| Riding a mountain bike is one of the great outdoor | | | | roughness of the trail require the rider to be fit |
| recreational activities. Whether you are a novice | | | | and coordinated as they negotiate over roots, |
| who simply enjoys spinning down the local fitness | | | | rocks, bumps, creeks and other objects found on |
| trail or the experienced rider who likes to tackle | | | | the trail. This develops your leg muscles as well as |
| the big cross country rides, mountain biking is | | | | your core. Your cardiovascular system on a tough |
| great for getting in shape and losing weight. | | | | trail is fully engaged as your heart rate is |
| Mountain bikes are typically used for off-road | | | | increased to get you up the mountain. It is |
| adventures. They have fat knobby tires making it | | | | fantastic exercise and one that will have the rider |
| perfect for riding down forest service roads, tight | | | | burning enormous amounts of calories and getting |
| singletrack or local recreational paths. Mostly they | | | | in shape. |
| are more comfortable than the typical road bike | | | | Beginners will have to take it easy at first as their |
| and are durable for handling the bumps that are | | | | fitness will not be at a level that will allow them to |
| common on most trails. | | | | ride the big hills for a couple of hours. It takes |
| Because these cycles are more accessible to | | | | time to build up to that kind of fitness level. There |
| more people they can be a great tool for helping | | | | are many people that would simple rather ride on |
| them lose weight. People that are comfortable | | | | the local rail-to-trails flat terrain. Whatever they |
| and having fun are more likely to continue the | | | | decide to ride they will be getting fit and losing |
| activity. If they are moving then they will certainly | | | | weight. At some point many beginners enjoy |
| be burning calories and unwanted pounds. Cycling | | | | riding so much that bike upgrades are made and |
| requires the rider to develop stamina, muscle | | | | more difficult trails are ridden. These are the folks |
| strength and cardiovascular conditioning which are | | | | that find themselves with increasing fitness levels. |
| all important aspects for weight loss. The more | | | | Mountain biking is a great way to achieve weight |
| you ride the better your fitness becomes. | | | | loss. The bike is adaptable to most any terrain the |
| Mountain biking can actually be considered more | | | | rider is willing to ride. This will keep them |
| rigorous than road cycling particularly as you | | | | interested and having fun as well as getting fit and |
| become more advanced on the trails. The | | | | losing weight. |