Mountain Biking
“Great things are done when men and mountains meet. This is not done by jostling in the street.” -William Blake
127 hours, scene one, James Franco going speedily in the rugged terrain of Utah on a bike… If you have seen 127 hours, then you are aware what mountain biking is. A real adventurer bubbling with energy is not afraid of anything and is ready to explore new heights, not worrying about the risk involved. Keeping aside how Franco ends up caught in a rock, let’s concentrate on the first scene and the fun of mountain biking.
What is Mountain Biking?
Mountain biking is an adventure sport which can be defined as biking off roads or a specific track. The ‘mountain’ in mountain biking does not mean that it actually takes place on mountains. It can be done anyplace but off-road. Generally a rough terrain is chosen for this sport. The thrill lies in the speed while riding on an uneven terrain; this may also consist of a terrain filled with rocks. Such an expedition brings out the explorer in you and you can enjoy the serene view while swiftly paddling with the wind. But mountain biking requires an immense amount of courage and the heart of an adventurer. Every trail you drive your wheels through should be a unique and challenging experience.
Types
Some of the types of mountain biking are:
Cross Country: This is probably the most popular form of mountain biking. It involves riding from one point to the other or in a loop. It includes climbing and descent on various types of terrains. Cross country biking officially became an Olympic sport too in 1996.
Downhill: As the name suggests, downhill biking means that biking which is done downhill. It is also a popular biking event in which riders begin at a time trail of 30 seconds and usually take two to five minutes to complete the track. These races are held on a steep terrain, thus, making it risky.
Dirt Jumping: This kind of biking is done on dirt or muddy terrain because riders tend become airborne while jumping in such rides. The aim is to ‘take-off’ and then ‘land’, thus, having the need of a soft ground to land on. Riders tend to do back flips to make such rides more challenging.
Freeride: This type of biking too involves tricks and styles which are practiced while riding the bike. This can be included in dirt jumping and downhill cycling.
Mountain Bike Trials: Another form which adapts tricks on the rider’s part is mountain bike trials. In this discipline rider tries to pass obstacles without setting feet on the ground. This usually is done to test one’s skills and of course the thrills it gives!
Mountain Biking in India
North India is considered the best place for mountain biking, between October to December. The reason being, North India consists of a wide range of mountains. The Himalayan ranges, Kumaon and Garhwal, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Sikkim are some the popular places for riders to go. The immense rocky terrain gives the riders a perfect destination and challenge to go on their adventurous tour. Some prefer to go in the chilling month of December to the Himalayas and ride against the chilly winds of the snowy mountains.
No matter how exciting this sounds, but there are always risks involved in such adventure sports, especially ones such as these which are taken place in terrain filled with rocks. Therefore, you need to find the right bike and the biking gear. Never go on such trips unplanned and enjoy the mountain trips in safety. You don’t want to end up in a real life “127 hours”!
