If you’re reading this and you’re like me, than you are definitely in the market to learn more about mountain biking. While the entry before mine gives a great description of the terms I have a clean slate and an open mind when it comes to the sport. The first thing I need to do before I can hit the trails is to get some gear. I decided to go to REI.com, which is one of the leading companies in outdoor gear and equipment.
First and foremost, I need a ride! There are different categories of bikes, and I am opting for the hardtail mountain bike. It has a front suspension that reduces the steering vibrations and is recommended for casual trails (which I’ll start on) and a single track (check the glossary in the post before if you don’t know what that is). Since I’m a beginner, I opted for the Novara Aspen Bike, which is on the less expensive end and is supposed to be great for the type of trails I’m going to tackle. Sizes of bikes range from extra small to large- I’m on the shorter side, so I’m going with an extra small. I also need a lock for my bike, and the recommended lock is on the same page as my bike. REI’s website also has alot of other accessories to choose from like lights and racks.
Now that I have a bike, I need the right gear! REI’s site has jerseys, shorts, jackets, footwear, and much more to choose from. Safety is very important, so you might want to go with reflective clothing so you can always be seen! Speaking of safety, don’t forget to buy a helmet as well!
Bike, check…gear, check…clothing, check…helmet, check…now it’s time to hit the trail! I live in Southern California so I found a great list of trails on www.SoCalMtB.com. There’s a great index of trails in Southern California and is divided up by location. I found one very close to where I live, so I’m off to hit the trail!!