Were you one of the millions of people hooked to your television during the London 2012 Olympics? If you were, you may be feeling suitably inspired to get out and try something different. But which new sport should you hurl yourself into?
If the idea of throwing yourself off the ten metre diving board doesn’t appeal, and the monotony of marathon running bores you to tears, mountain biking may be more up your street.
If you saw the mountain biking on the final day of the games, you can’t have failed to be impressed. The race took place on a purpose built route in Essex – a county not normally associated with mountains – and was laced with obstacles and rocks designed to keep the riders on their toes.
The event perfectly highlighted the extraordinary bike handling skills and fitness levels required to compete at the elite level.
Getting Started
Fortunately, mountain biking is anything but elitist. All you need to get involved is a bike and some countryside.
The UK is one of the best locations in the world for mountain biking. The relatively small size means you are never far away from an excellent location or facility for biking.
If you’re a complete beginner, and you want to try the sport out, the first step may be to simply dig your old bike out from between the piles of rubbish in your garage. Give the old girl a polish, sort out any flat tires, and take her for a quick ride.
If that whets your appetite, nearby woodlands and forests can provide all you need to get used to riding off road.
If you need to buy a bike, buying second hand might be a good way to get extra value for money. Have a quick look on Gumtree to see if there are any bargains to be had – Cannondale, GT, Specialized and Trek are all good mountain biking brands.
As you become more serious about the sport, you’ll almost certainly want to invest more money in gear. As a beginner, you won’t need much – gloves and a helmet are always a good idea, however. Make sure you have a snug fitting helmet, and you’ll find the basic equipment you need here.
Getting the Real Mountain Biking Experience
If riding through woodland sounds a bit tame for you, the best thing to do is head out to one of the UK’s national parks. You’ll find miles of varied terrain to negotiate. The dedicated mountain biking trails can be ridden at your own pace, be careful not to hold up other riders, though.
If you’re in Wales, be sure to head to Coed Llandegla Forest. Here you’ll find some brilliant and diverse trails that are suited to beginners. Swinley Forest in Berkshire is another good location to see how you cope with genuine mountain biking trails.
For the one of the purest mountain biking experiences, be sure to visit the Lake District. This sprawling landscape is a mecca for riders, and boasts unrivalled tracks and trails to challenge riders of all levels. Whether you want slow drawn out ascents, or nippy, technical trails, you’ll be well catered for. The Mountain Bike Cumbria website has details of many of the trails in this area.
The North Face Trail is an excellent place to start, and it loops round to an expansive visitor’s centre and bike shop.
The thrill of throwing your bike into corners and instinctively dealing with the unexpected is what separates mountain biking from other sports. It’s the perfect excuse to escape to the countryside and let loose. Who knows, maybe you’ll catch the bug and be representing Team GB at Rio 2016.
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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