MTB 101

New to riding? Here are a few things you need to know...

1. Ride On Open Trails Only
If you ride on closed trails, or trails closed to bikes, you run the risk of aggravating the land owner(s) and risk them closing their trails to mountain bikers. Not to mention there are usually good reasons for trail closures, such as protecting an endangered plant species, a delicate ecosystem, or other matter.

2. Don't Ride When Trails are Wet and Muddy
This is a no-brainer, but it too often gets overlooked and our trails suffer the consequences. When trails are ridden when wet and muddy, they get deep ruts in them which accelerates erosion. Not only that but the nice people who own the land we ride on don't like to see us damaging their land. So do us all a favor (including yourself) and don't ride when the trails are wet.

3. Control Your Bicycle
Inattention for even a moment could put yourself and others at risk. Obey all bicycle speed regulations and recommendations, and ride within your limits. And don't be loud. If you scare a horse it may rear up and it could possibly kill you.

4. Get a Bike Bell
Let your fellow trail users know you're coming -- a friendly greeting or bell ring are good methods. Try to anticipate other trail users as you ride around corners. Bicyclists should yield to all other trail users, unless the trail is clearly signed for bike-only travel. Bicyclists traveling downhill should yield to ones headed uphill. Strive to make each pass a safe and courteous one.

5. Never Scare Animals
Animals are easily startled by an unannounced approach, a sudden movement or a loud noise. Give animals enough room and time to adjust to you. When passing horses, use special care and follow directions from the horseback riders (ask if uncertain). Again, horses are bigger than you and THEY CAN KILL YOU. Running cattle and disturbing wildlife are serious offenses.

6. Plan Ahead
Know your equipment, your ability and the area in which you are riding -- and prepare accordingly. Strive to be self-sufficient: keep your equipment in good repair and carry necessary supplies for changes in weather or other conditions. Always wear a helmet and appropriate safety gear.

MTB101 BEGINNER CLINICS:

Saturday April 10 - 1:00pm - Fair Hill
Sunday April 18 - 1:00pm - White Clay
Saturday May 1 - 1:00pm - Fair Hill
Sunday May 16 - 1:00pm - White Clay
Sunday June 13 - 1:00pm - White Clay
Sunday July 25 - 1:00pm - White Clay
Sunday August 15 - 1:00pm - White Clay
Sunday September 12 - 1:00pm - White Clay
Sunday October 17 - 1:00pm - White Clay
Sunday November 14 - 1:00pm - White Clay

White Clay - 500 Thompson Station Road, Newark, DE 19711
Fair Hill - 483 Gallaher Road, Elkton, MD 21921

This is a fair-weather event and may be cancelled due to poor trail conditions. Please pre-register for this event by sending an email to karllehman@verizon.net so we can provide cancellation notification and ensure enough ride leaders. Remember this is a Delaware State Park parking area which requires a State Park Pass or cash for the daily use fee. These clinics are organized by the Delaware Trail Spinners. For more information about DTS visit www.trailspinners.org.

Guide to Mountain Bike Accessories
The following list (in order of priority) was put together to help the beginning Mountain Biker choose equipment to make the trail riding experience safer and more enjoyable for you and your trail riding companions.

1. Helmet - Approved helmet, properly adjusted. More vents are better especially in hot weather. Try to make sure the helmet will stay in place when riding and will accommodate your hair style comfortably.

2. Gloves and eye protection - These are equally important. Bicycle gloves come with or without full fingers. Full fingered gloves protect you better from thorns but are hotter in the summer. The main feature of good gloves is protection from cutting your palms if/when you fall. On our beautiful single track trails there are lots of hanging, thorny brush just waiting to scratch your head. Clear or yellow glasses work best when the vegetation is heavy and the light is flat (summer). Sun glasses are good when the leaves are off the trees in early spring, late fall and winter. A light weight pair of well ventilated glasses are the most comfortable.

3. Water - Make sure you have either a 12oz or more bottle and bottle cage on your bike (two are better) or a hydration pack (camelback). Most experienced riders like the camelback M.U.L.E or equivalent for its 100oz capacity and room for tools and gear. Smaller ones carry less water but are lighter, larger carry the same water but are heavier. It’s common to go through 12 oz of water every ½ hour of riding in hot weather.

4. Spare tube, air and tire levers - While the leaders on most of our group rides carry these it is you responsibility to carry with you the basic equipment and knowledge to be self sufficient on the trail. At a minimum this includes a spare inner tube, an air pump or CO2 inflation system and tire levers to help get the tire off and back on. These fit conveniently into a hydration pack or seat mounted pack. Seat packs get the weight off your back but are generally noisy and its surprisingly easy to loose a small air pump from the seat bag.

5. Bike Shorts - Sooner or later you will want to purchase bike shorts with an internal pad. Mountain Biker’s utilize two different styles either “spandex” style or “baggy”. Tight fitting shorts are less likely to catch the seat, usually have more choices in padding styles and are available from many manufacturers. They are used exclusively on road bikes where you spend more time seated. Baggy shorts have pockets and are more casual looking. Good baggy shorts have Velcro or zippered pockets and an inner short with pad and leg grippers to keep the inner short in place. Either style works great on the trail. Bike jerseys are colorful, cooler and usually have pocket(s). A well fitting water/wind proof jacket is useful in cooler weather.

6. Floor Pump - While you can certainly utilize the inflation system you carry with you (4. above) at home/before a ride, a floor pump is a great deal easier and faster, experience shows most riders don’t use the hand pump/CO2 system to check the tires before a ride and then spend valuable riding time changing “pinch flats” caused by low air pressure. Your tires will loose pressure over time so check them before each ride.

7. Chain tool and spare pins or “quick link” - Next to flat tires the next most likely maintenance problem on a mountain bike is a broken chain. Ask you bike shop for a recommendation based on the type of bike chain you have. They will also usually show you how to repair a chain or give you information to read on the procedure. Group leaders from the Delaware Trail spinners will also help you when needed.