I’ve been hooked on mountain biking for over three decades now, and the love affair doesn’t look like coming to an end any time soon.
There's no greater pleasure than pedalling my bike through the woods or hammering down the side of a mountain.
The sport manages to deliver on so many levels for me – I’m not sure what I’d do without it. Whether you’re a competitive racer or casual cruiser, there’s something there for just about everyone.
It’s helped me forge lifelong friendships, enabled me to travel the world and continues to give me that same rush that I first felt all those years ago when I started out, at the age of nine.
But there’s more to it than that…
Into the wild
Mountain biking can transport you into the wild, away from the urban sprawl of busy towns and cities. In fact, the only real limit to how deep into nature you can disappear is you.
Now, I’m no city slicker. They make me feel nervous and trapped.
I’ve always felt more at ease with being outside and mountain biking played a massive part in that.
Whether it’s a brief escape to the local trails in the nearby woods or being high up on the side of a mountain somewhere, the bike has been the vehicle that’s enabled me to get out there and surround myself in nature.
And while many will argue that a road bike can deliver in much the same way, there’s something purer about being away from paved roads – ditching traffic is just bliss.
Riding into the forest, no matter your ability, age or the type of mountain bike you own, brings with it a serenity and calm that I’m yet to find from any other kind of bike.
The smell of the trees, dirt under your tyres and, if you’re on the right trail, loam filling your shoes as you carve the turns is something to behold – any real-world worries evaporate.
And don’t even get me started on riding in the mountains… simply put, it’s heaven.
There’s honestly nothing like it.
Traffic-free
Getting off the road and away from traffic is a real plus for mountain biking.
While riding on the road is a lot of fun, the unpredictability of the drivers around you can make it seriously nerve-racking – or worse.
Mountain bikes get you off the tarmac and into the woods. While the same can be said for gravel bikes, I’d argue mountain bikes make fewer compromises when it comes to off-road handling, making life on the trail safer and more fun.
But the trails are hard and more dangerous than rolling along the road, I hear you cry. That may well be true to some degree, but with no cars razzing about either side of you, if you crash, it’ll be down to you.
And hopefully you’ll be wearing more protective clothing, and probably going slower than on the road.
Removing that worry and risk is massively appealing, especially if you’ve ever tried to cycle in the city.
And if you’re unsure where to start your mountain bike experience, head to a bike park or trail centre. Their graded trails will help inform your choices and ensure you don't bite off more than you can chew.
Mountain bike friends
Whether you’re in it for the competition, health benefits or because you just love bikes, mountain biking is a superb social activity.
It’s hard to think of a better way to spend the day with mates than ripping down trails, sharing the close calls, high fives and laughs along the way.
I started racing when I was 11 years old. Attending that very same race were two brothers who are now among my best friends.
We’ve travelled and raced all over the country and Europe together, shared the highs and lows of life and continue to ride together whenever we can. That’s all down to mountain biking.
Thanks to social media, getting involved with riding groups couldn’t be easier. And while I may be a little biased, the mountain bike crowd is incredibly welcoming, friendly and warm, no matter what bike you’re riding or what level you’re at.
If you don’t fancy racing, but still want to meet other riders, there are so many local groups – you should be spoilt for choice.
Nerd alert
One common theme you tend to find with mountain bikers is their love of technology.
While some are just after functionality and durability, and a little less bothered by the granular detail, others are out there looking for more marginal gains.
The best bit is, no matter how geeky you think you might be, you’ll find someone geekier. Better still, everyone, no matter how much of a bike nerd they are, is welcome.
While mountain biking may seem like an edgier, cooler cycling discipline, in reality, it's still aways down on the cool scale compared to skateboarding or surfing – but that's a really good thing.
Get stuck into the details, tinkering, taking stuff apart and fixing it. We all love riding bikes, and nearly all mountain bikers love talking about bikes just as much. It's a sport that never takes itself too seriously.
Racing kicks
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or budding pro in the making, if you love to compete, mountain biking offers something for everyone.
Across the various niches, which include trials, enduro, cross-country, marathon, downhill, dirt jumping, 4X, dual slalom, slopestyle and, dare I say it, snow biking, there’s a healthy level of competition (yes, even in snow biking).
If you need your fix and Strava just isn’t cutting it anymore, you can sign yourself up to an event put on by fellow enthusiasts and see where you stack up against your peers.
Racing or competing certainly isn’t the be-all and end-all of mountain biking, but it does elevate the professionalism and product development massively, which only goes on to benefit everyone involved.
You don’t need to compete to enjoy the sport, but likewise, should you wish to try out an event, chances are you’ll love it and make friends along the way.
In the end, though, if the above hasn't convinced you to give mountain biking a go, just try it anyway. You may well find your very own reason(s) why it’s the best thing on two wheels.
