Choosing a Mountain Bike Helmet
A helmet only works if it fits. Learn how to check retention, coverage and ventilation, and when a helmet is past saving.
Archive: March 2010
8 guides originally published in March 2010, restored and updated for current riders.
Mountain Biking Gear: What Actually Matters
You do not need a van full of equipment. You need a small kit that covers safety, weather, and mechanical surprises. Here is the list we pack, and why.
Bike Fit Basics: How to Set Up Your Mountain Bike
A good fit stops the bike fighting you. Work through saddle height, position, reach and controls in this order, and change one thing at a time.
Descending Confidently on a Mountain Bike
Descending is a position, not a skill you are born with. Get your weight low and back, keep your eyes up the trail, and let the bike move underneath you.
Climbing Steep Trails Without Burning Out
A clean climb is less about fitness than timing: the right gear, weight where the tyre needs it, and an even effort that leaves something for the top.
Tips on a Comfortable, Efficient Position on the Bike
Saddle height, reach, and grip width decide whether a long ride feels easy or ends early. Here is a simple order of adjustments that works on almost any mountain bike.
Braking Late and Staying in Control
Braking is not about squeezing harder. It is about using the front brake well, keeping the wheel turning, and choosing a spot before you need one.
Cornering Faster and Smoother on the Trail
Brakes decide how late you can enter a turn; body position decides whether you leave it upright. Here is the order that keeps cornering fast and predictable.
Other months: April 2010 · May 2010 · June 2010