What To Look For In MTB Trails
Before we get into actual trail reviews let’s discuss what you should be looking for in a trail to decide if it’s right for you. Depending on the area you live in there are a lot of different possibilities. The first thing you have to do is decide what your purpose is.
- Are you just looking for some light mountain riding? Be sure to pick a trail that is not overly hilly and has hard smooth tracks.
- Or are you looking for some endurance training? Pick a mostly flat trail with varying levels of traction.
- If you’re doing strength training you’ll want lots of hills and possibly a softer track that requires more effort to pedal through.
Choosing the right trail is imperative because you don’t want to get stuck on a trail that goes beyond your physical limits.
Casual Mountain Bike Riding
- Firm-ground
- Slightly hilly
- Avoid rainy areas
- No tall grass
- Less than 5 miles
Strength Training
- A mixture of Soft and Firm ground
- Very hilly or mountainous
- Tallgrass is okay
- Between 5 and 10 miles
- Pick a trail close to a city or medical facility
Endurance Training
- Medium to Firm ground
- Flat landscape
- No tall grass
- No tall grass
Tricks and Stunts
- Firm-ground with traction
- No mud or tall grass
- Very hilly
- Pick a small trail near a city just in case of emergencies
Casual Racing
- Medium to firm ground
- Avoid excessively muddy areas
- Avoid tall grass
- Choose a trail that doesn’t have a lot of local wildlife
Now that you have a few guidelines for choosing your own trails we’ll move on to the reviews. Remember these are just some general guidelines based on a few common activities for mountain bikers. Choosing a trail that you feel safe and familiar with is usually your best option.
Resources for Finding Trails
The Internet is the most powerful research tool that you have. You can find all sorts of biking trails across the world simply by searching on the internet. The trail review sites usually give you detailed information about how difficult the trail is, when it’s open and how you can get there. Here are a few great websites that you can use to find the best trails in your area:
· http://www.singletracks.com/mountain-bike/trails.php
· http://www.trails.com
My Favorite Biking App; MTB Project
This is an amazing mountain biking app to the trails that we all love to ride and new mountain bike trails for all of us to discover. It offers offline maps, full GPS route info, elevation profiles, interactive features, photos, and so much more!
You can visit MTB Project and include your favorite trails and see the bike trails in your area. Join for free with the thousand-plus riders who have shared their most cherished trails with the MTB Project community.
For iPhones, download in the app store Free – iOS – Sports
For Androids, download the app at Google Play Free – Android – Sports
Go Out and Ride Your MTB
We’ve talked about everything you need to know to get your MTB and start having a good time!
In the first Learn How To Mountain Bike post we talked about where you can buy a mountain bike and what types of things you should watch out for. Remember to avoid large chain stores as they are not bike specialists and usually sell inferior products.
In the second post, Mountian Biking Safety & Supplies, we talked about the ever-important safety issues associated with mountain bike use. Make sure to turn back to that chapter often as safety should always be your top priority.
After that, we did a little Mountian Bike Maintenance and learned how to clean and lube your bike and then do a pre-trip check to make sure everything was in working order and how to fix a flat once you’re finally on the road.
If you’ve followed the posts carefully you’ve discovered a wide variety of training methods you can use to prepare for your bike rides and to do while you’re on your bike.
Biking is one of the most physically taxing hobbies you can get into and if you do it regularly it can be a great part of a healthy diet and exercise program.
I hope you have found some useful information and the resources to find great trails in this series of posts about Learning How To Mountain Bike. All that’s left for you to do is check out the Mis go out and ride!
