You probably remember how your mom fussed over you when you were just starting out on the bike. Well, your mom is probably going to faint when she hears about extreme Mountain Biking. Extreme Mountain Biking is a sport for those who are brave enough to try out new and challenging terrains. But not just that, the sport also requires a lot of patience, practice and great deal of self-reliance because just imagine – you’d be handling a two-wheeled beast, riding it across bumpy and sometimes unsure terrain.
Yes, you can say that you know how to ride a bike but when it comes to Extreme Mountain biking, knowing how to ride one is not enough. You’d be travelling on rocky roads, gravel roads, inhospitable tracks and even ‘single tracks’ that are narrow paths found through fields, forests and mountains.
But if you are interested and would like to try out this sport, let us help you out in choosing which type of Mountain Biking to try out.
Extreme Mountain biking has five popular categories: Cross Country, Downhill, Free riding, Dirt Jumping and Urban Riding. The first three are quite popular and are already enjoyed by a lot of bike lovers. But to start you off properly, all five will be discussed.
- Cross Country (XC) is the most common and popular among bike lovers. This is usually biking around 30 miles from one destination to another or in a loop with the terrain being full of descents and climbs. If you are a beginner, better try out Cross-country Biking before moving on to more risky types.
- Downhill Mountain Biking involves racing downhill and mostly includes large jumps of up to 40 feet, drops of up to 10 feet and a terrain that is harsh and steep . This makes Downhill biking one of the most dangerous types and the most physically demanding among the other categories.
- Dirt Jumping is all about displaying the biggest, the most amazing even the craziest stunts and tricks while bikers are suspended and spinning in the air.
- Free riding, as its name suggests, is riding out without a particular style in mind. It encompasses all the styles in Mountain Biking and you can choose to perform a series of downhill courses, some jumps and drops, riding trails and pulling off stunts are require more skills than the usual Cross Country Mountain Biking.
- Urban Riding can be done anywhere and usually involves grinding ledges, riding on and off on obstacles and performing rotations on flat ground. Each category requires a different bike much suited to its terrain. For example, a downhill mountain bike has to have heavier brakes and more front and rear suspensions.
Once you’ve decided on which discipline you’d pursue, equip yourself with the needed gears especially those that keep you safe. For remember, even the toughest knight needs the best armor.
