Mountain Biking Tips

Summer is around the corner, and so is biking season at Whistler. Here at Stop and Store Whistler we have come up with a few tips for beginners.

1. Ride the right bike

To make your ride more comfortable and safe be sure to pick a bike that fits your body. If you are buying a new bike or borrowing someone else’s, you should first try to adjust the seat and handle bars. Try riding it for a few feet to double check its overall comfort and adjust if needed. Your knee should have a slight bend while pedaling. Ideally, you’ll want somewhere between 80-90% full leg extension at the bottom of your pedal stroke.

2. Safety

Helmets, kneepads and the like. You don’t look silly trying to protect yourself. The slops are a dangerous place, and falling is a likely occurrence if you are new to the sport. Sunglasses can also protect your eyes from not just the sun, but also any debris or rocks that may get kicked up from riding.

3. Check your gear ABC

The ABC safety check stands for air, brakes, and chain. Most tires should have a psi (pounds per square inch) between 25 and 45. The best way to know the psi for your tires is to talk to your tire salesperson. You should also check your rear and front brakes by giving them a slight squeeze to ensure they are working properly. Lastly, check your chain to make sure it is clean and properly lubed (dry or wet lube depending on your riding conditions).

4. Look ahead

Look where you are going, the mountain is a busy place, and if you aren’t checking your surroundings you are bound to hit someone. Are you going to go down that drop or around it? Which path are you going to aim for? It can be dangerous to only look a couple of feet in front of where you’re riding. After all, you don’t want to approach a large drop going too quickly just because you didn’t look ahead.

As always, Stop and Store Whistler is where you should store your gear after a day on the hills!