| For the uninitiated, off road biking literally means taking | | | | as compared to hiking your way to the top. Further, |
| your bike off the road and driving on dirt tracks right in | | | | the ride upwards may be physically grueling but the |
| the lap of nature. It could be pure riding your mountain | | | | ride downwards will be an absolute joy. All you need |
| bike or a combination of hiking and biking. | | | | to do is retain control on your bike and your speed and |
| Motorcycles are very popular because they make the | | | | you will simply breeze through downhill until you reach |
| rider feel macho and rugged. Well, as far as bicycles | | | | ground level. |
| are concerned, off road biking has all the machismo | | | | There are some rules and guidelines that must never |
| that any rider would ever require. There are many | | | | be ignored when going off road with your bike. |
| riders who claim that a person cannot be called a | | | | Maximum accidents amongst off road bikers occur |
| good cyclist until he or she has tried out the dirt trails | | | | due to two reasons. One, the rider is not experienced |
| and has successfully undertaken mountain biking. | | | | enough to go off road with his or her bike. Two, the |
| Mountain biking or off road biking utilizes every ounce | | | | biker grew overconfident and met an animal or a hiking |
| of your cycling skills. You should not just be in perfect | | | | party or a vehicle on the other side of a bend or |
| control of your bike but must be completely confident | | | | curve. In either case, you suffer because you lost |
| as far as your cycling abilities are concerned. There will | | | | control on your bike. |
| be a small dirt track which you have to stick to | | | | Off road biking is fun but it will punish any person who |
| throughout your ride. Any slip up will take you hurtling | | | | does not respect the sport. If you intend to participate |
| down the mountain or shall send you into the thick | | | | in off road biking, make it a point to go along with a |
| trees. | | | | friend. It is not necessary to ride together. All you need |
| Off road biking needs proper preparation and the right | | | | to do is agree on a certain meeting point at the end of |
| set of skills. You have to prepare for mountain biking | | | | the trip. This will ensure that at least one person is |
| just as you would prepare for a hike in the mountains. | | | | present to help you out in case you get stuck in a spot |
| However, in this case, you will have to prepare not just | | | | of bother. |
| yourself but your bike as well. | | | | Further, never go off road biking without adequate |
| If you think off road biking is tough, there is no doubt | | | | preparations to treat any accident or injury. Cuts, |
| that it is so. However, that does not mean off road | | | | scrapes and gashes are very common in off road |
| biking is suitable only for those who have a death wish. | | | | biking. Having a good first aid kit with you is a good |
| In fact, mountain biking is a lot better than hiking. | | | | idea. |
| For starters, you get to travel a lot faster on your bike | | | | |