What does it take to have fun on the North Shore mountain bike trails?

Well... you need good equipment and your second requirement is rider skill.

What sort of mountain bike do you need?

• definitely front suspension, minimum (3 inches travel) up front. 5 inches preferred (Marzocchi Z-1 typical).
• heavier downhill type rims.
• hydraulic disc brakes (required more for front than back but both is even better).
• very large knobby tires - largest you can fit in your front fork and frame.
• comfortable seat that is easy to get behind.
• enough gear choice to easily ride up the mountain before your decent.
• large flat pedals with good grip - clip-ins are dangerous.
• wide riser type handlebars - narrow bars make for a scary riding.

What sort of other equipment do you need?

• full-face helmet - the lighter the better but expensive.
• gloves that have padding and cover your fingers entirely.
• elbow pads.
• shin/knee pads.
  
• shoulder/chest guard (optional).
• good shoes (high cuts better) that offer ankle protection with non-slip grippy soles.
• drink bladder (preferably knapsack type) with 2L capacity.
• pump
• spare tube
• repair kit
• multi-tool.
• first aid stuff like a few band-aids, etc.

If you like to ride in wet conditions/mud seriously consider mud flaps of some sort to keep the dirt out of your eyes if you don't like to wear glasses.

Downhill tips:

• keep your weight back on steep drops - get behind your seat.
• lower your seat-post.
• lower the air pressure in your front tire so it is soft but hard enough that large hits won't bottom out the tire and damage the rim. Soft gives more traction on slippery roots & rocks.
• wheelie-drop off obstacles and large steps - pull back on the handlebars, pedal in 3rd gear to start a wheelie just before the drop-off, lean back, extend your legs as you drop, use your legs to absorb the shock of the landing with your rear tire hitting first.
• avoid hammering your front brake unless you're travelling in a straight line.
• use your body to push the bike forward or over smaller bumps without using the brakes or pedalling.
• practice balance and pulling wheelies - helps your overall riding skill.
• drink lots to keep hydrated.
• on new trails always do a trip cautiously, then speed up on the next run. Many ramps over logs may not have ramps on the exit and may include huge 3-5ft drops so be careful first time around or you could seriously get hurt.
• riding in the wet on logs and over tree roots can be very dangerous - reduced traction.
• if in double - get off your bike and walk around the obstacle or if you want to ride it get off and inspect the obstacle/landing area first.
• Disc brakes work best in all weather conditions especially through mud/met areas.

Copyright 2001-2003  Peter Ferlow