Adventures on road and gravel bikes are not unknown to us. Both editors and readers include many enthusiastic gravel and road cyclists. Yet we also hear other noises. Mountain biking? Yes definitely, mountain biking. Ella gives you five reasons to start mountain biking
Cycling is what unites us
We are all cyclists, seeking out the most beautiful places on our trusty carbon or metal steed and happily climbing every mountain pass. But what if you want to go even further off the beaten track to go even deeper into nature? Then you could use some suspension and the mountain bike is a great addition to your bike collection. For example, we go on mountain bike adventure in the Alps and would love to take you into it! This article is part of a series in which we will introduce mountain biking. If you have any questions for us right now, let us know in the comments! But first, five reasons why you should really try mountain biking.
Unlock Unpaved
We have actually already mentioned the first reason: with a mountain bike, you unlock the possibility to go even further off the beaten track. Whether you go cycling in the Netherlands or abroad, mountain biking takes you to completely different places than racing or gravel bikes. You've probably wondered where that trail along the road goes. Mountain biking takes you to places you could never have gone otherwise. And a change of scenery makes you hungry, training in a totally different environment gives a new boost to your motivation and experience.
Training incentives
And the same goes for certainly training incentives. If you have ever been on the gravelbike zit you notice that offroad terrain is not as smooth as asphalt. Especially on a mountain bike, you will therefore sometimes encounter short steep hills, drops, or stones. As a result, you have to do a lot more short, explosive push-ups, and you are much more out of the saddle to keep the bike well under control. This allows you to do a good, intense workout and add some variety in a short time. You don't directly need a structured workout for this. A bit like 'fartlek' training on the road.
Cycling through winter
Speaking of training, the mountain bike is perhaps the best bike to just keep on riding in winter. Actually, mountain biking in the mountains is a real summer sport, but here in the Netherlands it seems like most mountain bikes only come out of the shed in winter when the roads are too wet and it gets too cold and bleak to get on the road bike. In the woods you ride a lot more sheltered, and the intensity is also higher so on a mountain bike you won't get cold easily! The perfect way to overcome the winter blues and come out of the winter super strong for the new season. Unless, of course, you are infected by the mountain bike virus and just keep on riding, even in summer...
Escaping the crowds
Now, of course, it is not all about training, and the experience is perhaps even more important. On a mountain bike, you can perfectly escape all the crowds on the road. No annoying cars, no traffic lights, or crowded bike lanes. The bike has a much greater range than hikers so you won't encounter them much either. As a result, you are often alone with your group on the road, which gives you the chance to completely immerse yourself in the surroundings and enjoy nature and the beautiful views you encounter along the way.
Improve your skills
What is also an advantage of mountain biking is the speed with which your skills are honed. Especially the beginner can still gain a lot on cycling technique. On the mountain bike trails you will encounter all kinds of bends, obstacles, drops and small jumps depending on how crazy you want to make it. Your steering skills will improve by mountain biking, nothing is flat or straight in the forest so you will learn to control your bike and look ahead to cross the trails properly. You will definitely notice this on the road bike too!
In short
So only advantages! A mountain bike is therefore a valuable addition to anyone's cycling arsenal. In the series, we take a closer look at what gear and skills you need to start mountain biking and how to prepare properly to hit the trails at home and abroad. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!
