Taking a mountain biking vacation is an excellent
way to unwind and explore America. There are several
companies that offer mountain biking tours that go
through scenic routes, and they often arrange any
accomodations for travelers as well. For athletic
couples, these types of vacations offer the perfect
way to relax and enjoy some exercise together.
Each and every region in the United States has some
truly awesome mountain biking trails. It's not just
the major mountain ranges that offer these trails, as
any hilly, scenic, rough trail can provide riders with
the adventure they seek. Some of the best areas to
mountain bike ride in the United States are the Pacific
Northwest, Southwest, and Southeast states such as
North Carolina.
Even though the entire American West area is great for a
mountain biking vacation, the Southwest area is rapidly
becoming a popular area for the sport as well. In the
Southwest, some of the best trails include Pinery
Canyon Road in Arizona, South Boundary Trail in New
Mexico, and Flume Trail in Nevada.
Each and every trail deserves it's reputation as a
tough ride. Each one of these trails is over 20 miles
in length, with Pinery Canyon being the longest, at
over 50 miles! Keep in mind though, just because you
go to a trail it doesn't mean you have to ride the entire
length.
The Pacific Northwest is also a great place for a
mountain biking vacation. The three best trails in
the entire region are Surveyor's Ridge in Oregon, Mount
Tamalpais in California, and the Methow Trial System in
Washington.
A mountain biking vacation is perfect for athletic people
who have the desire to explore regions at their own
pace. These trips are much less expensive than other
trips, yet they can easily be the adventure of a
lifetime.
Things To Take With You
When you decide to go mountain biking on a long days
ride, there are several things that you should take
with you. Below, you'll find the essentials that
you should have with you.
1. Back pack - a camelback or mule is a good idea here.
2. Waterproof - the type that packs down very small is
the best to have.
3. Water - you need at least 2 liters for a long ride.
4. Food - sandwiches and energy bars are the best to
have with you to eat.
5. Pump - take a good one with you, as the small mini
pumps are a waste of time and money.
6. Tire levers if you need them.
7. Two small inner tubes.
8. A piece of medium emery paper about 3 inches long
and an inch wide.
9. A cut up tube of Crest for pinch punctures or to use
as a tire boot.
10. A carpet needle.
11. A card of linen thread to repair torn tires.
12. A good chain splitter
13. At least two black pins. You should tape these
to the inside lid of your puncture repair kit.
14. A set of allen wrenches. The penknife style is
the best to get.
15. A small screwdriver.
16. A first aid kit that includes an elastic bandage.
17. A Spokey spoke key.
18. A felt tip pen that will show on inner tubes.
19. Some lunch and phone money.
If you take the above with you, you should have no
problems with long mountain bike rides. Everything on
the above list will serve a purpose, all you have to do
is give them a chance. If you've ever been mountain
biking and ran into problems in the past, you should
know first hand just how important the proper supplies
can actually be.
