Page 12 - MTBSA JAN 2020
P. 12

nother 12 months have      But it’s now that time of year      think about some things that
                 passed and with that,      where we get to dream up a          you would just love to do, learn
                 naturally, have come a     set of New Year’s resolutions       or see in your lifetime and in this
        Alot of ups and downs –             to take us through to the end       case, on your bike. Here are just
        specifically though on hills and    of 2020. Resolutions can be a       a few suggestions for mountain
        trails while riding a mountain      great reminder that sometimes       biking-related resolutions for
                                            it’s nice to have a sit down and
                                                                                2020.
        bike.
                                                                                                                               So, you know how to fix a flat
                                                                                                                               tyre, regularly pump up your
                                                                                                                               wheels before riding to get
                                                                                                                               that pressure just right and you
                                                                                                                               even clean your bike and dry it
                                                                                                                               properly after every ride.
                                                                                                                               That puts you ahead of about
                                                                                                                               75 percent of other mountain
                                                                                                                               bikers in terms of TLC.
                                                                                                                               But could you build a bike up
                                                                                                                               from scratch? Do you really
                                                                                                                               know what every single bit of
                                                                                                                               your bike does, how it connects
                                                                                                                               to the next, how to keep it in
                                                                                                                               absolute tip-top shape and how
                                                                                                                               to fix any given part should
                                                                                                                               something go wrong?
                                                                                                                               Learning all about your bike will
                                                                                                                               not only help to keep your ride
                                                                                                                               running smoothly and exactly
                                                                                                                               how you like it, but it’ll probably
                                                                                                                               save you quite a bit of cash as a
                                                                                                                               result in the long run, too.
                                                                                                                               Plus, if you do get into bike
                                                                                                                               building, you’ve got a whole
                                                                                                                               new hobby on your hands.                          Make sure those bike parts are fit for purpose © DEAN KOH







                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Autumn and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                winter are prime
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                times for gravel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 riding © DUN-
                                                                                                                               We understand it may sound                                                                       CAN PHILPOTT/
                                                                                                                               like sacrilege to certain                                                                        TWEED VALLEY
                                                                                                                               mountain bikers to suggest                                                                          GUIDES
                                                                                                                               that they don some lycra and
                                                                                                                               climb on a road bike, but there’s
                                                                                                                               actually quite a bit mountain
                                                                                                                               bikers could learn from their
                                                                                                                               tarmac-based cousins – not least
                                                                                                                               improving endurance, which will
                                                                                                                               come in handy when you do get
                                                                                                                               back onto the trails.
                                                                                                                               Even out on the trails though,
                                                                                                                               there’s so much you can learn
                                                                                                                               from switching up your riding
                                                                                                                               patterns every now and then.
                                                                                                                               If you’re a downhill fiend,
                                    Bikepacking can open up loads of adventures © RODRIGO PHILIPPS                             then a bit of cross country
                                                                                                                               won’t do your fitness levels
        There’s nothing quite like          There's no travelling to the trails   there being a lot of purpose-                any harm and you’ll end up
        waking up to watch the sunrise      to be done and no rush to get       built gear for bikepacking on                  seeing some beautiful scenery
        over your local hills, cooking up a  up to the hills before it gets     offer these days and loads of                  you won’t have come across
        pot of coffee and then setting off  busy; you’re already there.         information online.                            before. Alternatively, if you’re a
        for a day of riding even deeper     It can seem like a pretty big leap   Do your research, get all the                 dedicated XC rider, a bit of time
        into the wild.                      to go from a few hours on the       equipment together and get                     on the downhill trails could
        There’s something deeply            trails to fending for yourself for a   outdoors. One trip will likely lead         improve your bike handling
        meditative and empowering           whole weekend. But it’s a lot less  to another.                                    skills. Cyclocross can be a good    keep your fitness up and weight     don’t mind eating substantial
        about the whole experience.         daunting than it once was, with                                                    laugh too and a great way to        down in winter, especially if you   amounts of mud.

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