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Mountain Biking Articles and Videos

It doesn’t matter if you’re a novice buying your first mountain bike, or an expert tearing down a trail you know like the back of your hand, Trails.com has tips and advice for all mountain biking skill levels. Curious about fixing a flat on the fly, or shortening a chain? Want to know how to handle ruts, balance in place on a hill, or bunny hop over a hazard? Trails.com has the answers, as well as gear reviews for top mountain bike brands. Build a bike from the ground up, or find technique tips for downhill trail riding, Trails.com can help no matter what you’re looking to do.

  • How to Mountain Bike Uphill

    If you're mountain biking, chances are you'll come into contact with a rather steep hill. Rather than turning the bike around and heading the other way, follow these steps and take on the challenge.

  • How to Mountain Bike With Your Dog

    A short mountain bike ride is a great way to give both you and your pooch some exercise.

  • How to Take Your Mountain Bike on an Airplane

    You can take your mountain bike anywhere - just use these hints to pack it up and put it on a plane.

  • Wheelie Drop a Mountain Bike

    The wheelie drop is one of the most essential mountain bike skills you can learn. The term refers to riding up onto an obstacle, then landing the rear wheel before the front. It's a lot of fun, looks great and is the best way to ride over large o...

  • Train for Slalom Mountain Bike Racing

    Slalom mountain bike racing is a fast-paced, dramatic style of race in which two competitors ride simultaneously down nearly identical, side-by- side courses. The races are short, typically well under a minute. There are very specific skills requ...

  • Prep a Mountain Bike for Winter

    Winter can be rough on a mountain bike, but if you take steps to prep your bike, you'll keep your bike in tip top shape. Some bikers use an older bike during the winter to prevent water or salt damage to their "good" bikes. How much prep and main...

  • Perform Mountain Bike Stunts

    Riding a mountain bike is a lot of fun especially if you can impress your friends with a few stunts. From the basic bunny hop to the table jump to the many and varied techniques of trail riders, mountain bike stunts are sure to impress. Practice ...

  • Land Big Jumps on a Mountain Bike

    Landing big jumps on your mountain bike is easier than you might think. With the proper approach, balance and some basic technique, you can land most big jumps with ease. To land big jumps on your mountain bike, follow the simple steps below.

  • Jump a Double on a Mountain Bike

    While just about anyone can perform a basic bunny hop jump on a mountain bike, advanced jumps are more elusive. The double jump is one of the more difficult types of jumps you can do on a bike. It involves riding a bike up an obstacle, jumping of...

  • Handle Ruts While Mountain Biking

    Every mountain biker will run into ruts occasionally. Ruts form when something (truck, bike, ATV) rides across a wet, muddy area or when the same path is used repeatedly, causing erosion of the soil. Knowing how to handle ruts will help keep you ...

  • Control a Nasty Descent on a Mountain Bike

    Launching down a hill at high speeds on a bike is something not just anyone should try without the proper skill and knowledge. Even the most seasoned rider can have scary dreams of losing his ability to control a nasty descent. The following step...

  • Conquer Switchbacks While Mountain Biking

    When riding a switchback while mountain biking, a rider is essentially making a crisscrossing blueprint on the interior of a hill, as opposed to a trail providing direct access to the hill's summit. Trails get particularly tight and gnarly the hi...

  • How to Conquer Long Climbs on a Bike

    Biking down great descents generally means that you face a long, uphill climb before you can enjoy the ride down. Long climbs present a challenge for many mountain bikers but learning how to best approach them can make them a bit less intimidatin...

  • Bunny Hop a Mountain Bike

    The bunny hop is one of the most useful mountain biking techniques you can learn. It allows you to jump your bike over small obstacles. It's easier to perform a bunny hop if you have clipless pedals installed on your bike rather than platform ped...

  • How to Choose the Right Bicycle Helmet

    A bicycle helmet is an important piece of safety gear that can protect you from serious injury. Every bicyclist and mountain biker should wear a helmet. A crash is a very real possibility, and getting the right bike helmet will keep you protected.

  • How to Choose a Youth Mountain Bicycle

    Mountain bikes have become increasing popular during the past few years. At one point, there were only a few manufacturers producing mountain bikes, and as a result, they were expensive. But now there are a wide range of manufacturers, and one re...

  • What to Look for When Buying a Mountain Bike

    Buying a mountain bike is an exciting yet challenging venture. On the one hand, mountain biking is a fun sport; whether it's your first mountain bike or just a new one, you're bound to enjoy many days on the trail. On the other hand, the process ...

  • Utah Mountain Biking

    The state of Utah offers some of the most diverse mountain biking in the world. From the famous Slickrock Trail in Moab to the Wasatch Crest Trail connecting Salt Lake City and Park City, every section of the state offers a distinct mountain bik...

  • Types of Mountain Bike Shoes

    Mountain bike shoes can really improve your mountain biking performance. While it is certainly possible to ride a bike with sneakers or hikers, mountain bike shoes will improve your riding experience, regardless of your style or ability. There ar...

  • Types of Mountain Bike Helmets

    Mountain biking is a sport that demands the use of a helmet. With the potential for concussion lurking on every stretch of rocky trail, you need to take your safety seriously. There are several different styles of helmet available, and the best o...

  • Mountain Bike Safety Gear

    Helmets are the most traditional mountain bike safety gear and also the most important. Putting on a helmet is the first step of mountain biking. For cross-country riding, a helmet is really the only piece of safety equipment necessary. There a...

  • Mountain Bike Gear Shifting Tips

    Properly shifting gears on a mountain bike is more important than many people realize. Not only does proper shifting make your riding experience more enjoyable, it also reduces wear and tear on your bike so that it will last longer. Improper shif...

  • How to Set Up Gears on a Mountain Bike

    Ideally, your mountain bike will be ready to ride straight out of the shop doors, assembled and fine-tuned by professional bike mechanics. However, if you've ordered a bike online or are experiencing issues, you may need to set up your own gears...

  • How to Fit a Mountain Bike

    Getting the proper size mountain bike may seem like a trivial detail compared to picking out the perfect combination of suspension, components and materials, but it is extremely important. A improperly fit bike is not going to be comfortable to ...

  • How to Adjust Gears on a Mountain Bike

    Shifting problems are common during mountain biking. You may experience problems like undershifting (bike won't shift into gear), sluggish shifting or overshifting (bike skips a gear). If you experience some of these common problems, you will n...