Be Prepared for a Bumpy Ride!

To the eye of an ordinary person who does not ride a bike, they all look the same. However if you are a keen cyclist of some sort you will know that there are major differences between the types of bikes and also kinds of riding you can partake in.

The type of biking most commonly known is mountain biking. Even within this generalisation there are variations of bike types. The most difficult you could try to ride is a hardtail bike. These are not for the faint hearted as they do not have a rear suspension.

Having a rear suspension on a mountain bicycle would make your ride over rocky terrain easier, as you would not have to be as in charge of your movements as much. When riding a hardtail you are much more in control as you have to work with the ground below you to fulfil a comfortable and safe ride. Even though you have to put in extra effort you will certainly feel you have had a more accomplished ride, and no doubt enjoy the speedy feeling of riding this kind.

Many believe you can just buy a bike, head out to somewhere and off you go. This is not the case as preparation is key to making sure you do not injure yourself. The first thing to do is set up your bike. You need to find a comfortable saddle height to suit your body, taking into consideration that the bike has no back suspension so placing the saddle lower than usual will make it a comfier outing. You would also need to have less harsh breaks fitted than what is on a regular mountain bike, and also wish to change tyre size to suit the terrain or weather you will be facing.

Another point to consider is exercise. Many take part in a kind of cycling as a form of exercise they enjoy. However you cannot expect to not get tired out as riding a hardtail bike can be tough work, so hitting the gym beforehand will help you raise your stamina and help to build your muscles to avoid injuries. Working on your lower back is important due to the nature of how these bicycles are ridden. Also as the bike has less traction you need to have a bit of extra energy to push through, so any exercise that increases your heart rate will help with endurance.

Once you have set up your bike correctly, completed a good amount of training at the gym, stocked up on food filled with protein and carbs, you should be ready to go and enjoy your rides. You will be improving and finding out which techniques work best for you each time you go off-road riding, so have fun with it too!