A mountain biking trip can be a terrifically rewarding and exhilarating way to explore the backcountry. Careful planning makes all the difference in the world.
A mountain bike trip, by its very nature, will be more rugged than a bicycling trip on paved roads. The rewards, however, are great in that you are miles from people, view exquisite scenery and often have exhilarating fun.
The kind of mountain bike trip you choose depends on the level of adventure you seek. It can be as simple as setting up a base in a mountainous area and doing day trips on different trails. On the other end of the spectrum, you could go several days (or weeks) into the backcountry, carrying all of your food and water and camping at a different location every night. There are also organizations that set up hut-to-hut trips, thus eliminating the need to carry shelter and cooking gear.
Probably the first decision you will need to make is whether you are going to go with a professional tour group, or whether you will organize the entire trip on your own. There are numerous companies offering mountain biking trips of all styles and abilities. If this is your first trip, or if you prefer to have someone else be responsible for the details of planning and organizing, it is best to go with one of these tours. If, however, you really want to get away and like the adventure idea and the satisfaction of planning a self-supported mountain bike trip, then you will need a lot more preparation. If you are going out on your own, you should be comfortable:
- Organizing a camping trip – You will be responsible for your shelter and bedding, food and water, clothing, cooking gear, personal care items and so forth.
- Educating yourself about the terrain – i.e. altitude, topography, and type of terrain. You should be able to read maps, especially topography maps, and have good route finding skills.
- Doing basic bicycle maintenance – You will need to bring (and know how to use) a comprehensive tool kit.
The next decision you must make is where you would like to go on your trip. In the U.S., the most popular locations are in southeast Utah, northern California and North Carolina. However, there is great mountain biking in many other states. If you would like to go abroad, you might want to look into mountain biking in the Alps or in Costa Rica. However, anywhere there are mountains, there are most likely trails for mountain biking. Wherever you decide to go, it is important to gather as much information as possible about the terrain as well as whether there are local regulations. For example, many areas in northern California do not allow mountain bikes on single track trails so if that’s where you plan to go, you may need to limit your riding to fire roads.
Regardless of whether you go with an organized group or on your own, you will need to have some basic skills or, at the very least, have developed some bicycling fitness. It is a serious hindrance to your enjoyment to have to get in shape for your trip while on the trip! Furthermore, if you are planning to travel over some more technical terrain, you should have the appropriate mountain biking skills. Almost any outdoor center, bicycling shop or bicycling club should offer clinics in learning the basic skills.
Before your trip, you may want to upgrade your bike and, if you’re going with a tour group that has newer bikes with more features, you may want to rent theirs. The kinds of upgrades you should consider are:
- Getting tires to match the kind of terrain you will encounter (if different from what you have been using).
- Purchasing and installing a new chain ring to improve the gear ratio if you are expecting to do a lot of hill climbing.
- Getting rear shocks on your bicycle to soften the ride.
There are several websites that publish packing lists for bicycle trips; however, some common suggestions are:
- Bring at least two sets of riding clothing that include bike shorts, bike shirts, and synthetic or wool tops. Also, if you encounter cooler weather, you will want a pair of bicycling tights. Make sure you have a windbreaker and rain gear (tops and bottoms). You may encounter any kind of weather in the mountains and should always be prepared. It is not uncommon to have a blizzard in August at some of the higher altitudes. Alternately, the temperatures can soar to over 100 degrees!
- Make sure you have enough water. It is not only important to carry enough for each day’s outing, but if you are in the mountains, to know the reliable sources for re-supplying. While riding, it is a good idea to have a hydration system that can be worn on the back, as it allows you to carry so much more, and frees both hands for bike handling.
- Always check food supplies. If you are on a professional trip, they will usually supply the basics, but even in these cases, you should have a back-up supply of snacks or energy bars in the event that you get separated from the support staff at any time.
The final logistic to consider in planning your trip is how you are going to get your bicycle to its destination. Are you going by plane, train, bus or automobile? If you are driving, it’s a matter of having a bike rack, but if you are flying you need to decide whether to bring the airplane on the bike or ship it ahead of time. Airlines these days are charging a hefty fee for carrying a bicycle; therefore more and more people are opting to have the bike shipped ahead of time. It can be a great convenience to have a bicycle shop pack the bicycle for you. If you are travelling by train or bus, check into the regulations and luggage allowances of the specific company.