Mountain Biking - beginner at mt biking

hey everyone im a teenager and i have just kind of started mountain biking, i have some friends that do it some seriously and some for fun. i just bought a boulder giant se (no cracks haha didnt want to spend too much on very first bike just in case) and i was wondering if anyone had any ideas for equipment or advice..

thanks alot for any help

robert

sorry typo giant boulder se

Hit the trails...check with local bike shops to find out about local clubs and ride with the local groups. Check your school to see if there is a club at the school.

I love Giant bikes - best bang for the buck!

Don't ride without a helmet - EVER.

Equipment wise, you may find yourself wanting some clipless pedals and shoes to match. Thats the only thing I can see that would keep me off the trails on that bike.

one of my friends dads is a pretty good rider and enters a lot of competition and there are some trails but one of them is overgrown, the one on the mountain is nice though, some of my friends and that guy i was talking about and some other dudes used to go every weekend but it was before i got my bike so

Cheap pedals (http://www.nashbar.com/results.cfm?subcategory=1078&category=108&browse=&storetype=&estoreid=&brand=&searchbox=&start=1&orderby=price1)

Cheap shoes (http://www.nashbar.com/results.cfm?subcategory=1041&category=84&browse=&storetype=&estoreid=&brand=&searchbox=&start=1&orderby=price1)

Equipment I would suggest, a pump and patch kit. So you will not be walking back. Water bottle for water of course :)

Always great to hear of someone getting into the sport. It's always best if you find a group of friends that ride on a regular basis. Don't worry so much about shoes and pedals initially, get used to (comfortable) on your bike first! Learn the basics, then upgrade to shoes/pedals.

To start, I would suggest first and foremost a helmet. A cheap one will do, a more expensive one will be lighter and cooler (more vents) but both will protect your noggin!

Secondly, I'd get some cycling specific padded shorts. If you don't like the lycra tights, you can get some baggies with a padded liner (my preference).

Then, a pair of gloves. When you crash (and you will) gloves will protect your hands from getting destroyed. I live in FL with 90 degree summers and I use full fingered MX or BMX type gloves. I like the extra protection for when I crash, but also for pushing off of trees and swatting branches out of my way!

Tools - get a seat wedge a.k.a. seat bags. I recommend a spare tube, a patch kit and a mini-tool (check out crank bros or Topeak). You should also get a mini-pump, these have holders that attach to your frame beneath the bottle cage.

Besides that, all will come in time!

Enjoy!

L8R

you need to be safe if rock climbing or mountain side riding.theres a real good chance to fall of the side(ouch:eek: ) just on the safe side bring health kit. ow ya my favorite,bring a shovel so at least someone can bury you at the bottem. just kiding and have fun.

Remember not to go too crazy on the technical downhills where a lot of rocks are found: they can be detrimental to your knees/shins.

Hes right ive experienced that. (ouch:eek: )

Originally posted by Chi
Remember not to go too crazy on the technical downhills where a lot of rocks are found: they can be detrimental to your knees/shins.

Curious but why...from falling or the bouncing around?

Either way welcome to the sport...some things to remember

1 - pain is good. :D...
2 - You will hurt...:D
3 - Ride like you are being chased by cops...
4 - Have fun.

See you on the trails :D

I meant from falling ... losing your balance and driving your knee into a sharp rock isn't too fun, IMO. But yes, I like hurting the day after. ;)

I have found that the best way to gain experience and confidence in your riding ability is to simply do it more often... you'll find that even though you might not have a bike as nice as your friends, you will still be able to do some techinal trails once you have gained the skill (and learned the trails) :)


(800th post :D)

Yes, that's how I learned ... riding a crappy Magna up and down a technical trail with a friend of mine taught me a few things I never knew about bikes, and what I should look into when getting a better one.