It’s no secret that over the pandemic, everyone is ready to get out, be active and be social. The mountain bike is a great tool to do just that. Since 2019, mountain bike sales have skyrocketed as people have rediscovered the joys of getting outside and getting their blood pumping. In the most recent 12 months compared to two years ago, sales of mountain bikes increased by a whopping 70%!
No wonder more people are getting into mountain biking than ever before.
The Birthplace of Mountain Bikes
There is some debate of the birthplace of the mountain bike, but it can generally be agreed it was the riders of Marin County, California. These adventure seekers modified their cruiser and road bikes, retrofitting wide balloon tires and moto handlebars to create what would become the modern mountain bike.
Racing down the fire roads of Mount Tamalpais in “Re-pack Race” coined the name as the riders had to continuously repack the grease in their hubs. Around the same time a small group of riders in Crested Butte, Colorado mistakenly created the Pearl Pass Tour, riding their modified cruiser bikes up and over Pearl Pass from Crested Butte to Aspen. From their enthusiasm and desire to continuously push the limits of their bicycles, the mountain bike was born.
Growing up in Western Colorado mountain biking was a large part of my life. Beginning at the age of fourteen, I worked in bike shops all the way through college until beginning my career as an adventure lifestyle photographer. My time as a bicycle mechanic really helped me understand the mountain bike and what it has to offer.
Hardtail and Full Suspension
Today, there are generally two different kinds of mountain bikes; hardtail and full suspension. A hardtail mountain bike generally has a front suspension fork but no suspension in the rear. This style of mountain bike is popular because they are generally lighter weight, making them faster and easier to pedal.
A full suspension mountain bike has suspension on the front wheel as well as the rear wheel. This style of mountain bike is largely more popular because of the comfort as well as the increased capability the rear suspension offers.
When zeroing in on one style of mountain bike you find endless sub-genres and options. The shear volume of choices can be a bit overwhelming, and feel a bit crippling. I am here to share some of my experiences of mountain bikes to offer guidance through the process of choosing the right mountain bike for you!
One of my personal favorite rides.
Popular Brands
My very first mountain bike was a Specalized Rockhopper. A wildly popular mountain bike in the late 90s, a hardtail mountain bike which I rode for nearly 8 years. In college I began riding Banshee Bikes. These mountain bikes were different from other brands focusing more on the ride and less on details like weight. Now, 17 years later I am still riding a Banshee mountain bike, the Banshee Phantom.
Some other popular brands to look into are: Santa Cruz, Salsa, GT, and Trek.
However, the best bet is to find your local bike shop and see what they have to offer. Taking a test ride on a mountain bike before purchasing is always a good idea as every bike provides a different fit and feel.
Best Places to Ride
Now you may be wondering where you should ride your mountain bike. The beauty of mountain bikes is the wide variety of terrain they are capable of riding over. It could be a simple ride down a bike path, a dirt road or even single track. Riding off road single track is by far the most popular use for a mountain bike.
You may not have the best options of single track in your area, so I wanted to provide some popular destinations in my home state of Colorado.
By far my favorite place to ride is in Fruita/Grand Junction. I do call Grand Junction home, after all. This is definitely a must0visit location for mountain biking. The iconic 18 Roads of Fruita offer some of the smoothest, most giggle-inducing trails you will ever ride. “The Ribbon” in Grand Junction delivers 1,500 feet of warp speed downhill over the course of 3 miles.
If you plan to make a trip to the Fruita/Grand Junction area, you should also consider signing up for a shuttle and taking the plunge on the Palisade Plunge Trail. This 32 mile long trail begins on the Grand Mesa and ends 6,000 feet lower in the town of palisade. This is definitely not recommended for beginners, so be sure you are ready for a hard long mountain bike ride if taking the plunge.
A mountain bike trip to Colorado wouldn’t be complete without a stop over in iconic Crested Butte. Whether you are a seasoned pro or brand new to the sport, Crested Butte has epic mountain bike trails waiting for you. Pedal the high-elevation singletrack through wildflower meadows and aspen groves. There are also lift-served mountain bike park trails at the resort in Mt. Crested Butte.
Gorgeous Summertime rides.
Favorite Rides in Crested Butte
Some of my favorite rides of Crested Butte, in no particular order: Lupine Trail offers easy access from town and great sunset views. Ride through handlebar tall lupine flowers before flying through some of the most dense aspen groves you will ever see. Another must do mountain bike ride in Crested Butte is trail 401. Starting off with a lung burning climb to the high point of 11,351 feet before sending you downhill through some of the thickest and tallest wildflowers you will ever experience.
Love Your Bike and It Will Love You
To say that mountain biking has shaped my life would be a bit of an understatement. Since an early age I have used my mountain bike to explore my town, state, country and world. I am thankful for this incredible exploration tool and want to see more people fall in love with mountain biking as well.