Mountain Bike

Moore Family
of Arizona

Mountain Biking:

In 2000 I bought a Mountain Bike and started riding alternate weekends on South Mountain - right near where we live. I started riding with a friend Andrew who had been tackling the hills already.

I bought a relatively inexpensive bike with a full front & rear suspension system a Motobecane HS700, it was strange having a full suspension bike (especially the movement up & down of the front forks) - having been a serious road bike guy in my youth...

In my first 6 months riding a mountain bike I had a number of spectacular falls, scrapes, cuts & bruises. Mostly it came down to developing the technique and knowing my limits... Since that time I've rarely had any accidents and have never really been hurt... yet!

For about 4 years I rode quite regularly - but I have dropped off a little in the last year or so, partly because Andrew is no longer able to ride due to back problems...

But - time to get back on the bike!

I found that the biggest adjustment was to get used to riding the bike standing up - especially over difficult terrain - once you are balanced it gives you much more lateral control and besides in this position you can rapidly shift your weight forward and rear on the bike... this was a big change in riding style, I was used to riding out of the saddle only for bursts of acceleration on the road... off road it is for whenever something gets hairy! Once you get used to this change you can develop much better technique as I guess I have done!

Well back out to the mountain for me for more training...!