Mountain Bikes for Off Road Fitness Fun

Forget the Tour de France, if you want to get fit on a bike and do not want to risk being involved in a road traffic accident, then get off road, hit the trails, and have a great workout in the process. Mountain biking has been a growing sport for over a decade now, and is now an Olympic event. Mountain biking provides a full body workout (although still mostly on the legs), gets you outdoors in all weathers, and is great fun. Whether you are competiting or just riding trails with your family, cycling is still one of the best outdoor forms of exercise.

Several muscle groups are used when cycling, the main ones are:

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Upper thigh muscles (quadriceps)
The backside muscles (gluteus maximus)
The calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus)

Cycling does not lead to bulging leg muscles, but lean and functional muscle. Cycling is excellent for toning the legs.

If you are planning to take up mountain biking, then you need to know a bit about the equipment that you will require. Obviously a good bike is essential, however whether you opt for a full suspension or hardtail depends on the type of terrain you will be riding on. For many parks a hardtail is good enough (these are often referred to as hybrid bikes).

Hardtail models better suited to frequent road use, with occasional trail racing / mountain biking. Full suspension mountains bikes are essential if you will mainly be riding off road over rough terrain, and generally putting the bike through its paces.

Chose the right size of the bike. Mountain bikes come in small, medium, large and extra large. If you are going to be riding on the road, then get a larger frame, as you will be seated most of the time. For mountain biking, a smaller frame is often preferred, as it will be lighter, more agile, and you will rarely sit down while riding. And do not forget to buy a cycle helmet top protect your head when you fall off!