There are different versions of the history of mountain biking that are confusing and at the same time mind-boggling; some of these versions are recognized while some or not. Whichever is true, one thing is for certain: mountain biking did happen and someone could have originated it. But who?

Dated back August of 1896, the Buffalo Soldiers apparently were the first ones who thought of mountain biking. Buffalo Soldiers were considered a turn-of-the-century infantry and they were believed to be the pioneers in customizing bicycles to be used for carrying gears around despite rough terrains. In fact, a white lieutenant together with some of his enlisted personnel have rode their bikes on an grueling 800 miles, just to test if the bicycle was capable enough to be used by the military, regardless of mountainous terrains. However, these Buffalo soldiers were not proven to have originated mountain biking.

The Velo Cross Club Parisien was also considered a part in the making of the history of mountain biking. Composed of twenty young and avid bicyclists, they come from Paris, France and they developed this type of sport that is somehow similar with the present mountain biking, between the year 1951 and 1956. During that time, their bikes were the most durable and sophisticated, technically speaking.

John Finley Scott, the first American mountain bike lover, created the Woodsie Bike. This bike was the one he used for off-road and mountain trails because of its diamond frame, flat handlebars, balloon tires and derailleur gears. The year was 1953 and sad to say though, no one during that time, shared his fascination of mountain biking.

The history of mountain biking, as perceived my the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, is a nonstop chain of events. A concrete example takes us to Marin County, where a group of cyclists, the Cupertino Riders, also known as the Morrow Dirt Club, competed with some popular cyclists from that place way back 1974. Though they werent able to make a name, they became noticed because of how they made modifications with their bikes. With that, historians believed that there was never a person nor a group of cyclist that make up for the history of mountain biking. However, it is credited to avid cycling enthusiasts, trying to make some new and innovative ways of improving their two-wheels.

The history of mountain biking is not as important as it seems it is. What matters is that cyclists have learned to love mountain biking for the reason that it is not just a mere outdoor sport but also a way of having fun under the sun.

The Mind-Boggling History of Mountain Biking is a post from: Adventure Travel and Trekking Demystified

For those who are seeking for the best adventure in their lives may just get what they want in mountain biking. Truly mountain biking is one good sport that can bring out the excitement that these bunch of individuals who are really craving for the ride of their lives that they have never done before.

Mountain biking like many other sports has its own brand of fashion making it one of the most commercialized. Mountain bikers can actually wear just about anything but for more comfortable ride, nothing can still beat wearing mountain biking gear. There are actually different types of mountain biking gears to consider from head to toe. All of these mountain biking gears will not only make the bikers feel comfortable but will also make them really good.

Mountain biking gear can come in different forms and each type probably has its won design. The individual design of the gear solely depend on the choice the bikers and the their type of action they are into. The most adventurous types will most likely don gears that are fit for the occasion like shirts that are specifically manufactured for ease and comfort. And there are more to mountain biking than just the shirt. Truly mountain biking is one sport that can totally make the bikers feel about themselves not only because of the great ride they will experience but also because of the comfort that the special gear they are wearing.

Gears, especially for mountain biking are not only for fashion and comfort because more than anything else they are also meant to ensure safety. This is so because of the possible danger that mountain bikers might face in one of their rides. Speaking of safety and protection from injury, protective pads are thus necessary. Pads for the arms and knees are important in as much as the helmet. These protective gears are engineered to provide the mountain bikers the protection they need just in case they met accidents along the trail.

The other consideration for a mountain biking gear is the pair of shoes. Perhaps bikers will also have to decide if they want to wear biking shoes with cleats or not. The decision will depend on the comfort that the bikers can get from the shoes. However most bikers especially the pros would choose the shoes with cleats, but this does not mean that the beginners should go for the same.

With the number of manufacturers that are offering various products of protective gear, the bikers will not have any difficulty in finding what is best for them. All they have to do is to compare prices and quality

Mountain Biking Gear is a post from: Adventure Travel and Trekking Demystified

If you don’t ride in the winter, you’ve probably spent the winter months on the couch eating chips and watching television. Before you know it, spring will be here and a new season of mountain biking will begin. Even though your body may not be in shape, these tips will ensure that your bike is.

Before you take your bike out, check the wear and tear on your components and adjust them if its necessary. Start off with your chain. If you haven’t replaced it in a year or more, it’s time to do so. Over time, the individual parts in the chain will get worn out, increasing its effective length.

As this happens, the chain is no longer able to conform to the cog and the teeth of the chain ring, so it wears those teeth out to fit the profile of the chain. If you can replace the chain before it stretches too much you’ll save yourself from having to replace high priced cogs and chain rings.

Now, check the bearing surfaces. These include your bottom bracket, hubs, and the headset. Each of these should turn without a problem with no play in the system. Before checking the bottom bracket, make sure each cranking arm is snugged tight. Next, hold on to the crank arm (not the pedal) and wobble it back and forth. If you hear any clicking or if the crank arm binds, the bottom bracket needs to be adjusted.

Do the exact same thing with your hubs. Take the wheels off the bike, spin the hub axles, then feel for any free play or binding. If you feel play or binding, you need to make an adjustment. To check the headset, start off by putting the newly adjusted wheels back on the bike.

Now, grab the front brake and pull and push the handle bars back and forth. There shouldn’t be any play. If you lift the front end off the ground, the fork should turn very smoothly. If it feels rough, it needs to be either adjusted or replaced.

While your looking, check the condition of your cables and housing. The cables should be rust free and the housing shouldn’t be cracked or kinked. If you see any of this you should replace the offending device, as if you don’t your shifting and braking will be sluggish.

Last, you should inspect your brake pads. Most pads will have ridges or indicator marks that will let you know when they need to be replaced. Brake pads that are worn out will comprimise both safety and braking efficiency.

Once you’ve got the tune ups out of the way, it’s time to go for a ride. With your mountain bike running better than ever, all you have to do now is have fun!

Spring Tune Up Tips is a post from: Adventure Travel and Trekking Demystified

Mountain biking is conquering the world by storm and is making every adventure-hungry denizen go loco. Gone are the days when mountain biking is simply just a mountain biking without the thrill involve. Todays mountain biking has grown not only in its popularity but also in its own disciplines. Any mountain biker and those who are willing to spend time and money just to learn the sport have more than one hundred and one reasons to be jolly because there are more than styles to learn in mountain biking and perhaps to enjoy too.

Because of the intense popularity of the sports, it is no longer solely confined to just mountains and man-made course because even ski resorts are now making it possible to do mountain biking following a yet another challenging course to take— the snow trail. Perhaps one of the most challenging and beautiful places to visit and challenge with a mountain bike is the French Alps. Mountain biking in French Alps will surely take anyone a great ride that will truly make anyone to go back for more. A craving that is definitely hard to satiate.

The French Alps form a large part of the world-renowned the Alps. In fact, one of the most popular and perhaps one that has the highest peak is the Mont Blanc, which is also partially found in France specifically in the city of Haute-Savoi. There are more mountains that can be found in the French Alps, which naturally make mountain biking in French Alps exhilarating and something that is always looked forward to. Mountain biking does not only take the bikers to the most beautiful mountain of all the Mont Blanc, which is also known as the White Mountain or the White Lady but also it can take other popular mountains and ski resorts.

In order to attract more tourists to these ski resorts specially when winter is gradually turning into spring they have these resorts not only a rendezvous for ski enthusiasts but a haven for mountain bikers as well. The number of sports enthusiasts who are mountain biking in French Alps are growing in leaps and bounds thanks to those thrilling ride that gives them the adrenalin that they were looking for.

Mountain biking in French Alps can lead the bikers into yet another electrifying ride to the Les Chemins du Soleil or better known as the Paths of the Sun. This course is following two different paths that meet each other at a certain point somewhere in pre-Alps of the southern portion of France. Most of the bikers take the rood to the Grenoble leading to the Sisteron trail because of its remarkable trail with a higher degree of difficulty, nevertheless the one that can truly satisfy ones hunger for heart pumping adventure. So if you are looking for the greatest ride of a lifetime then mountain biking in French Alps will definitely give what you wanted.

Mountain Biking in French Alps is a post from: Adventure Travel and Trekking Demystified

Cross country mountain biking is cross country at its finest. Where free riders and downhill bikers use four wheel bikes and ski lifts to get them to their destination, cross country bikers get to the top of the mountain by the ride. Though free riding is very popular, the life vein of the sport has always been cross country biking.

Just as cross country riders are a different breed, the bikes they ride are as well. The cross country
bike is completely different in many ways from other types of mountain riding bikes. The premise for cross country riders is speed. Everything about their bikes revolve with the idea of making the bikes faster and faster.

Bikes used in cross country mountain biking can be fully rigid frame, hardtails, or even full suspension frames. Through the years, the cross over to full suspension has become very popular.

The weight difference between free ride bikes and cross country bikes are considerable. You’ll be extremely hard pressed to find a bike that weighs more than 24 pounds, and even that weight can be heavy. Free ride bkes weigh close to 40 pounds, which makes the difference in weight pretty close.

If you’ve never tried cross country mountain biking, you’ll probably find it to be a break from the ordinary. Even though this type of biking involves trails, it’s normally the type of terrain that beginners wouldn’t want to ride. Involving hills and rough terrain, cross country biking offers quite the rush.

For mountain bikers everywhere, cross country is the way to go. It offers you a new assortment of bikes, new areas to bike, and a new twist to mountain biking as you know it. If you’ve been looking for a mountain biking rush, cross country mountain biking is what you need to be experiencing.

Cross Country Mountain Biking is a post from: Adventure Travel and Trekking Demystified

There is a lot of history and information out there in regards to the history and origins of mountain biking, with some being recognized and some that depends on who has the best firm of public relations.

Some say that mountain biking began with the Buffalo Soldiers, which was a turn of the century infantry who customized bikes to carry gear over the rough and tough terrain. They began in August of 1896, over the course of 800 miles. Their mission was simple – to test bikes for military use in the toughest of terrain.

Others say it was the Velo Cross Club of France that started mountain biking. The club was comprised of 20 young bikers from Paris, who between 1951 and 1956 developed a sport that resembles present day mountain biking.

It could have also been John Finley Scott, who was the first mountain biker in the U.S. In 1953 he constructed what he called a “Woodsie Bike”, using a diamond frame, balloon tires, flat handle bars, and cantilever brakes. He was more than 20 years ahead of his time. Even though he remained an off road enthusiast, there were many at that time who didn’t share that same passion.

Today, we believe that the history of the mountain bike is most apparent in Northern California. There are a few areas that claim to be the first community for mountain biking, although each and every history book will tell you Marin County.

The sport of mountain biking has taken many twists and turns over the last several hundred years. Even though there are many that say different things about the history and the beginning, we know one thing for sure – one thing has led to another and the sport of mountain biking was born.

The History Of Mountain Biking is a post from: Adventure Travel and Trekking Demystified

Just what are mountain biking dirt jumps? And what are its relevance with mountain biking? Mountain biking dirt jumps are basically those types of jumps that we commonly see from the backyards of mountain biking enthusiasts. So how do you build your own mountain biking dirt jumps?

There are certain steps and rules to follow upon doing it. But the first thing that you must remember is to have a proper location. Make sure to keep your mountain biking dirt jumps out of way from those people who do not appreciate this hobby. You don’t want to see them destroying your dirt jumps in the future, do you? Choose also locations that are either flat or sloped because bumpy grounds are not advisable and could only eat much of your time from building it. Your mountain biking dirt jumps should also be made out of nice dirt. Though others use stones, dirt is still the best choice. And finally, your location must be large. Try to consider the fact that mountain biking is an outdoor game, so having huge mountain biking dirt jumps are just perfect.

After you found the perfect locations for your mountain biking dirt jumps, next things to consider is having the proper set of building tools. The most useful tools are the spades, used in shifting dirt around. For you to get more comfortable, there are spades with long handles, good for saving your aching back. Shovels are as useful as spades, as well as with pick axes. Forks are used for loosening hard dirt, wheelbarrows likewise for transporting large capacities of dirt. Make sure that you get those that are made of metals, though the ones made from plastic will also do. Watering cans, especially those with noses that are similar with sprinklers are also useful because there are times you may encounter yourself digging on dry dirt and admit it, you do not want to dig with dry places like that, do you? If you have access with hoses, that is far more better. Rakes are used in moving twigs and dried leaves around your mountain biking dirt jump locations. Brooms as well are used in sweeping away those dusts on your trails, while buckets are perfect for collection of water to be used for your drainage systems.

If you already have the above-mentioned things, you can start now building your mountain biking dirt jumps. Make sure to have definite plans and specifications with your dirt jumps. Safety is still the top most concern here. After all, your mountain biking dirt jumps are one way for you to enhance your mountain biking techniques sans the hassles of getting outdoors.

Mountain Biking Dirt Jumps is a post from: Adventure Travel and Trekking Demystified

The gears in mountain bikes just keep getting more and more intricate. The bikes of today have as many as 27 gear ratios. A mountain bike will use a combination of three different sized sprockets in front and nine in the back to produce gear ratios.

The idea behind all these gears is to allow the rider to crank the pedals at a constant pace no matter what kind of slope the bike is on. You can understand this better by picturing a bike with just a single gear. Each time you rotate the pedals one turn, the rear wheel would rotate one turn as well (1:1 gear ratio).

If the rear wheel is 26 inches in diameter, then with 1:1 gearing, one full twist on the pedals would result in the wheel covering 81.6 inches of ground. If you are pedaling at a speed of 50 RPM, this means that the bike can cover over 340 feet of ground per minute. This is only 3.8 MPH, which is the equivalence of walking speed. This is ideal for climbing a steep hill, although bad for ground or going downhill.

To go faster you’ll need a different ratio. To ride downhill at 25 MPH with a 50 RPM cadence at the
pedals, you’ll need a 5.6:1 gear ratio. A bike with a lot of gears will give you a large number of increments between a 1:1 gear ratio and a 6.5:1 gear ratio so that you can always pedal at 50 RPM, no matter how fast you are actually going.

On a normal 27 speed mountain bike, six of the gear ratios are so close to each other that you can’t notice any difference between them.

With actual use, bike riders tend to choose a front sprocket suitable for the slope they are riding on and stick with it, although the front sprocket can be difficult to shift under heavy load. It’s much easier to shit between the gears on the rear.

If you are cranking up a hill, it’s best to choose the smallest sprocket on the front then shift between the nine gears available on the rear. The more speeds you have on the back sprocket, the bigger advantage you’ll have.

All in all, gears are very important to mountain bikes as they dictate your overall speed. Without gears you wouldn’t be able to build speed nor would you be able to pound pedals. The gears will move the pedals and help you build up speed.

There are all types of gears available in mountain bikes, all of which will help you build up a lot of momentum if you use them the right way.

How Mountain Bike Gears Work is a post from: Adventure Travel and Trekking Demystified

When you hear the word Las Vegas, instinctively what comes immediately across your minds? Casino and gambling that is. Las Vegas is known to be the gambling capital of the world. A city that never sleeps, Las Vegas is very festive and jovial during night time. If you are a first timer in the place, you wonder what Las Vegas has to offer during daytime. You believe there is nothing actually but in fact there is. Las Vegas Mountain biking has started to make its way to the tourist public. But before doing so, there are three steps to consider before deciding for a Las Vegas Mountain biking adventure. First, you must determine the time most convenient to travel because certain weather conditions might change. Secondly, choose the places that fall to your interest and make sure that it will also go well with your timeframe. Finally, call your traveling agents so they can further assist you for that dream Las Vegas Mountain biking.

If you plan on bringing along with you your kids, perhaps this is also a great idea for you to enjoy your trip. You need not worry about their safety and the likes because Las Vegas mountain biking planners have three levels of mountain biking packages that are suitable for you and for your kids: the All levels, the beginners, and the intermediate. The All-level tour is designed for all, from the novice to the professionals. Most of the trails are rideable by everyone. While others can enjoy long hours of Las Vegas Mountain biking, the others can just sit and rest for a while, at the same time enjoying the majestic views around. For the professional mountain bikers, certain trails are also available for them to further accommodate their biking needs. The beginners level, as the name implies, is designed for your little kids as well as for those who are first timers in mountain biking. They have programs and trails, as well as lectures to further equip them with the proper knowledge about mountain biking. Finally, the intermediate and advanced level for the Las Vegas Mountain biking is for the professional mountain bikers only. Expect to see trails and terrains far more challenging than the ordinary ones.

Aside from the usual gambling and casino, a Las Vegas Mountain biking is a great way for you to totally enjoy Las Vegas. For you to learn more about these outdoor adventures, visit your local travel agencies and theyd be glad to assist you with what you need to satisfy your needs and your wants. Enjoy the pleasures of outdoor nature. Enjoy Las Vegas Mountain biking and see for yourself how satisfying it could be.

Las Vegas Mountain Biking is a post from: Adventure Travel and Trekking Demystified

There is undeniably a very fast increase of mountain biking lovers worldwide. Young and old alike, there is no stopping from getting these aficionados more and more addicted and attached with this mountain biking craze. But have you ever wondered how these enthusiasts gather information from equally crazed mountain bike lovers worldwide? Introducing the mountain biking forums, to accommodate those questions and confusions with just a few clicks of your mouse.

In a technologically advanced world, the Internet is one great way of reaching out to other people, even if they are worlds apart. Mountain biking forums are so far the best ways of gathering mountain bikers worldwide. Here, they discuss almost anything under the sun, but mostly those that are related with mountain biking. From the latest craze down to the smallest details of events, you name it and you can find it on mountain biking forums

Its very amazing how an Internet could make the world of mountain bikers smaller and smaller. They trade secrets, share tips, and even swap pictures and photos online. Amazing isn’t it? And what makes it more astounding is the fact that the people involved on mountain biking forums seem as if they had known each other for a long time when in fact, most of them are not at all connected in the outside world. Furthermore, you can expect these mountain bikers to share secrets and tips on how to improve mountain biking performance, perfect for those who are just amateurs in the world of mountain biking. The Internet is remarkably one of the greatest inventions of all times!

Latest news and events that revolves around the world of mountain biking is also discussed on mountain biking forums. Likewise, you can also notice how the members of these forums communicate as if they are like a band of brothers. It is truly quite an amazing sight. You can even take part of some discussions on certain topics posted.

If you wish to see mountain biking forums, you can browse them over the Internet. Actually, there are more than a hundred forums you can find online, depending on the locations. But more often than not, most of the members of these forums are mountain biking enthusiasts, so there is practically no need to fret out. The fact of seeing these bikers go online is exhilarating enough. What makes it more interesting is the fact that the only thing that binds them is just their greatest passion, and that is mountain biking. Amazing isn’t it?

Mountain Biking Forums is a post from: Adventure Travel and Trekking Demystified