allows you to get your bike in/on and out/off of the car as quickly as possible. If you take pride in your car, you probably also want a set-up that doesn’t trash your car every time you use it.
The best vehicles for mountain bikers are ones that are big enough to fit the bikes inside while only taking the front wheel off, as they are safer this way. With this in mind, bikers do not need to give any thought to someone stealing their belongings while they are sleeping somewhere away from the car or grabbing lunch at a restaurant.
It’s not always easy, but it’s always possible. If you are looking to buy a new car, there’s a really simple solution to finding out if you can fit your mountain bike in the car – bring your bike and a blanket and see if it fits.
With these tidbits in mind, some important MTB vehicles to keep in mind are:
Compact Cars or Hatchbacks Are Best for Hard Core Mountain Biking Fans
Wanting to fit your mountain bike in the car doesn’t mean it has to come with the inconvenience of hard-to-find car parks and higher fuel economy. Here are some options that will be easy to park and allow you to fit the bikes inside your car with only the front wheel off. Just be aware that if you’re moving more than one bike, it’s probably only possible to (legally) move yourself and one other person.
Ford Mondeo Wagon
Regularly touted as the best value estate car to fit bikes in, the Mondeo is a perfect around-town family car that doubles as a bike-mover on weekends. This compact hatchback car delivers a smooth, linear response to acceleration demand for a refined driving experience.
The enhanced powertrain software is also more effective at using the engine’s torque to deliver greater fuel efficiency and performance, which seamlessly adjusts transmission ratios to utilize the highest engine torque at the lowest engine speed.
A standout feature of this car in terms of long-haul nature travel for MTB is the Intelligent Speed Limiter that combines Ford’s Speed Limiter and Traffic Sign Recognition technologies to help ensure the vehicle’s maximum speed is automatically adjusted to remain within changing speed limits.
The system uses a windscreen-mounted camera to monitor road signs and when the speed limit is lower than that maximum set speed, slows the vehicle as required. As the speed limit rises, the system allows the driver to accelerate up to the set speed, providing it does not exceed the new speed limit.
Honda Odyssey
The Honda Odyssey is a good minivan, and one of the best hatchback models to consider for comfortable and sufficient cargo for MTB traveling. It features cavernous seating space, a responsive infotainment system, and premium cabin materials. Add in composed handling, a serene ride, and a robust engine, and it’s not hard to see this vehicle’s appeal.
It’s available with plenty of family-focused features too. Minivan shoppers would be crazy not to consider the Honda Odyssey because it’s a well-rounded vehicle that delivers on just about every front, from safety features to ride comfort to passenger space. But best of all, this vehicle has a good amount of cargo room for a minivan.
There’s up to 38.6 cubic feet of space behind the third row, up to 92.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and up to 158 cubic feet behind the front row. To reach that total, though, you’ll have to physically remove the second-row seats. Fortunately, Honda-designed them to fold, which can make them easier to lift out. The third row folds flat into the floor. Absolutely perfect for hauling MTB gear.
Best RV For Mountain Biking
This perk can be said of cars and SUVs too, but it’s also something that makes having an RV pretty handy. You can drive your RV into any area, and while you might not be able to do some hardcore off-roading in your RV, you can also easily transition to MTb once you have exhausted all of your Rv driving and exploring.
The real reason an RV makes your mountain biking trips better is that you can camp in one place longer. Forget about spending a weekend tent camping while you mountain bike, what about spending an entire week or two in one location? With an RV this is not only possible but easy and comfortable. I know few people who are willing to spend a week or two in a tent, but I know plenty of folks who would be more than happy to do that in an RV.
You can camp in a nice campground with electric and water hook-ups, or you can drive out a little further and boondock in your RV. If you choose to do the latter, I suggest getting some solar panels so you can have power and maybe grab a portable generator, too.
I touched on this above, but it’s worth reiterating here, if you camp in an RV, after your mountain biking adventures for the day, you can come back to camp, have a shower, and then lounge on really comfy furniture, not camp chairs. While I love a good camp chair, there’s something special about getting off your bike and being able to sit on a couch, not to mention being able to cook a hot meal in a well-equipped kitchen.
However, the type of RV you get can make a difference.
Having a rack for your bicycles is fine, but toy haulers can be even better. With a toy hauler, you get a garage space, and this gives you a super-secure place to put your bikes when in transit or overnight and it gives you a place to work on your bike in case you have maintenance needs that come up.
Any seasoned mountain biker knows flat tires, bent components, and other issues are all too common when tackling a tricky trail, and having a good place to work on your bike can really save you some headaches. Ever try to work on a bike outside after the sun goes down? It’s not fun.
A toy hauler certainly isn’t needed. As I said, any RV, even a micro RV or teardrop unit will be able to help you bring along your bicycle, but a toy hauler certainly isn’t a bad design to consider.
With that in mind, here is the best RV to consider for MTB getaways.
Adrenaline
Backed by more than 50 years of RV manufacturing, Coachmen’s all-new Adrenaline Toy Hauler lineup is designed for today’s outdoor enthusiasts and offers superb accommodations and space for MTB enthusiasts.
This lightweight, ½ ton towable toy hauler is constructed utilizing the most advanced manufacturing methods and is fully equipped with standard features and amenities today’s end-user demands. Designed and built to be affordable and functional, the Adrenaline is perfect for cross-country MTB.
Best Dogs For Mountain Biking
You probably heard of dogs accompanying their hardcore mountain biking fan parents on a mountain biking trail. That sounds like good news, wherein you’re not just gonna have a pet in your home but an active buddy that will support and accompany you. They’ll make the trail experience more challenging because trail dogs have capabilities that no other person can replace.
Also, the fact that they are game no matter what type of trail, place, time, and weather makes them the better companion for mountain bikers. The enthusiasm that a trail dog can provide will not just leave you motivated on bike rides but also allows you to have fun and accomplish your mountain bike ride goals.
With this in mind, some breeds are better than others when it comes to the intensity of MTB, so consider these three breeds.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
This is a breed that belongs to large dogs and this breed is known for having very serious features. They could go up to 80 pounds which could be a heavy body weight in running. But, they are not disqualified to be your biking buddy because they are very energetic, alert, and strong to be able to make it until the end of the bike ride.
Like Golden Retrievers, the breed is friendly and thrives on socializing with people. Also, they tend to be disobedient thus proper obedience training is needed to make them your trail buddy.
Treeing Walker Coonhound
This breed is a hound dog that could be your partner in mountain biking. The dog is vibrant and friendly that you can bring especially if there’s a lot of people. They are obedient and they could honestly be your partner in any MTB trail or terrain honestly. Furthermore, they are athletic, smart, and gentle but you also need to train them because they are breeds that are easily distracted by prey and animals along the way.
English Springer Spaniel
A dog breed under the spaniel family that you can bring with you on an MTB trail? I know that likely sounds jarring, but this breed is energetic, fun, and friendly. Their intelligence is enough to be able to handle training and basic commands from owners. Although you may have a problem with their coat getting dirty because it is long and could get you stuck in the mud.
Also, these breeds love the outdoors that’s why they are the perfect companion to your mountain trails.
Additionally, it is important to keep these tips in mind when taking your dog on an MTB adventure:
- Don’t Leash Your Dog. It would be dangerous if you keep your dog on a leash. You could be taken down forcefully by your dog and you are limiting thus could hurt them in the process too. Cycling is easier if you are both free in the mountains.
- Be Careful of Dog Bloat. Dogs are susceptible to a stomach ailment known as bloat, which, unlike human bloat, is actually an almost always fatal condition in dogs. It is important not to take your dog MTB riding until at least two hours have passed after a meal. Follow the same rule once you return home and wait 2 hours before feeding. Small treats and water are fine during the MTB outing.
Best Places To Live For Mountain Biking
Mountain biking is only as good as the available nature trails and regional variations that support the activity. For hardcore MTB fans, moving to an area that supports the mountain biking lifestyle and way of life is essential.
With this in mind, and in terms of the United States, here is a sampling of some of the best places to consider living if you are a hardcore MTB fan.
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is actually a biking and hiking mecca for outdoor enthusiasts across the nation. With more than 1,000 miles of singletrack and beautiful Sonoran Desert scenery, it won’t stay a secret for long. If you have a penchant for MTB pain, La Milagrosa is one of the most aggressive rides in the Southwest.
The brutal hike-a-bike up to the start is rewarded with a pure adrenaline rush on the rocky, technical descent. There’s plenty of tamer riding to be had, as well. The 50 Year Trail System just northwest of town will challenge intermediate riders with steep berms and fast lines. Meanwhile, newbies can avoid the stress of cholla nips on the wide-open loops of the Fantasy Island trail system in east-central Tucson.
Tucson also has a vibrant economy and culture, in addition to a median-range cost and standard of living.
Bend, Oregon
Bend, Oregon quietly holds its own when it comes to singletrack MTB. The Peterson Ridge Trail system, a mix of singletrack and forest service roads, is a local favorite for pre-and post-work laps. Located minutes from the center of town, the 25-mile network delivers some of the best views of the Cascade Mountain Range and has routes mellow enough for first-time riders.
Experienced riders looking to test their mettle can tackle the McKenzie River Trail. It’s a challenging 25-mile descent with terrain that changes from lava beds to mossy forests. For gnarly scree descents with jaw-dropping rock spire views, hit the experienced-only trails of Smith Rock State Park just 20 miles away.
Oregon is a lush and quintessential way to experience the majestic wonder of the Pacific Northwest and to satisfy your MTB fandom.
Northern California
When all else fails, there is no better place to live for MTB than in the region that started it all. Northern California, also known as NorCal, is more mountainous, arid, and a bit more desolate when compared to the flatter and more humid regions in Southern California. But mountain biking as we know it today goes back to the 1970s when the sport of mountain biking was in its infancy in the plentiful wilderness found in Northern California, Marin County to be exact.
Basically, the sport evolved out of the hobbies of a group of teenagers in Marin County circa the late-1960s-early 1970s. Various local biking groups started riding through hills, valleys, and nearby mountain ranges using old single-speed balloon tire bicycles that regularly gave out due to the terrain.
During this time, these passionate bikers expanded the capabilities of off-road biking, and part of this came from the frequent refashioning and adding of parts to single-speed bikes to increase speed and braking capabilities. Due to this important bit of history, Marin County, and really any region found in the northern areas of the state, is a perfect destination for hardcore MTB fans.
Jobs To Do With Mountain Biking
You can easily be a hardcore fan of MTB and still not possess the skillset to make it like a pro. You may not even care about being a pro-mountain biker, and you just want to work in the industry somehow, somehow. If that is the case, you will be pleased to find that there are a few different jobs you can get that revolve solely around mountain bikes.
The only prerequisite you need to have is to love bikes. There is a saying that if you love what you do you’ll never work another day in your life. While that saying is not exactly true, loving whatever your job is involved with goes a long way in terms of having a fulfilling, meaningful, and long-lasting career. Even the most awesome positions often come with long workdays, working weekends, and times when it’s a grind.
Being truly passionate about cycling helps make those hard days meaningful. Get experience wherever you can—bike-shop jobs, racing, volunteering for trail-work days—it all adds up on a resume. When you’re getting that experience, be sure to network. Getting that dream job in the bike industry often starts with knowing the right people. For the higher-level positions, it’s important to have bike knowledge but also have the education to back it up.
Most high-end cycling positions will look into your background and want to see your passion. A bike-shop job is a great step, but if you want to design bikes and you have an engineering or industrial design degree, the expectation is that your portfolio would reflect your interest in bikes all the way back to your school projects and sketches.
If you want a marketing job, work on projects that provide experience and show a strong knowledge of how the bike industry works. Have you helped race organizers or your local shop with a website or other marketing activities? What have you done on social media that promotes cycling-related activities? Basically, do things that reflect the position that you want, and before you know it, you will have that position.
It’s all about yearning to find your niche and your place within the MTb community.
How To Get Sponsored In Mountain Biking
If you are a hardcore MTB fan, and you have enough viable practice and demonstrated skills to your credit, you may naturally want to find out about sponsoring to make a career out of your passion.
To get sponsored in MTB, the first task is to get noticed. In years past, attaining a sponsor in MTB was no easy feat; bikers had to hustle and pound the pavement competing in tournaments, networking, and building an image about themselves. In today’s hyperconnected world, it’s all different.
Getting a sponsorship today is all about networking online through social media; it may sound diminishing to state this as the only way to get a sponsorship, but it is just an example of how our culture is now. The days of magazines and mailing in submission tapes showing your skills are over.
With that in mind, filming yourself and editing your skillset into an attractive demo is still important, but instead of blindly soliciting MTB magazines, you can submit your demo tapes to popular online MTB portals–or make your own channel and market yourself online, specifically on YouTube.
If you catch the eye of a sponsor or multiple sponsors, the hard work only truly begins. You have to promote yourself according to your brands based solely on your skillset. This means you need to bring your A-game to your riding and racing consistently, and you cannot afford to have a sick day.
Attaining a sponsorship is all about mastering the dynamics of viral, online marketing, but you have to be prepared to put in the work if you reach this milestone with various brands.
How To Get Your Kid Into Mountain Biking
Teaching your child or children to mountain bike is a great way to get them excited about outdoor activities. Not only will they be learning a new and thrilling skill, but they’ll also be spending time in nature and learning more about the world they live in.
Ultimately, getting your children out of their comfort zone and immersing them in a new environment will help them become more inquisitive, open-minded, and respectful of nature. They’ll also enjoy more restful sleep, and improved fitness and health. On top of that, studies have shown that cycling makes us happier.
An interest—and eventual passion—for mountain biking requires two things: a love for biking, and a love for nature and landscape.
For your kids, the first of these depends on a love of physical activity, while the second depends on a learned appreciation of the world around them. These are both things they’ll pick up from you as their parents. Your relationship to fitness and biking, as well as your interactions with nature, will have a positive impact on your children, encouraging them in these ways.
Your kids might not initially love the exertion that accompanies mountain biking, especially if they’re not used to it. However, you can distract them by turning each outing into a family one (if you have the capability), bringing along a picnic lunch, and playing games on your ride, to name a few fun options. It won’t be long before your kids begin to associate mountain biking with fun, which is the end goal.
In addition to fun, some kids thrive with a bit of healthy competition and may enjoy either partaking in a junior beginner’s race or spectating at one.
Take your child down to a local track and let them experience the thrill of race day, the crowds, food stalls, and energy drink sponsorships left, right, and center. The whole atmosphere is fun to just take in for kids. Try unlocking those extreme sport channels on your cable TV and watching some professional mountain bikers.
They just might turn into future role models for your child to idolize, the same way Michael Jordan, Kobe Byrant, and LeBron James are influential when it comes to getting kids to shoot hoops.
As for nurturing your childrens’ love of nature? Well, they can’t appreciate what they don’t know. You can help them to appreciate their surroundings while mountain biking by making it a point to teach them about different trees, flowers, and shrubs. Not only will your kids develop a newfound understanding of their surroundings, but they’ll also enjoy the benefits that accompany living in the moment and being attuned to their environment.
How To Get Your Girlfriend Into Mountain Biking (Or Your Boyfriend, Wife, Husband)
Just as seen with your kids, getting your loved one into mountain biking is also all about showing your passion for the activity, and making your passion infectious enough to rub off on others.
If your spouse or significant other is not an outdoors person, you may have to be realistic about MTB and realize that there may be nothing you can do to change their minds. However, when you’re feeling frustrated, ask yourself why you’re feeling that way. Did you make a story up in your head? If your partner is sitting on your wheel chatting, did you automatically think he/she wanted you to be riding faster?
Most of the time, this is all Psychology 101. Perhaps they’re a more skilled or experienced rider and can navigate obstacles that look impossible to you, but the ability to articulate how they’re executing a specific move is a skill in itself. Sometimes we need to take a step back and remember this. Furthermore, when your partner gives you advice on the trial, remember that it is not a criticism.
Maybe they want you to succeed and see your potential; they think you’re ready for advice, so you have to be prepared to be flattered. When your significant other says the ‘wrong thing’ at the ‘wrong time,’ take a step back and forgive them – they’re only human. Riding with people who are more skilled than you will help your riding simply by observing and mirroring what they do.
If you spend a little time honing your skills away from your partner, your time spent on the trails together will be much more enjoyable. Your significant other can become your trail ally, ride-or-die partner for life.
As you may have realized, turning your significant other into your MTB trail ally has as much (if not more) to do with you as it does him/her.
International Mountain Biking Association
As most any hardcore MTB fan will know, the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) is the worldwide leader in mountain bike advocacy, and the only organization in the U.S. focused entirely on trails and access, for all types of mountain bikers in all parts of the country.
Since 1988, the association has taught and encouraged low-impact riding, grassroots advocacy, sustainable trail design, innovative land management practices, and cooperation among trail user groups. IMBA U.S. is a national network of local groups, individual riders, and passionate volunteers working together for the benefit of the entire community.
From large metropolitan areas to small rural communities and every place in between, trails enhance the quality of life, provide economic benefits and help create community. Trails close to home are more equitable and accessible, inspiring more riders to take up the lifelong habit we all love once we become hardcore fans.
The IMBA knows all of this because it has been a part of making these things happen worldwide for 30 years, and wants to continue to make sure it happens in more places, more rapidly. According to the association’s motto, “Everyone deserves a place to ride.”
Quotes For Mountain Biking
Much like anything in life that elicits major passion, adventure, and fulfillment in its fans, mountain biking is a sport and activity that has been filled with many legendary riders, and an entire litany of classic quotes revolving around the sport.
Here is a selection of some of the most memorable mountain bike quotes.
- What makes a grown man look at a 25-foot cliff drop and say “That’s totally doable!” and then pull out the cojones to stomp the landing after four disastrous attempts? The very same spirit that drives a company to produce the bike that survives those and countless other adventures. Some call it passion. We call it being Canadian!!” – Norco Bikes 2003
- “The secret to mountain biking is pretty simple. The slower you go the more likely it is you’ll crash.” – Julie Furtado
- “Until mountain biking came along, the bike scene was ruled by a small elite cadre of people who seemed allergic to enthusiasm.” – Jacquie Phelan
- “There is nothing, absolutely nothing, quite so worthwhile as simply messing about on bicycles.” – Tom Kunich
- Riding a bike is everything to a cyclist. The friendship and camaraderie you have with other cyclists …to a cyclist, it was the be-all and end-all of your life. — Tommy Godwin, English long-distance cyclist
- Crashing is part of cycling as crying is part of love.— Johan Museeuw
- Don’t buy upgrades, ride upgrades. — Eddy Merckx
- As long as I breathe, I attack. — Bernard Hinault
- Truly, the bicycle is the most influential piece of product design ever.— Hugh Pearman
- When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn’t work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me. — Emo Philips
- One of the most important days of my life was when I learned to ride a bicycle. — Michael Palin
Movies With Mountain Biking
When it comes to the big screen, MTB does not have a very full history in terms of blockbusters, but there are several MTB films available to satisfy hardcore fans of the sport. From documentaries to feature-length stories, here are some of the most notable MTB movies.
Klunkerz
Klunkerz is a 2006 documentary about mountain bike history during its formative period in Northern California. It examines the relationships of the Marin County hippies, athletes, and entrepreneurs who were directly responsible for popularizing off-road cycling. The film includes many interviews with those present during the embryonic stages of the sport.
Earthed 3
Let’s face it, either you mountain bike and watch mountain bike videos or you don’t. This isn’t going to be appealing for someone who doesn’t bike once you get past 5 minutes of giant jumps and painful crashes. But for those who bike — freeride, downhill, or even just XC — this is mandatory viewing material, and some of the best MTB footage this side of MTB pro channels.
Rad Company
In this beautiful documentary, Brandon Semenuk captures some of the highest levels of freeride mountain biking ever attempted in this cinematic party. He picks his favorite riders to show off their insane skills on some of the best natural and man-made terrain on earth.
Virtual Reality Mountain Biking With Oculus Rift
For hardcore MTB fans that also happen to be fans of VR and Oculus Rift, you may be wondering if your experience on a VR mountain bike prepares you for the real thing? Certainly not fully in the mere 10-minute session of MTB VR, but it can be argued that there’s lots of useful information to extract from the experience that would carry over to the real world, even with the limited simulation.
Things like becoming aware of varying traction on different surface types (not knowing the feeling of traction itself, but being aware of changing from one surface to another), knowing best when to brake and shift, becoming familiar with a particular course, learning how to safely pass and be passed, and even how many calories you might burn on said course could all be simulated with a system like Oculus Rift.
