Our Guide to Having a Better Ride -- Mostly For Riders New to Mountain Biking

Disclaimer : This information article is intended to be part of your skill improvement and awareness education and we suggest it is only one of many sources you should access.  It makes no claims to be a complete and total source of information and while every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy, it is your responsibility to ride safely and responsibly. There is no substitute for using topographical maps, reading trail guide books, possessing good route following skills, using good judgement and responsible behavior when you are mountain biking.                  

 Mountain biking is a hazardous and dangerous sport that requires people to accept responsibility for their own actions, decisions and experiences.

Choosing a Ride and Getting Organized for It

Before you choose a ride or commit to joining others on a ride, take a few minutes in the quiet comfort of your home to think carefully about mountain biking. Honestly and thoughtfully consider your present mountain bike skills level, your current health and physical condition, the amount of time you have available for the ride and your comfort level for the ride. Use the result of this assessment to help you choose an appropriate trail to ride on.

If you are new to an area or perhaps riding a trail for the first time, research the trail beforehand. Seek knowledge from local bike shops as well as local trail guide books and/or topographical  maps. See how the trail description compares with your skills level, interest level and physical condition as well as your time and energy levels that day. In assessing a ride don’t just consider total distance and technical difficulty – remember aerobic challenges, what is the trail’s “open for riding” season, elevation above sea level, altitude gains and losses on the ride, creek crossings and water levels, weather – current and recent, winds, amount of daylight hours, current trail conditions etc.  We suggest you always ride with a friend. Whether you are riding alone or with others it is a good practice to always let someone reliable know your travel plans and estimated time of return. Give them a comfortable margin of error on the return time.  If you aren’t back by an agreed upon time your friend should be prepared call the local authorities without delay. Acting early on this may help to get you found if you are stranded somewhere or in trouble and the sooner the search and rescue people start looking the more likely it is that they will find you quickly. To assist any searchers you should stick to your original trail ride plan or else they will have trouble finding you in any timely manner. So as not to have a false search take place, make sure you notify your friend at the first opportunity, once you finish your ride. Don’t head to a pub or another friend’s house and think you’ll call your friend in a short while. Do it now.

Ride with a guide book and a topo map or trail map if the trail is new to you. Refer to the map regularly especially if route finding is an issue and it often can be riding in some areas. Note outstanding natural landscape features as you ride and try to keep your bearings in relation to them at all times.

If you like and prefer a GPS, take one along but have alternatives in place should it fail. A cell phone is a good idea but be aware that  you may get into areas that do not have cell phone coverage so don’t rely on it being available. Pre-program any emergency phones you may need into your cell.

Before You Head Out

Get a recent trail report and an up-to-date weather forecast and pay attention to them. If it has been raining your planned trail may be wet and/or muddy. Riding on such a trail can cause a lot of damage (depending on soil conditions and type, terrain slope, vegetation etc) that can take a long time to heal so always avoid wet and muddy trails. Think about riding somewhere else or wait for another day.

Do a gear check before you leave the house. Some people keep a check list on their computer and add or change it as required. This can be a handy tool and save ruining a ride when you get to the trailhead and find you have forgotten your helmet or some other essential piece of equipment or that you didn’t fill your water pack.

Taking your dog with you? Think about leaving your pooch at home instead. A mountain bike ride can be hard and taxing for your best buddy. And a dog running free can disturb wildlife and livestock and intimidate other trail users. A dog that disturbs a bear or cougar can run back to the protection of its master when it is being chased and is that what you really want to have happen? Take your dog for a run or a walk before or after your ride and you both can relax and enjoy each other’s company.

Some Equipment to Think About Taking

There is no perfect or definitive list of things to take on the trail so you will, over time, learn what you think you need or what you never will use. No one list of gear will suit everyone. And the bigger the list, the heavier your pack will be, so just take things that you feel are essential. Below are a few lists of some things you may want to take with you but remember, all the tools in the world are no help to you if you can’t use them. And sometimes trail-side repairs call for some improvisation, creativity and lateral thinking. Use a little imagination and it may just help you out of a jam. You’ll usually find other riders more than willing to stop and help you out if they can but being self-reliant is often a necessity.

Ask your bike shop to suggest a tool list based on your model of bike and the components it has. Bikes never seem to break down in convenient places. Being stranded many miles along a trail is not fun. It can mean a long walk out, possibly with some challenging consequences. Your best defense against a breakdown is a well-maintained bike. And keep in mind that if you ride with someone who does not maintain their bike regularly then their problem on the trail will become your problem too. Get your bike serviced regularly by a good bike tech and before each ride check for basic things like tire pressure, loose headset, loose wheel nuts or quick releases, dry chain, smooth and accurate gear shifting, brakes that work well, seat and seat post security etc. Your bike manufacturer usually provides a list of items you should regularly and frequently check on your bike. Again your bike shop can help with this or perhaps it is posted on your bike manufacturer’s website.

Mountain biking requires some specific clothing made from fabrics that help you move heat and perspiration away from your body, protect you from wind, shade you from the sun and keep you warm when the temperatures drop. While cotton is wonderful natural fiber, it is not the best fabric to wear mountain biking. Cotton absorbs water (yours and Mother Nature’s) and retains it for a long period of time. This means that it will contribute to keeping you cool and damp and this is not just uncomfortable, it can accelerate the lowering of your body temperature which is something you probably don’t want unless it is a very hot day. Often on a ride you may end up adding or removing layers of clothing as your energy output changes and as the weather and temperature change. Layers of suitable clothing for the conditions you may encounter are the best way to dress. Always wear a helmet when riding. 

Tools and stuff

·         Tire levers

·         Air pump

·         Tube patch kit (check the glue hasn’t dried out)

·         Spare tube

·         Chain tool

·         Multi tool (with tools that suit your bike)

·         Set of Allen Keys

·         Small amount of duct tape or electrical tape

·         A few plastic zip ties

·         Small container of chain lube

·         Knife

Basic Swag

•  First aid kit or supplies
• Water system/pack -- take more water than you think you'll need
• Sunglasses (for glare, UV, dust and dirt, insects, low hanging branches etc)
• Sunblock and lip balm

·         Insect repellant

·         Camera

·         TP and ziplock plastic bag

·         Guidebook and maps

·         A daypack or hip pack

·         Water system/pack – take more water than you think you’ll need

·         Water bottles

·         Matches and a compass

·         Food, trail mix and energy bars

·         A loud whistle like a Fox 40

·         Cell phone

·         Bear spray

Clothing and related gear

·         Riding gloves and any other protective equipment you like to use such as knee armour or wrist protectors – whatever you prefer to use

·         Head sweatband

·         Helmet

·         Cycling shorts and jersey

·         Cycling tights and long sleeve jersey if weather dictates

·         Windproof and waterproof jacket

·          Leave the house with extra clothing – trailhead weather conditions may be very different from the view out your window at home when you left and improper or extra clothing can be left in the car at the trailhead.

·         Wool socks

·         ID

·         Small amount of appropriate cash for emergencies (phone calls, food, fees etc)                 

·          Riding shoes     

Having Fun on the Trail – Some Tips, Guidelines, Reminders and Suggestions –  Riding Etiquette as Well

When you get to the trailhead, park your vehicle thoughtfully to avoid problems if bad weather comes in suddenly, such as a low lying area that could flood. Also when parking remember that vehicles at trailheads can be the target of opportunistic thieves. Leave no valuables in your car and keep any contents such as sports equipment or CDs hidden or covered. Out of sight out of mind.

It is important that you always know your physical and skill limits when riding. If you get uncomfortable riding, consider getting off your bike and walking until you feel ready to ride again – we all do it. If you get really uncomfortable, consider turning around if it makes sense – know your limits. One sign of an experienced rider or trail user is knowing when to turn around. Better to be safe than sorry, and being fit and healthy to ride another day is better than getting into circumstances that could very well ruin your day or worse.

Riding with one or more people means that your ride will be as fast and strong as the slowest or weakest rider. Know and understand the riding levels as well as the riding strengths and weaknesses of all people on your ride and make group decisions with this in mind. If you ride as part of a group try to keep the group small – perhaps 4 or 5 riders. Practice low-impact and sustainable mountain biking by travelling lightly and inconspicuously on the land.

Being prepared means you will have a better experience on a trail but you should always expect the unexpected. Aside from experience, common sense will be your best companion on the trail. Mountain biking is a potentially dangerous and a hazardous sport. As such a positive attitude and disposition will go a long way to making your day better for all.

Many people choose to mountain bike with an iPod or MP3 player. While this can be enjoyable we would like to discourage this especially if you are traveling alone. With cool, and perhaps loud tunes in your ears and head your trail concentration level can decrease and certainly your surroundings awareness level will be impeded. You need to be aware of what is happening around you at all times. This simple truth is so fundamental  in mountain biking.

Know where you are on the trail at all times (easy to say right?). Mountain biking often demands good route finding skills. Sometimes you may not actually be lost but you just don’t exactly know where you are. There is a difference – ask any male if you don’t believe that. Stay calm and take considered actions. Your gut instinct is often a good safety check to listen to. If you really are lost don’t compound it by going deeper into the unknown. If you seem to be lost or don’t recognize anything around you then consider back-tracking to the last familiar and known location and start again from there.

Keep an eye on the weather at all times. If the weather changes for the worse then think about your best reaction to it. Remember – turning around is often a smart option. If thunderstorms are around, you want to avoid them especially in exposed areas (lightening strikes happen) or areas prone to flash flooding.

And speaking of water, exercise good judgement when crossing streams and rivers. If the water level is below your knee height then a creek crossing should be fine as long as the water is not moving too quickly. Once the water speed increases so do your chances of falling over. And once the water depth gets between knee and waist height, crossing can be very risky. Moving water has a tremendous amount of power and you quickly lose your footing as the water depth approaches your thigh height. The creek bottom can have hidden dangers as well – large rocks to trip you, deep holes, sunken logs etc so move slowly and carefully. Watch for debris coming down the creek too. It may be an idea to do a test crossing without the bike to see how you feel about taking your bike across.

People carrying their bikes across a creek have been swept off their feet in deeper water and ended up loosing their bikes. And even if you don’t get swept off your feet there are many parts on your bicycle that don’t benefit from being underwater and neither will you. So as a general rule if the water is deeper than the axle height on your front wheel it is probably better to carry the bike than to wheel it through the water.

Learn to best way to carry your bike. There are several different methods to carry a bicycle so it is a good idea to try a few and see which one is best for you. On many trails there are hike-a-bike sections that will require you to carry your own bike either across water or over some technical section or fallen tree or maybe even just up a brutally steep incline. So get comfortable with a carrying technique before you have to start using it.

In a new area or even your home area, familiarize yourself with the wildlife you may encounter on the trail. Then learn what to do to avoid an encounter or how to deal with one if it occurs. Such animals may include bears, cougars or mountain lions, perhaps a javelina or a snake – maybe even a scorpion -- but of course this will depend on where you are. Most animals want to avoid you as much as you wish not to run into then. Mountain bikes can move very quickly and quietly and so this increases your chance of suddenly surprising other trail users or wildlife. One of the best ways to avoid a sudden encounter is by making frequent and loud noises while riding – talking, singing, laughing, shouting, ringing a bell, blowing a whistle even, etc. Watch for signs of animal activity such as scat, diggings, tracks in mud, animal kills, and of course very young animals which may mean a protective mother nearby etc. And just maybe that slightly curved stick on the trail ahead is not actually a stick!

Enjoy wildlife you see without attempting to have contact with them. Wild animals that loose their fear of people (become habituated) often end up in trouble and dying a premature death. Never be tempted by a friendly squirrel or bird or any other animal into giving it “human” food. You are doing it harm and certainly not a favor. Help keep wild animals wild.

If you are biking in country that has a carnivore or other potentially dangerous animal that causes you concern, consider taking bear spray with you if it is available and legal to possess where you are riding. Bear spray can be potentially dangerous to you as well so learn about it and how to carry and use it before you go riding. Remember bear spray is only effective at quite a close range to most animals and should be considered a “last resort” weapon. Bear experts advise that bear spray should be carried on your body and not attached to your bicycle or buried in your pack. You neither want to be separated from it if you drop your bike and start to run nor try to find it somewhere in your pack when you want it urgently. Bear spray is readily affected by wind and can blow back in your face and immobilize you so again, learn how and when to use it if you choose to carry it with you. But don’t let just having bear spray with you give you a false sense of security. Having it with you doesn’t mean you can ease up on your awareness level at all.

Try not to disturb or spook any animals including livestock. Move slowly through the presence of cattle or horses and don’t scare them into running. Give them as wide a berth as possible but if they do bolt it may be best to stop and wait until they calm down before you continue with your ride.

When you are riding in the autumn be aware of hunting season and whether there is potential for hunters to be in the same area you are traveling. Take appropriate precautions or consider riding elsewhere.

If you are on private land you should only be there if you have permission. You must only ride on “open” (designated) trails and it is your responsibility to ensure that. Many open trails do cross private land and permission has been given for this by the landowner. Respect all trail closure signs and No Trespassing signs. Anywhere you need to cross a fence with a gate, leave the gate as you found it or as indicated by signage. Should you come across a landowner in your travels, make time to have a friendly word with him or her and be sure to tell them how much you like the trail and appreciate being given access to it. Public access to private land is a privilege and certainly not a right. Most private land is closed to mountain bikers for a number of reasons but often landowners view mountain bikers as a liability risk. Try not to prove them right with inappropriate activity?

Mountain bikers can pick up a lot of seeds from noxious weeds as they travel through grass and fields. The seeds can become lodged in your clothing, shoes or the pedals and chain of your bike. Try to remove these seeds anytime you notice them to help prevent these plants migrating to new areas where they are not wanted or welcome.

One thing that is certain about mountain biking, and that is the uncertainty you will find on the trail. Conditions change seasonally and even daily at times. Be alert for storms, new fences, fallen trees, missing trail signs, mechanical problems with your bicycle. And remember that fatigue, heat, cold and/or dehydration may impede your judgement and decision making.

If things get a little hairy out on the trail remember to stay calm and deal with the situation. Keep a sense of humor at all times. You wanted an adventure didn’t you? Sometimes adventures turn into epics – go with the flow and enjoy the ride. You’ll have great stories to tell afterwards.

You don’t get to be an experienced mountain biker by watching mountain bike DVDs or even taking a Dirt Series Camp -- though both are fun and will help. There is no substitute for time on your bike riding a trail. When you are riding behind better riders, observe what they are doing and learn from them when you can. Practice new skills and stretch your limits as you feel comfortable and as trail conditions permit.

Hopefully you will take enough water with you for your whole ride. Take lots, take extra just in case things go wrong on the trail. You should start drinking water before your body tells you that you are thirsty. Small amounts of water taken frequently is the way to go. If you are drinking water, sweating and peeing then chances are your body’s cooling system is working. Be cautious about drinking any water you find in creeks, streams rivers etc. Surface water could very well pose a health concern for you. If you are desperate then try to take water from a moving source (unless you  definitely know it is polluted) and close to its origin but don’t drink water in areas that cattle, horses or other animals may have been drinking from or moving through.  Dehydration can be very dangerous, hard on your body, lead to fatigue and poor decision making or worse. Stay hydrated on the trail and your ride will be so much better.

Just as heat stroke is no fun, neither is hypothermia. And you don’t need freezing temperatures to suffer from hypothermia. Hypothermia can start at temperatures near 50 degrees Fahrenheit or some 10 degrees Celsius. It can happen when you get wet from a rain shower or storm, perhaps a deep creek crossing and then combined with wind and cold air, your body core temperature can drop quite quickly. A drop of a few degrees in this core temperature will dramatically affect how you feel, think and behave. The best solution is of course prevention. Stay dry and warm and fueled with food. After all, this is why you are carrying the rain jacket, extra sweater and energy bars. Do a little research on the internet on hypothermia, heat-stroke and dehydration – learn their causes, risks, symptoms, treatment and prevention. Don’t be a victim to them.

If every mountain biker yielded right-of-way on the trail, stayed on the trail, avoided wet or muddy trails, never cut switchbacks, never skidded, always showed respect for other trail users and carried out every scrap of litter they created then we wouldn’t need a lot rules to govern our sport. Ride with respect is how we want you to approach every ride. Respect the ride, respect the land, respect the other trail users, respect nature and your karma will be so good.

We like to think most mountain bikers are conscientious and want to do the right thing. To do that we all need knowledge to make sound decisions about our behavior and actions. Here are a few basic trail behaviors to follow in order to be a good ambassador for mtn biking:

• Wear a helmet and other protective equipment and clothing at all times
• Ride in control and avoid excessive speed
• Stay on the trail and don’t cut corners. Ride the centre line of the trail so as not to break down the shoulders and widen the trail.
• Ride through puddles not around them. This helps keep the trail narrow and avoids trail braiding and widening. Mountain bikers love narrow singletrack trails. Help keep singletrack single.
• Don’t lock up your wheels and skid when braking. There is rarely any need to brake so hard that you end up skidding. Skids cause trail damage that leads to erosion. Learn and practice proper braking techniques. Ride it don’t slid it!
• When you come across other trail users warn them of your presence at the first opportunity with a friendly greeting or bicycle bell. Slow down when passing other trail users and always yield the trail unless someone waves you through first. Take a moment to talk to other trail users and be friendly to them. This goes a long way to help keep harmony on the trails. Hikers and bikers usually expect very different experiences from their time on a trail. Fast and noisy bikers can disrupt the quiet “nature” experiences a hiker is having so try to be sensitive to that.
• Meeting horses with riders on the trail requires extra attention and consideration. Give a friendly call to one of the riders as soon as possible. Horses aren’t quite sure what to make of a biker dressed in a helmet with sunglasses zooming along a trail – we sometimes can look a bit weird and scary. Your voice, in a calm non-threatening tone will re-assure them you haven’t just landed from Mars. If you meet the horses coming towards you on the trail, dismount your bike and lay your bike down on the ground away from the horses’ path, move back from the trail all the while talking calmly to the riders. If the trail is on a side-slope lay the bike on the downwards side of the trail. You don’t want the horse to feel its path is being blocked or have your proximity to the horse intimidate it.  If you approach a group of horse riders from behind, call out to them while you are still some distance away. Ask for directions and timing on when to pass them. Usually at the first opportunity they will move off the trail and signal you to pass. Be patient with horses and their riders. Thank them and wish them a good day as you slowly move past them.
• If you stop on a trail, particularly a narrow path, and you get off your bike, don’t leave it lying in the middle of the trail to block the route of any riders or hikers who may suddenly appear. Leave your bike well clear of the trail.
• Ride the trail, don’t create a new one. Mountain bike trails have many natural technical obstacles that are part of the trail. They are meant to be ridden and are part of the ride. Attempting these little challenges is part of the process of skill improvement. If you feel you can’t ride one it is best to dismount and walk over or around it. Don’t swerve around these obstacles and create a secondary path. Doing that widens the trail and creates trail confusion in riders who come after you. Before long a whole new route has developed and the original and more challenging ride gets lost. Creating new and “easy” alternatives around technical sections ruins trails by lowering the standard of the trail. If you find you are walking many sections on a trail then perhaps you have chosen a trail that is a little too advanced for your level and you’d be happier on a less challenging trail.

As we said earlier, there is no substitute in mountain biking for good old experience on the trail. One thing to keep in mind is that often speed and momentum are good friends to a mountain biker. Some sections of a trail require a reasonable about of speed to get over some of the obstacles. Sometimes this goes against your better intuition. When things get gnarly you may be tempted to slow down and think it makes no sense to go into this rocky section with any speed whatsoever. Now even if those rocks are big enough to roll over they may also be big enough to bring you to a sudden stop if you don’t have enough speed to ride over them. This stop could take the form of you just bogging down or you could end up doing an endo over your handlebars with painful results. You will be surprised what you can ride over with enough speed, good balance, commitment and a tight grasp on your handle grips. Commitment is key to the successful completion of many technical sections. Develope a plan that suits your riding level before entering the technical area and then stick to that plan. Changing your mind after beginning your strategy often means slowing down, a different approach is taken and next thing you know you are in trouble. Plan, feel confident and then commit.

Mountain biking is a sport that requires a lot of constant concentration or you will crash and perhaps take down someone else as well. Narrow singletracks can be unforgiving if you start gazing at the scenery as you ride. The same holds true for technical sections and sections with a lot of other riders or vehicle traffic. You need to pay constant attention to what you are doing and where your bike is going. When you want to admire to scenery, look at some flowers or perhaps watch some wildlife, come to a complete stop first but don’t block the trail.

Be aware of trail sections that have poor sight lines—that means sections where you can’t see very far ahead. It is sections such as this that can cause a crash with an oncoming cyclist, run a hiker off the trail or surprise wildlife that you don’t with to startle or you could suddenly come across a tree that has fallen down or head quickly into a technical part of the trail. Slow down if the sight lines become poor and pay extra close attention. Perhaps it is a good time to ring your bell or call out to warn any people or animals that could be just ahead of you.

Because riders in a group have different levels of fitness and riding skills the group can soon start to spread apart on a trail. It is a good practice to regroup frequently just to ensure everyone is doing well and not having any problems. When you come to a junction in a trail it is also a good time to regroup and make certain everyone is going in the same direction (literally).

Riders usually constantly scan the trail directly in front by running their vision ahead 20 or 30 meters and then back to their front wheel. Occasionally scan as far as you can see  so you are better forewarned of any upcoming trail hazards, changing conditions or other trail users.

Being an Active Part of this Community

We strongly encourage you to be a good advocate for your sport and a responsible member of the trail-user community as well as the mountain bike community. Be friendly to all trail users and be quick to offer assistance to any trial user who appears to need help. Become aware of local environmental issues and concerns for areas that contain trails you care about.

The biking community is full of very active people who are passionate about their sport and the outdoors. Make new friends and riding partners. Support or get involved with clubs who do trail maintenance or advocate for trail access. Help educate yourself, fellow riders and others about socially and environmentally responsible mountain biking. We need people with good attitudes to promote our sport. Each encounter you have with another trail user while you are on your bike can leave a strong and lasting impression on that person. Help ensure that impression is a positive one. Do what you can, when you can, to help make mountain biking a sustainable sport with a healthy future.

Perhaps you would like to take a basic bike maintenance course from a bike shop to make you feel more confident about the mechanical side of your bicycle or take a skills course with the Rocky Mountain Dirt Series folks -- see our links page. Maybe a basic first-aid course would interest you? Improve your map reading skills. Perhaps you have some particular skills, training or knowledge that would make you an asset to your local search and rescue organization. Be involved!

Join the International Mountain Bike Association – www.imba.com – it is not expensive, their website has a wealth of information and these are the folks who help give us access to new riding opportunities and preserve the opportunities we presently have. Consider joining a local mountain bike club and do such things as trail advocacy work, trail maintenance, trail patrols or be part of their education programs. Participate and have fun. And whenever you can, support your local bike shop and local bike organizations.

Have fun on the trails.