Lake District Sports - Lake District Mountain Biking

Take a deep breath - it doesn't get much tougher or faster than the trail down Skiddaw, near Keswick. If you can't see the appeal of pushing and carrying a bike up a 3,000 foot mountain then turning around and scaring yourself silly on the descent, full-on downhilling might not be for you!

So how about the route from Bowness via the ferry to the singletrack cross-country of Woodlands Fell and the cafes of Coniston? Or the rewarding climb over the ridge of High Street to the beautiful Ullswater lakeside? Cumbria has trails to suit every level and inclination (literally!). Bikes and equipment can be hired throughout the region, and for beginners, tuition days or guided rides offer an excellent grounding in the techniques and tricks of the sport.

Lake District Mountain Biking Operators

Climb365, Country Lanes, CycleActive, High Points, Lanehead Outdoor Centre, River Deep Mountain High, Saddle Skedaddle,  Where Mountains Meet

Definition of Mountain Biking

Mountain biking usually refers to the sport of riding bicycles possessing particular design characteristics (mountain bikes) off-road, although sometimes the term simply refers to riding a mountain bike, which can be done almost anywhere - bike trails and street riding are examples of mountain biking typically based in more urban locations. The sport requires endurance, bike handling skills and self-reliance. It is an individual sport which can be performed almost anywhere. There are aspects of mountain biking that are more similar to trail running than regular bicycling. Because riders are often far from civilization, there is a strong ethic of self-reliance in the sport. Riders must learn to repair their broken bikes or flat tires to avoid being stranded miles from help. This reliance on survival skills accounts for the group dynamics of the sport. Club rides and other forms of group rides are common, especially on longer treks.

Mountain biking is roughly broken down into three categories: cross country, downhill, and trails/street riding. However, most mountain bikes have a similar look: knobby tires, large round frame tubing, and some sort of suspension or shock absorbers are the usual pieces of equipment. Mountain biking can be done anywhere from a back yard to a gravel road, but the majority of mountain bikers prefer to ride trails they call singletrack. These are narrow trails that wind through forests or fields. Mountain bikers describe a sense of euphoria that results from singletrack or downhill riding.

History of Mountain Biking

Bicycles have been ridden off-road since their invention. However, the modern sport of mountain biking primarily originated in the United States, in the 1970s. There were several groups of riders in different areas of the country who can make valid claims to playing a part in the birth of the sport. Riders in Crested Butte, Colorado and Cupertino, California tinkered with bikes and adapted them to the rigors of off-road riding. Other riders around the country were probably copying their friends with motorcycles and riding their bikes on trails and fire roads. However, a group in Marin County, California is recognized by the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame to have played a central role in the birth of the sport as we know it today. They began racing down Mount Tamalpais (Mt Tam) on old 1930s and '40s Schwinn bicycles retrofitted with better brakes and fat tires. This group included Joe Breeze, Otis Guy, Gary Fisher and Keith Bontrager, among others. It was Joe Breeze who built the first new, purpose-made mountain bike in 1977. Tom Ritchey built the first regularly available mountain bike frame, which was accessorized by Gary Fisher and Charlie Kelly and sold by their company called MountainBikes (later changed to Fisher Mountain Bikes then bought by Trek, still under the name Gary Fisher ). The first two mass produced mountain bikes were sold in 1982: the Specialized Stumpjumper and Univega Alpina Pro.

Mountain Biking Equipment

Mountain bikes differ from road racing bicycles in several ways. They have a smaller and stronger frame, knobby, wider and higher profile tires which are mounted on a rim which is stronger than a standard bicycle rim, a larger range of gears to facilitate climbing up steep hills and over obstacles, a wider flat or upwardly-rising handlebar that allows a more upright riding position, and often some form of suspension system for either the front wheel or both wheels. The inherent comfort and flexibility of the modern mountain bike has led to an estimated 80% market share in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand and others

While it is estimated that only between 10 and 20% of mountain bikes are actually ridden off-road, the sport of mountain biking has seen an explosion in popularity and diversification.

Mountain bikers also carry and use a variety of equipment to help them ride or repair their bikes. These include extra inner tubes, a patch kit, a portable air pump, a water bottle or hydration pack to keep hydrated, a chain tool, and various-sized allen wrenches or other small tools to make minor repairs while on a ride. Carrying various tools is a necessity since the nature of mountain biking is to have the rider removed from civilization.

Types of Mountain Biking

For the most part, mountain biking can be split into three different categories:

• Cross Country (XC) is the most common form of mountain biking, and the standard for most riders. It generally means riding point-to-point or in a loop including climbs and descents on a variety of terrain.
• Downhill is generally riding mountain bikes downhill. While cross country has a downhill component, it is the custom for downhill specialists to either be shuttled to the top in a vehicle, walk the bike (hike-a-bike), or to be carried by a ski lift as opposed to pedaling to the top of the trail. Downhill-specific bikes are typically equipped with front and rear suspension, large brakes, and are larger and heavier than other mountain bikes; these modifications are necessary for the bike to withstand the higher stresses and larger impacts.
• Trials riding consists of hopping and jumping bikes over obstacles. It can be performed either off-road or in an urban environment. It requires an excellent sense of balance. As with Dirt Jumping and BMX-style riding, emphasis is placed on style, originality and technique. There are many stylistic similarities to skateboarding. Trials bikes look almost nothing like mountain bikes. They use either 20", 24" or 26" wheels and have very small, low frames.