What is mountain biking?

Mountain biking is an exciting sport for all ages. It ranges from leisurely rides in the woods to extreme downhill adrenaline rushes.  The sport can be split into several categories: trail riding, all purpose, cross country, downhill, freestyle, dirt jumping, slopestyle, and trials. The courses in Canada cater to a variety of training levels and abilities, as do our training programs. The sport gained popularity in the 1970’s and has been growing ever since. Biking is an independent solo sport and requires the athletes to have endurance, self-confidence, focus, core strength, great balance, and strong bike-maneuvering skills. Virtually anywhere is appropriate for riding; your backyard, a dirt road, steep downhill terrain, fields, deserts, or man-made forest trails. Mountain biking is an amazing sport and can be both a fun and competitive way to incorporate physical activity into a healthy lifestyle.

Physical demands of mountain biking:

Why weight training is important:

Thighs and calves work most of the time to propel body forward

The forearm muscles are activated when gripping the handle bar

The chest muscles, shoulders, biceps, triceps and back are activated when lifting and steering the front part of the bicycle.

The core is an important factor in maintaining proper balance, especially around sharp turns and intense hills.

Resistance training benefits in increased endurance, increased hill climbing ability, increased sprinting ability, and reduced muscle soreness in long races.

Explosive strength and power:

Mountain bike trails often have long hill climbs, which requires maximum amount of force and explosive strength

Endurance:

Endurance is key when mountain biking for hours on end.

Flexibility:

Flexibility is crucial to prevent injuries

Rest

The muscles and cardiovascular system needs time to recover during a strenuous exercise regime.