Welcome to the wonderful world of mountain biking. I’ll say up front that it’s not for everyone. Some people prefer to climb on their 3-speed and peddle around the neighborhood or their

local park for an hour on the weekend. They don’t want fancy, they don’t exciting. They just want to do the bike version of strolling along.

But for those of us who love the thrill and the challenge of rugged biking, there’s nothing better than a mountain bike. It’s hard to explain to someone who doesn’t share our passion. How

can you explain the sense of adventure and excitement that just climbing on the bike arouses? You can’t.

This book is to lay down the basics. It’s probably not for you if you are a seasoned mountain biker. I’ll give you a good overview of how to get started, which bike makes sense for you, and

what kind of equipment you should choose, as well as a quick overview on how to take care of this not inexpensive investment.

Here are a few of the chapter titles for you:

What Is a Mountain Bike?
How to Choose a Mountain Bike
New to Mountain Biking
All Terrain Bikes – the Basics
Suspensions
Tires
Handlebars
Ground Clearance
Chains
Standover height
Leg and foot position
Rider compartment.
Gears and Guts
Bottom Bracket
Forks
Crank
Gears / Cassette
Hub
Brakes
Mountain Bike Designs
Cross Country (XC):
All Mountain (Enduro or AM)
Downhill
Freeride
Singlespeed
Four Cross (4X and DS)
Mountain Bike Equipment
The Dreaded Helmet!
Maintaining Your Mountain Bike
Trail Repair Kits
Essential Bike Accessories
Essential Riding Apparel
Bike Gear for the Ladies