Gear Up Mountain bikers dress for the ride, just like dirt bikers do, but there’s a typical minimum standard. It includes: • Helmet • Sunglasses • Bike shorts (spandex or cargo) • jersey (or your favorite t-shirt) • Gloves • Mountain bike shoes • Hydration pack

Balance, looking down the trail, body language— reinforces good habits that pay dividends for dirt bikers. Cole Kirkpatrick CROSS-TRAINING ON TWO WHEELS Dirt Bikers Use Mountain Biking To Get In Shape And Have Fun by Heather Wilson

Mountain bike riding has many benefits between 60-65 percent of your max rate quiet, don’t require titling or registration for a motorcyclist—cardiovascular, leg during your workout. and most trail systems are free and funded training and even full-body strength. “That’s when you’re burning fat for fuel,” with public money. Gary Semics, a well-known trainer in Semics says. Note, however, that we’re not referring the world who’s trained pros So, a 25-year-old’s max heart rate to your local paved or crushed limestone like Jeremy McGrath, and would be 195 (220 - 25). He or she would bike path. True mountain bike trails , says the great thing about want to maintain a heart rate of 117 (195 x resemble tight singletrack, and you mountain biking is its versatility. “You can 0.6) when working out. won’t necessarily find them at your local use mountain biking as a recovery workout community park. or as a hard, intense workout,” he says. Where To Start To find some suitable trails near you, It’s not always about speed when it There’s a lot that goes into finding the check out www.singletracks.com, or comes to mountain biking. It’s about right bike and gear, where to ride, and download the SingleTracks app for a map working hard at the right times. This taxes even how to ride to make sure you’re by state of places to ride. Another great your system and can be used to put getting the full training aspect of riding. resource for finding trails in your state is greater demands on your heart. Here are some tips to get started. www.trails.mtbr.com. Finally, don’t forget FMF/KTM Factory team rider to ask at the local bike shop. and multi-time AMA National Enduro Know your terrain/style of riding On the topic of trails, most dirt bikers Champion Russell Bobbitt is a prolific Before you buy a bike, you’ll need to are surprised to learn that mountain bike mountain biker. Mountain biking is know what type of terrain you plan to trails require significant maintenance. Find one tool that he uses to improve his ride. Will you be riding cross-country, out which group maintains your local trails cardiovascular fitness. all-mountain, downhill, or freeride? The and volunteer for a trail day (or kick in a If you’re looking to get the most out sidebar on page 27 defines these styles. monetary donation). Also do your part and of your workout, Bobbitt says, “a heart The type of riding you choose will have avoid riding in muddy conditions. Dried rate monitor is a great way to judge your a lot to do with the terrain available to you. ruts that a dirt biker wouldn’t even notice exertion level since there are so many If you live in California, mountains may be can destroy the so-called “flow” of a nice variables when riding, such as wind, accessible. If you live in Indiana, chances mountain bike trail. If you’re unsure of elevation, etc.” are you’ll be a cross-country rider. local trail etiquette, ask a local club. Wondering how to use a heart rate monitor? Semics says it’s simple. To find Where to ride Time To Shop! your max heart rate, subtract your age One reason dirt bikers turn to mountain Eric Storz is a former pro trials rider who from 220. Your aim is to get your heart rate bikes is accessibility. Mountain bikes are now works part time for the bike shop

24 AmericanMotorcyclist.com 24 Niner EMD 9 1-Star Deore $1499

range more widely than the “Don’t go get a . Know what cheap ,” Art’s you want to pedal and what he says. Cyclery you want out of it. Then “Actually, go in San Luis discuss it with your local talk to your Obispo, Calif. shop.” local bicycle He has a keen In general terms, according shop. I ride a understanding of the to www.ibikeride.com, the suspension Santa Cruz bike. crossover benefits of mountain biking. travel, tire width, and brake rotor size It was my first “The best thing you can do is go to increases and the head tube angle mountain bike, and a bike shop,” Storz says. “When I first becomes less steep as you transition from it’s lasted me almost started riding, I made the mistake of going a cross-county to an enduro to a freeride eight years.” out and buying a mountain bike and not to a downhill bike. Today, nearly all types of mountain doing the research. There’s a lot to know A cross-country bike is designed to bikes come with 26-inch, 27.5-inch or 29- about mountain biking, and your local bike keep the rider’s weight in the center of the inch wheels. The old standard is 26-inch, shop can do more than hook you up with bike. A downhill bike will shift the rider’s but several years ago 29-inch became all a bike. They can also hook you up with weight rearward. The cross-country bikes the rage, particularly among cross-country people to ride with.” are also lighter than a downhill bike. riders who didn’t need the performance There’s quite the price range when it Although many cross-country bikes (or weight gains) of full suspension setups, comes to mountain bikes—from $500 come as hardtails, Bobbitt recommends because they could roll more easily over to $10,000. That’s why it’s important full-suspension, because he says it feels rough trail. More recently, manufacturers to research and understand options in most like a dirt bike. Full suspension does have decided that 27.5-inch wheels are frames, suspension, drivetrains, wheel not necessarily mean “heavy.” Modern full- the sweet spot. sizes, tires and more. suspension bikes can achieve impressive The cost of bikes built around “You need to consider the kind of weight targets, even 25 pounds or less. different wheel sizes is comparable riding you will be doing and your budget,” Bobbitt says that a good mountain bike and will reflect the current trend in says Nick Fahringer, a Factory AirGroup is definitely worth the investment. They your discipline or area. Again, your Husqvarna team rider. “Bicycle types function better and also last a long time. local bike shop will be invaluable when it comes to suggesting what works best in local trails—not to mention providing test rides. Americade Concert Series  New Rides If you are unfamiliar with bicycling,  you’ll also encounter various frame New Friday Night Celebration New Packages sizes. These are independent from americade.com 518-798-7888 the wheel size but can confuse a new mountain biker. Typically, a 16- to 17-inch frame is considered small, an 18- to 19-inch frame is considered medium, and a 20- to 21-inch frame is considered Lake George, NY large. However, this varies widely among models. June 2*-6 When it comes to Special Pre-Reg Events June 1 transmissions, many riders prefer Registration Opens February 2015 what are known as “one-bys” which refers to a 1x9, 1x10 or 1x11 setup, for example. This means there is one cog, or gear, on the crank and nine, 10 or 11 gears on the rear hub. You give up some gear ratios but gain simplicity and lose some weight. That Friday Night’s said, most complete bikes are sold with a traditional two- or three-cog setup on the Grand Prize Drawing crank, and those work just fine. 2015 Harley-Davidson® Compared to motorcycles, mountain Dyna® Low Rider® bike ergonomics are very customizable. Seat height, crank arm length, handlebar width and bend, length and angle, and steer tube height all come into play. Your local bike shop can adjust your new bike to fit your physique.

Get The Gear Mountain bikers can choose a range of gear setups. “The great thing about bicycle riding

26 AmericanMotorcyclist.com AMA Third Page April.indd 1 1/28/2015 2:26:35 PM 26 Mountain Biking Disciplines There are several types of mountain biking. Here’s a brief overview.

Cross-country: One of the most common and accessible forms of mountain biking. Think of it like hare scrambles racing but with pedals. Trails can range from gently sloping to grueling switchbacks and rocky descents. Cross-country bikes are built to be light with quick turning geometry. All-mountain/enduro: Bikers will navigate long trails across mountainous or rugged terrain, or spend a couple hours pedaling up the mountain and then ride down. Bikes are built to a tougher standard than cross-county bikes, but they also are heavier. Full-suspension is the norm. Freeride: It’s just like name sounds. It’s freestyle, jumps or a really aggressive trail. These bikes come with heavy-duty suspension out back and big forks in the front. Downhill: This is probably the least-practiced form of mountain biking due to its lack of accessibility. Bikers hike or ride a ski-lift to the top of a mountain and then descend at high speeds, hitting jumps and drop-offs. With weight a non-issue, downhill bikes are engineered for toughness and have slack geometry.

is that you can pretty much wear whatever you want—a lycra bicycle Santa Cruz Tallboy suit or baggy shorts and a CC $5499-$8099 jersey,” Fahringer says. Perhaps the biggest decision most new my dirt bike sponsors’ products and riders dwell over is what type of shoes mountain biking accessories,” Fahringer they will wear. These depend on the bike’s said. “I wear Bell helmets and use a pedals. Traditional flat pedals are what you USWE hydration system when I ride either remember from the BMX bikes you had as bike. Gaerne also makes top-of-the-line brooksleather-onesixth-vert.ai a kid. Clipless pedals (which you actually and cycling shoes.” clip into—yes, we know it’s confusing!) will Other extras you’ll want to buy include attach to special shoes using one of a few a tire pump, tire levers, a small tool kit or Please refer production questions to: industry standards. multi-tool that you can carry on the bike, Allen Hanford The benefit of “clipping in” is significant. spare tubes, a mountain biking app and a Not only does it stabilize your foot on heart rate monitor. [email protected] the pedal, but both legs can transfer 267-312-1645 power to the drivetrain throughout the Focus On Fun entire revolution of the crank. The risk is a Fahringer, Bobbitt and others say that greater chance of crashing when getting a one of the biggest benefits of mountain foot down quickly would have saved you. biking isn’t the workout, but the mental With practice, you can extract your foot release it brings, as well as a change from from clipless pedals almost instantly, and the typical gym routine. most mountain bikers, even new ones, will “It’s about the quality and fun factor for start with a clipless system. me,” Fahringer says. “It’s also extremely Nearly all new bikes will be sold with valuable on the fitness side. However, at flats (or no pedals at all) because the the end of the day, it’s the adventure and manufacturer isn’t going to try action aspect we all talk about.” to guess what type of Bobbitt agrees. clipless system you “Just getting out and exploring might use. mountain biking is a win,” Beyond the Bobbitt says. “It offers you shoes, many tools time to yourself or a good and gear brands time with your friends. Plus, will be familiar to dirt a lot of characteristics coincide bikers. with dirt bikes. Have fun with “What’s really cool is it, and create your own the cross-over between adventure!”

~ A JC Motors Company ~