Dave's Two Cents: The Mountain Biking Primer for First-time Riders

You may have been seeking a way to maintain your fitness while social distancing, looking for an excuse to get outside and clear your head, or maybe you just wanted to meet some new friends who might share your same values. Whatever it was, you’ve been drawn to mountain biking, the panacea for many of us in the midst of this pandemic. The question now is how to get started. The following is a very brief primer on the “what, where, and with whom” of mountain biking.

First the “what”, what kind of bike should you get? It’s hard to know what bike you’ll need before actually getting out on the trail, so borrow or rent a bike for your first couple of rides. The bike you ultimately purchase needs to not only match your size and budget but also needs to be suitable for the trails you want to ride. As you get more comfortable riding dirt, you’ll start exploring different trails and that will inform what type of bike will be best for you. In time, you may see the value of components like adjustable-height seat posts, suspension, and modern single-ring drivetrains, so the more bikes you ride, the better decision you’ll be able to make. You may find that a simple single-speed bike without suspension suits your needs (and budget) well. Just be sure that you always wear a helmet.

The “where” of it all. Let’s get some perspective here; you wouldn’t paddle out at Lighthouse Point into thirty-foot waves on your first surf, so by the same measure, you don’t want to get in over your head on your first trail ride. Seek out a fire road that has a pretty mellow grade with an option for a bit of singletrack (a narrower trail through the woods). The Old Cove Landing Trail at Wilder Ranch State Park is great for a first lap to get a feel for the bike under you and understand how shifting and braking work while pedaling along the oceanfront. You can then move to the other side of the highway and climb the West Engelsman trail up to the bench to experience a climb and get an amazing view of the Monterey Bay. A word of caution: be wary of starting out on your avid mountain biking friend’s favorite trail. It may be a very steep technical trail and could end in a loss of skin and confidence, so that's not a recommended first ride. See my next point for a bit more context.

The “who”. To me, mountain biking is more community than bike or trail; it is about shared values and shared fun amongst a group of like-minded friends. Back to your friend who wanted to take you out on their favorite trail - you may have to ask them to tone down your first ride or find someone who is more focused on introducing you to the sport on more mellow trails. I’ve heard too many tales of bad outcomes on first rides that have discouraged riders from continuing in the sport. If you can’t find a friend willing to take you on a fire road spin or low key singletrack ride, consider joining a meetup group or Girls Rock (a women-only non-profit designed to encourage safe and fun mountain biking experiences). These group rides cater to many different levels, and the ride leaders are sensitive to the skills of the riders in their group. Seek out a “no-drop” ride, which means they won’t leave the slower riders out on the trail, or consider joining a clinic. Because we have less traction in the dry summer dirt, skills like braking and cornering are more challenging and the guidance of a pro can speed your progress up the learning curve. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, these clinics and group ride opportunities are limited. If you still want some guidance, a private coaching session may make sense. A professional coach will have your safety foremost in their mind and their experience introducing hundreds of riders to the sport will give you the skills, confidence, and desire to continue exploring on a mountain bike.

There is a lot to this mountain biking thing, but we’ve boiled it down to three key points.

• Don’t drop 10k on a bike for your first ride, borrow or rent for your first couple of outings until you sort out what kind of riding appeals to you.
• Pick a mellow trail to start, and then bump up the challenge.
• Don’t go it alone your first time out, seek some company from other riders or a coach.

Now all that is left is to meet your community! Your local bike shop hosts a wealth of information and you’ll be supporting your local economy if you buy or have your bike serviced by them. If you want to learn more about what is happening on our trails in the San Francisco Bay area, check out other pages on MBOSC.org or come join one of the organization's trail building days once the rain starts to fall. By getting involved in trail advocacy and maintenance, you'll quickly meet some new ride buddies and build your mountain biking community!

By Dave Robinson, expert mountain biker and coach with the Ride Guides.

MBOSC supporters receive special discounts on Ride Guides clinics and coaching. In response to COVID, the Ride Guides have postponed MBOSC co-op clinics until at least fall, but private coaching on the same skills is available in the much safer one-on-one environment.