Bike

It doesn’t matter how old you are, the excitement of freewheeling down a narrow trail with the air whipping past your face and ears is one of those cheap thrills in life that you never tire of. If you loved it when you were six, there is every reason to believe you will still love it when you are sixty!

Mountain biking is great fun and is relatively inexpensive, compared to many sports, though just as healthy. It is also very environmentally friendly. Whether you like rocky mountain biking or just a Sunday morning trek through the countryside, you get a great cardiovascular workout and keep your carbon footprints invisible.

If you are thinking of taking up biking again, or for the first time, and eyeing up mountain bikes, don’t think that you have to wear lycra or any other flash gear to ‘fit in’. You don’t. Whether you’re simply cycling off the beaten track or contemplating a bit of rocky mountain biking, all you need is a reliable bike and any old clothes you feel comfortable in, though shorts are preferable.

The bike itself is what matters. If you’ve looked at mountain bikes, you will be familiar with the benefits of dual or full suspension bikes. However, you should avoid a dual suspension bike unless you can afford to pay top dollar for it. The cheaper models are incredibly heavy and, whilst that may be comfortable going downhill, it will wear you out on any other terrain. Instead, go for the lightest hardtail mountain bike you can afford. If the frame is good, you can upgrade the rest when you are ready.

One last tip, whether you are planning a spot of rocky mountain biking or not, is that a mountain bike needs to be much smaller than a road bike, so that you can thrust your weight forwards and backwards to control steering and balance whilst maintaining traction on rough terrain.