Mountain Biking Is A Great Family Sport

By Molly Hinges


Mountain biking is one of the fastest-rising sports, and with good reason - it's an opportunity to improve your fitness and commune with nature at the same time. With the right equipment and sensible route choices, the whole family can enjoy mountain biking.

You may have seen mountain biking races on TV, but this is not the true essence of the sport. Beginners in mountain biking don't have to head out on rough terrain - they can start on flat surfaces until they get used to how the bike works. This may be the most feasible option anyway if you have young children with you.

Mountain bikes are more rugged than road bikes to accommodate the off-road paths and obstacles that you will encounter. You need to take the weight of your mountain bike into consideration when buying one - heavier bikes are cheaper yet can sometimes handle like a rodeo bull. To prevent head injuries, always get the best quality helmet - this is not a time to save money. If you are teaching your children to ride, make sure to implement the 'No Helmet, No Ride' rule right from the start.

Most areas of the world have beautiful scenic parks and nature reserves, many of which now accommodate mountain bikers. Once your family is comfortable on their bikes and able to ride the more level paths, you can start being more adventurous and heading up some small hills. And since children will most likely enjoy biking downhill, watch them closely should they try such a thing!

It's all about seeing different parts of the country in a new perspective - that's what a mountain biking family vacation should be for all of you. Unlike hiking, your kids won't get tired and bored as quickly, but you can still see the beautiful countryside and wildlife from your bike. And when you're cycling in the forests, you can get to see the wildlife - no one will be happier to see this than the kids. Of course, when we say wildlife, we mean deer and rabbits, not mountain lion!

Many tour companies offer bike tours, and these would include mountain bike vacations for beginners, complete with food and lodging. One thing to note is that mountain bike trails are marked according to difficulty, so take this into consideration and also ask yourself how experienced you and your family think you are when it comes to mountain biking. You may eventually want to move on to the longer, harder trails once you have practiced more often and more intensely, but remember that your children may get tired easily, even if it doesn't always look that way.

Mountain biking is a wonderful sport that the whole family can enjoy together. With that said, we leave you with four words of wisdom. No Helmet, No Ride.




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