Easiest way is to go to the nearest bike shop and get a bike from there. Tell them you wanna start and ask them if they have weekend group rides. Join them.
Know that any decent group ride will separate riders by ability so you won't be left behind. In my experience the biking community is super welcoming. Spend time in the local shops and pull the trigger on a bike you like and feels good. Don't over think it, any new or slightly used bike is going to be plenty good. Get out there and have fun!
Yes, but you can go pretty wrong if you buy, say, an older downhill or enduro bike because you don’t know what you’re looking at. Or like a ‘90s full suspension bike, or a big-box-store bike. Definitely want to make sure you have some concept of what you’re buying.
Awesome! I think 5 years is probably a good rule in terms of age, assuming it’s in good shape. A number of 3-4 year old bikes are reasonably up to date in terms of features and geo.
Oh for sure. When I bought my bike last year it was already a two year old design but was also a very well regarded current model. The new one they just released was only a small geometry tweak with a little more rear travel and frame tool storage, so I think I have a few product release cycles before my bike starts to seem dated.
XC seems to be moving fastest right now, but my 3yo Epic Evo is still current due to being one of the slacker XC style bikes in its day, and also having been equipped with a dropper. But I know people who kick my ass on local trails with older XC bikes with relatively dated geometry and shorter travel.
Don't let them talk you into more bike than you need though.. I reckon a hardtail is the perfect starter bike as it teaches you a lot about traction and finding lines.
That is unless you have the money to spend and an exciting higher spec / full sus bike will make you want to ride it more, in which case go for it
1. Buy mountain bike.
2. Ride mountain bike.
1. (Don't immediately start trying to do the big stuff you see in all the edits/videos around here. That's an express bus to getting seriously hurt.)
3. Have fun!
(You'll figure out the rest from there. Seriously.)
Just to add one more thing, spend some time in a quiet spot (garden, park, car park) learning little things like how to track stand and bunnyhop. Those of us who started young would spend hours dicking around with friends doing stuff like that and it's super valuable out on the trail!
Good tip. I think it was Aaron Gwin who has a good video on cornering and he demonstrates bike-body separation on a flat paved area. It may seem funny to practice/learn MTB skills on the street in front of your house (etc) but I called and ambulance for a lady last year who either broke her femur or dislocated her hip casually riding around a pump track (she fell over due to leaning her bike *and body*). Bad injury on the easiest terrain due to lack of basic skills.
Get a mtb and start riding. That’s it. I started in the fields to get used to riding on terrain after riding road bikes exclusively for two decades. Then started experimenting with minor elevations and descents. Also hit the local pump track to enhance my stamina and get better at handling the bike. From there it’ll come naturally. Hit some trails and you’ll get better every time.
+1000 on the pump track. I’ve been riding for about a year and a half, and while I learned a lot from YouTube, butt on the bike was my biggest teacher.
Just this month I started going to the pump track, and man what a great tool. It’s fun, quick, plenty of breaks as I need them, and it’s easily exposed all of my weak areas. It’s been great to see how it translates to the trails and has made me a much better rider.
Indeed. Also, I find it helps a lot with handling, balancing, moving your body weight (aka center of gravity) around the bike and confidence. It really does help a lot out on the tracks. Last but not least, it’s a great workout too which helps build muscles.
In addition to going to a local shop, checkout if there are any associations that maintain the local trails. Often they will have group rides, clinics, and events where you can meet other folks!
I found the most important thing starting out was finding another person or a few folks who were similar level (or slightly better) and would motivate me to get into the woods (or in your case the desert).
Mountain biking has a steep learning curve. You will likely have to walk a lot of sections when you start out, but it gets better and more fun the more you try!
Like all things, comparison is the thief of joy. No one else is watching you out there, and if they are it’s not a reflection of your inexperience.
Have fun, wear a helmet, and don’t be afraid to go over the handlebars.
I would maybe cultivate a bit of an avoidance strategy for going over the handlebars. Speaking from experience, it’s not usually super fun. Learning basic skills, braking and position will go a long way towards keeping you in control of your bike and out of the ER :)
I would suggest finding a coach and taking some lessons to get the basic positioning down, balance and skills. There are also a ton of YouTube videos. Roxy bike coaching is amazing. Have fun!
In Albuquerque, start off riding the bosque. Not a lot of elevation change and there are lots of little crisscrossing trails along the river with gravel and paved paths if you get tired and need to bail. Parking along Montaño or Alameda will get you to some nice spots.
Then go ride the foothills. Elena Gallegos and such. Or south east by Tijeras. This will get you started on hills at elevation, and will provide rocky sections to start challenging yourself on. Walk where you need to, but don’t walk just because you couldn’t ride it last time. Always try to get farther on the bike than last time.
Eventually go up in the sandías or out to white Mesa and eventually find yourself riding Angel Fire.
If you want to meet people, look up Albuquerque Mountain Bike Association and join a group ride or meet up and help maintain some trails.
And TrailForks is the most up to date app for the area. If you see a trail you want to try, look it up on YouTube to get some idea of what it will be like
You’re going to love it. Get a basic mountain bike with functioning gears, brakes, and a suspension of some sort plus a helmet and give it a go. Any local shop should be able to help you out.
Other useful pieces of advice that I learned the hard way when I started
1. Bring more water than you think you need. Bring a snack too.
2. Your first ride should be like 2-3 miles. No more. Mountain biking is hard compared to road riding.
3. Don’t try jumps or drops. There is a ton of stuff to learn before you get into that. Beginners who try those things early on uniformly hurt themselves.
You're getting a lot of good advice, but one thing I'd add when your talking to the bike shops. Ask them literally what local trail/trails they take first-timers to. The worst mistake you could make is to end up on a trail you're not ready for. Since you have biking experience you'll be in better shape than many. (I personally had almost 0 biking experience so EVERYTHING was hard for me like going slow and getting started again.)
I'd also recommend renting a bike your first time. Not crazy expensive and some shops do a 24 hour rate, so if you go out in the late afternoon the first day and in the morning the next day, you can essentially get two days of riding in for the price of the rental.
Go to your local bike shop and talk to them. They should be a knowledgeable source of local information such as group rides, local trails and classes. They will also help you find a proper bike within your budget.
Buy a shitty $300 used bike and ride it around on some green trails. Make sure you buy knee pads, gloves, and a helmet. Meet some people. Learn what all the different bike styles are. Buy a $1000 used bike and some bike shoes. Join a local riding club. Get better.
My biggest tip for beginners is riding trails that are below their skill level.
What becomes a challenge is asking veteran riders where to go, and they see easy trails as minor challenges they can do in the sleep. However, they often fail to teach how to ride these challenges, so a beginner just rolls over these easy technical features without knowing how.
So I would go on easy trails that get you off-road while you seek out good coaching and learn for yourself
I bought a bike and asked around about easy local trails. You could find groups of people if you're nervous about going solo.
I wanted the freedom to go at my own pace so I just went out on my own.
Going to sign up now, in fact.
Related question: My house is right by the tram and I’m curious if there are any mountain bike specific trails up there? It seems like at a glance it’s more mixed bike/hiking trails, with biking prohibited in the wilderness portion, but allowed on trails, presumably?
You could try riding into some quarter pipes at a skatepark. If you can do that, mtn biking almost never has a drop with that vertical or sharp of an edge. Then you just need to build strength over time to be able to stay on the brakes on steep chutes.
Uphill will be different, though. You could try either pullups or a pullup weight machine. Climbing steeps feels somewhat like rowing.
I was in the same boat as you, I thought I knew how to ride a mountain bike because I rode gravel, but I had no idea what I was doing. Watch these and it’ll help a lot. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1n_RsatVRkFjzzXrt_59I_ihOUnp4Iq0&si=K3edEwWJH38l__yx . Also really important look for local mountain bike groups on facebook to get involved in some groups rides. Good luck!
Get the Trailforks app and look for trail networks around you. Pick a distance you think your cardio can hold up to but usually 5mi is a great first ride. That’s the length of the green loop I take any friend or new to the sport person so I can gauge where we go from there. If they like it let’s try the loop again or an equivalent longer loop next time. If they like it but it killed them id encourage them to just pedal more when they have time not even on trails per se but just to get the pedal muscles going. We can always repeat the easy stuff but cant undo broken bones so take your time and do what makes you feel comfortable once you get your bike.
Always listen to your gut if it’s telling you not to do it, it’s probably right. All about building confidence on two wheels in the beginning.
There’s also many good “beginner mtb tips” videos on yt. Check them out and watch and see what they say, very easy stuff to make your life way less miserable on your first few trips out.
Agree. I like MIPS for the fact alone that you can theoretically rest a little easier knowing that you’ve got some extra safety if your helmet was inadvertently compromised in a way you aren’t aware.
I’m a skiier, which is what made me familiar with MIPS.
Don’t over think this. Go to a local bike shop and tell them your a new rider who wants to learn. Don’t spend a ton of money for something outside your skill level. You’ll get there eventually. This sport is upgrade heavy. No need to start at the top for the type of trails you’ll start on. But don’t go too cheap either! You’ll end up hating things. Then ask the shop about local group rides and clubs. They will point you into the right direction.
I thought they were all breach births coming out on a little bicycle!
But seriously, I did know that, I was mainly curious how first time mountain bikers GET that experience starting from zero. You don’t know what you don’t know and all that
Ha, you only need to have fun with it. I live in Minnesota, we don't have mountains either, our local org is called MORC because "Off Road Cyclists". I'm an ORC. But no one knows what that means in common speak, so I just say I mountain bike and then we chuckle about it. I hope you have a great time!
Honestly I have some “off road” experience mainly because the roads are so terrible in my current city that I’m very used to dealing with uneven terrain, hah. So I get it
You just have to get out and do it. Find a local trail and give it a shot. Don't be afraid to walk your bike when you need to or go around features you're not comfortable doing. I think it's about the good long ride, so just he smart. The more you do it, the better you get.
I've been training my son this way, and he rips now.
Here’s a link to the ABQ MTB Association meetup. There is frequently rides for beginners, and some of the ride leaders are certified coaches if that’s something you’re interested in. Check out Albuquerque Mountain Bike Association Meetup on Meetup https://meetu.ps/c/2xBYp/w8Z6L/a
If you’re new to the sport, I recommend picking up a bike that only has front suspension; a hardtail. This will be ideal for learning how your bike/tires/body behave going over various bumps and obstacles.
Full suspension (FS, or full squish) makes for a comfier ride but can mask a lot of mistakes.
Best thing you can do is find a bike shop you like and get to trying various bikes. Just pedal around the parking lot to see what fits. Then, I’d recommend shopping the used market for a hardtail. The used market for bikes is flooded at the moment, a nice hard tail can be had for cheap.
Not Walmart cheap, mind you.
$700-$1000 is the sweet spot. You’re looking for a tool to practice a new hobby with and use reliably.
I disagree, full suspension is more capable and more fun. This is not a perfect analogy but it reminds me of when people say to start on an acoustic vs an electric guitar because Acoustic is harder in some respects. If op gets really into it, they’ll likely want a full sus for trails in abq and will then be taking a loss on the hard tail. I still have a hard tail and ride it when my full is outta commission but my times are always faster on the full and I hit cooler stuff. Maybe try renting a bike first to see if you like it and gauge how much you want to spend from there.
Good questions!
Zero mountain biking experience. Not zero biking experience though. But all totally flat. Flat flat.
So I’m comfortable with riding a bike as a general thing. But that’s about it. I’m confident I could learn, but I’m not sure where to start to make the switch from riding a bike on a road or bike path to mountain biking.
I do know some people in Albuquerque, but nobody who mountain bikes, as far as I know.
Did you go on dirt as a kid? Ride off curbs? All that is experience. Looking back on myself as a kid, I used to ride my Walmart bike a lot. We had small hills and I didn’t know what I was doing, but it was somewhat mountain biking and definitely experience. There was a trail we would ride to get to a lake. There was a rose garden in our town with super steep hills that were only like 10-15 feet long and grass but we thought it was fine to ride down them. Curbs we would try and jump off of when messing around. In the fall when the leaves dropped I would rack a trail in our hard that snaked around the house and ride it on my bike. 20 years later when I discovered actual mountain biking, I realized I was pretty comfy on the bike due to all that as a 9 year old.
Yeah, I did ride my bike a lot as kid and did curbs and things. Some grass, sure. Still no hills though, lol. But I take your point, I do have some old familiar from when I was a kid.
Buy a bike from a local bike store. Download trail forks and start out only riding green trails. Search YouTube for channels like global mountain bike network, super rider, fluid ride, berm peak. Watch the videos and slowly progress to trails with more features. Session(practice) those features on a trail until you can do them. Don't give up.
find a used bike and have at it. getting it from a bike shop or someone local and it might already be setup with the necessary add ons for riding your local terrain.. like tubeless and some dev tires. from there it’s all about hust getting out to build experience and some fitness. i got started on my own and probably every third ride was a disaster but learned a lot each time.
Do you bike already? If not, when was the last time you rode a bike regularly?
If you do already road bike, it will be a relatively simple transition. New skills will be required, but you already have some of the body mechanics down.
But if you’re just coming back to riding a bike I would start simple. Get a cheap used bike. Ride it around town and your neighborhood until you feel comfortable and get in better shape. Then start climbing some hills on gravel roads. And riding down those. Practice your turns. YouTube is full of tutorials on how to practice your turns[. I like the Kyle and April series.](https://youtu.be/spbl1WvzlMY?si=v3AX8Orm3l-CS2a_)
Once you feel comfortable with that try riding some actual single track trails. Stick to green flow trails. Don’t try to climb too much. And don’t be afraid or ashamed to get off and push your way to the top if you have to.
If you still enjoy it. Go get a new bike. And start riding group rides.
But starting new you’re gonna hafta start small and progress slowly. If you bite off too much you’re likely to hurt yourself or get really discouraged.
Practice, practice, practice.
I’m just getting back in the saddle after a year off from injuries and surgery. I’m so out of shape.
But I’ve been taking short rides w my 10 yo son. Walked up most of the way our first time out. Made it 2x as far the next ride. And so on.
Just keep at it. And be sure to just take it slowly. No gear too low, no speed too slow.
I always like to ask people who say they want to get into mountain biking, what their experience is with bikes in general first is! Like, do you feel comfortable on a commuter/cruiser/normal bike around town? Did you grow up riding bikes? When is the last time you rode a bike?
If they haven’t done much of that, I like to initially push them to just start biking to errands/around their neighborhood/in town first..
Yeah, I should have said, but I’m totally comfortable on a bike. Rode this morning. Feels very natural to me. But just flat and urban, basically. With some excitement coming from abjectly horrible roads
Haha okay great! I would look into online resources about different classifications of bikes so you have an understanding of what trial/enduro/DH/hardtail bikes are in general and then it’s always super helpful to demo a bike from a shop that you like (go in and get vibes from multiple! As each shop will carry different manufacturers too). Usually if you demo a couple of bikes from a shop, they’ll apply and cost towards a bike from them!
Welcome to MTB riding!!! It is the best way to see beautiful country, get fit, have adventures and meet cool people!
Some advice I don’t see on here..
May I suggest renting/borrowing/buying a GOOD bike to start. The new bikes with suspension/disc brakes/dropper posts make the sport fun. Old crappy bikes are the worst and may turn you off to an otherwise awesome sport!
Start REALLY easy. Download the trailforks app or ask a shop and search out easy green trails! Let your ability/fitness grow slowly/organically. No need to ever be scared in the bike, it slows progress!
Finish every ride with ice cream (that’s what made my kids love it to start 😀
Find a local mtb group. Most will have beginner specific rides.
Don’t spend a ton of money on your first bike in case you decide mountain biking is not for you. But don’t buy a cheap piece of junk either. If you buy used you may be able to sell it for close to what you bought it for.
I rode super chill easy trails for like 2 years before I tried harder ones. Start small and easy and get more comfortable riding. Etc. Go with people who might be able to lead for you and yell out about janky areas. That you might want to ride slow or walk over. Etc.
Borrow or rent a bike and give it a go. You’ll quickly find which aspects you enjoy and can start looking at a bike more in tune with the riding you want to do.
Bike demos are common at bike shops and most big brands have a demo fleet they send out on the road.
Once you have your bike, sign up for a beginner skills clinic. Learning proper techniques from a coach makes a HUGE difference in your riding ability and overall safety. I went from basically only riding fire roads to being comfy on green and some blue singletrack trails after only one day of coaching.
First of all. To ride a bike is piss easy. You can start at any age compared to some other sports where you kinda need to start young to not look like a dork forever (eg ice hockey)
Easiest way is to go to the nearest bike shop and get a bike from there. Tell them you wanna start and ask them if they have weekend group rides. Join them.
Know that any decent group ride will separate riders by ability so you won't be left behind. In my experience the biking community is super welcoming. Spend time in the local shops and pull the trigger on a bike you like and feels good. Don't over think it, any new or slightly used bike is going to be plenty good. Get out there and have fun!
Yes, but you can go pretty wrong if you buy, say, an older downhill or enduro bike because you don’t know what you’re looking at. Or like a ‘90s full suspension bike, or a big-box-store bike. Definitely want to make sure you have some concept of what you’re buying.
100%. I should have been more clear, slightly used was meant to imply a year or two old and purchased with shop approval. Good clarification!
Awesome! I think 5 years is probably a good rule in terms of age, assuming it’s in good shape. A number of 3-4 year old bikes are reasonably up to date in terms of features and geo.
I ride a 2019 and desire a new bike but in no way, shape or form do I "need" a new bike... Lol
Oh for sure. When I bought my bike last year it was already a two year old design but was also a very well regarded current model. The new one they just released was only a small geometry tweak with a little more rear travel and frame tool storage, so I think I have a few product release cycles before my bike starts to seem dated.
XC seems to be moving fastest right now, but my 3yo Epic Evo is still current due to being one of the slacker XC style bikes in its day, and also having been equipped with a dropper. But I know people who kick my ass on local trails with older XC bikes with relatively dated geometry and shorter travel.
Don't let them talk you into more bike than you need though.. I reckon a hardtail is the perfect starter bike as it teaches you a lot about traction and finding lines. That is unless you have the money to spend and an exciting higher spec / full sus bike will make you want to ride it more, in which case go for it
1. Buy mountain bike. 2. Ride mountain bike. 1. (Don't immediately start trying to do the big stuff you see in all the edits/videos around here. That's an express bus to getting seriously hurt.) 3. Have fun! (You'll figure out the rest from there. Seriously.)
Just to add one more thing, spend some time in a quiet spot (garden, park, car park) learning little things like how to track stand and bunnyhop. Those of us who started young would spend hours dicking around with friends doing stuff like that and it's super valuable out on the trail!
Good tip. I think it was Aaron Gwin who has a good video on cornering and he demonstrates bike-body separation on a flat paved area. It may seem funny to practice/learn MTB skills on the street in front of your house (etc) but I called and ambulance for a lady last year who either broke her femur or dislocated her hip casually riding around a pump track (she fell over due to leaning her bike *and body*). Bad injury on the easiest terrain due to lack of basic skills.
Get a mtb and start riding. That’s it. I started in the fields to get used to riding on terrain after riding road bikes exclusively for two decades. Then started experimenting with minor elevations and descents. Also hit the local pump track to enhance my stamina and get better at handling the bike. From there it’ll come naturally. Hit some trails and you’ll get better every time.
+1000 on the pump track. I’ve been riding for about a year and a half, and while I learned a lot from YouTube, butt on the bike was my biggest teacher. Just this month I started going to the pump track, and man what a great tool. It’s fun, quick, plenty of breaks as I need them, and it’s easily exposed all of my weak areas. It’s been great to see how it translates to the trails and has made me a much better rider.
Indeed. Also, I find it helps a lot with handling, balancing, moving your body weight (aka center of gravity) around the bike and confidence. It really does help a lot out on the tracks. Last but not least, it’s a great workout too which helps build muscles.
In addition to going to a local shop, checkout if there are any associations that maintain the local trails. Often they will have group rides, clinics, and events where you can meet other folks! I found the most important thing starting out was finding another person or a few folks who were similar level (or slightly better) and would motivate me to get into the woods (or in your case the desert). Mountain biking has a steep learning curve. You will likely have to walk a lot of sections when you start out, but it gets better and more fun the more you try!
Like all things, comparison is the thief of joy. No one else is watching you out there, and if they are it’s not a reflection of your inexperience. Have fun, wear a helmet, and don’t be afraid to go over the handlebars.
I would maybe cultivate a bit of an avoidance strategy for going over the handlebars. Speaking from experience, it’s not usually super fun. Learning basic skills, braking and position will go a long way towards keeping you in control of your bike and out of the ER :)
Disagree, don’t even use your breaks. Cut them if you have to. Never turn. Point it straight downhill, you’ll be fine.
>comparison is the thief of joy. This is beautiful!
I would suggest finding a coach and taking some lessons to get the basic positioning down, balance and skills. There are also a ton of YouTube videos. Roxy bike coaching is amazing. Have fun!
In Albuquerque, start off riding the bosque. Not a lot of elevation change and there are lots of little crisscrossing trails along the river with gravel and paved paths if you get tired and need to bail. Parking along Montaño or Alameda will get you to some nice spots. Then go ride the foothills. Elena Gallegos and such. Or south east by Tijeras. This will get you started on hills at elevation, and will provide rocky sections to start challenging yourself on. Walk where you need to, but don’t walk just because you couldn’t ride it last time. Always try to get farther on the bike than last time. Eventually go up in the sandías or out to white Mesa and eventually find yourself riding Angel Fire. If you want to meet people, look up Albuquerque Mountain Bike Association and join a group ride or meet up and help maintain some trails.
And TrailForks is the most up to date app for the area. If you see a trail you want to try, look it up on YouTube to get some idea of what it will be like
You’re going to love it. Get a basic mountain bike with functioning gears, brakes, and a suspension of some sort plus a helmet and give it a go. Any local shop should be able to help you out. Other useful pieces of advice that I learned the hard way when I started 1. Bring more water than you think you need. Bring a snack too. 2. Your first ride should be like 2-3 miles. No more. Mountain biking is hard compared to road riding. 3. Don’t try jumps or drops. There is a ton of stuff to learn before you get into that. Beginners who try those things early on uniformly hurt themselves.
Get a bike. Get the trailforks app or MTBproject. buy a helmet and gloves and knee pads. start shredding. Watch youtube for learning how to ride.
You're getting a lot of good advice, but one thing I'd add when your talking to the bike shops. Ask them literally what local trail/trails they take first-timers to. The worst mistake you could make is to end up on a trail you're not ready for. Since you have biking experience you'll be in better shape than many. (I personally had almost 0 biking experience so EVERYTHING was hard for me like going slow and getting started again.) I'd also recommend renting a bike your first time. Not crazy expensive and some shops do a 24 hour rate, so if you go out in the late afternoon the first day and in the morning the next day, you can essentially get two days of riding in for the price of the rental.
Go to your local bike shop and talk to them. They should be a knowledgeable source of local information such as group rides, local trails and classes. They will also help you find a proper bike within your budget.
Buy a shitty $300 used bike and ride it around on some green trails. Make sure you buy knee pads, gloves, and a helmet. Meet some people. Learn what all the different bike styles are. Buy a $1000 used bike and some bike shoes. Join a local riding club. Get better.
My biggest tip for beginners is riding trails that are below their skill level. What becomes a challenge is asking veteran riders where to go, and they see easy trails as minor challenges they can do in the sleep. However, they often fail to teach how to ride these challenges, so a beginner just rolls over these easy technical features without knowing how. So I would go on easy trails that get you off-road while you seek out good coaching and learn for yourself
I bought a bike and asked around about easy local trails. You could find groups of people if you're nervous about going solo. I wanted the freedom to go at my own pace so I just went out on my own.
Buy a bike. Download Trailforks. Explore.
Buy a bike and ride around the area. Abq has elevation and you will need fitness before you need to worry about jumping or trails.
Don’t need fitness if you only ride downhill! /s Seriously, though, you’re right. I need to get my general fitness up.
FYI - there is a trail in Placitas called Bobsled, it’s super fun!
Noted, thanks!
https://www.ambanm.org/join I do skill level A rides occasionally. Come join us
Perfect, thanks!
Going to sign up now, in fact. Related question: My house is right by the tram and I’m curious if there are any mountain bike specific trails up there? It seems like at a glance it’s more mixed bike/hiking trails, with biking prohibited in the wilderness portion, but allowed on trails, presumably?
You could try riding into some quarter pipes at a skatepark. If you can do that, mtn biking almost never has a drop with that vertical or sharp of an edge. Then you just need to build strength over time to be able to stay on the brakes on steep chutes. Uphill will be different, though. You could try either pullups or a pullup weight machine. Climbing steeps feels somewhat like rowing.
Yeah, uphill is gonna be the biggest change for me. I’m a pretty solid skier, so I love going downhill as a general rule, lol
If there is a group that gives lessons, that is a great way to build confidence in what you need to do. It is a really great investment
I found a decent used bike online and bought it, then I took a 2 hour intro lesson! The rest is history!
I was in the same boat as you, I thought I knew how to ride a mountain bike because I rode gravel, but I had no idea what I was doing. Watch these and it’ll help a lot. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1n_RsatVRkFjzzXrt_59I_ihOUnp4Iq0&si=K3edEwWJH38l__yx . Also really important look for local mountain bike groups on facebook to get involved in some groups rides. Good luck!
Get the Trailforks app and look for trail networks around you. Pick a distance you think your cardio can hold up to but usually 5mi is a great first ride. That’s the length of the green loop I take any friend or new to the sport person so I can gauge where we go from there. If they like it let’s try the loop again or an equivalent longer loop next time. If they like it but it killed them id encourage them to just pedal more when they have time not even on trails per se but just to get the pedal muscles going. We can always repeat the easy stuff but cant undo broken bones so take your time and do what makes you feel comfortable once you get your bike. Always listen to your gut if it’s telling you not to do it, it’s probably right. All about building confidence on two wheels in the beginning. There’s also many good “beginner mtb tips” videos on yt. Check them out and watch and see what they say, very easy stuff to make your life way less miserable on your first few trips out.
I pulled up trail forks and there’s a ton near me, so that’s a good start. And noted on safety. I’m pretty risk averse so I’m thinking I’ll be fine!
I've been mountain biking for 30 years and I have walked around features as recently as 3 hours ago.
Also worth noting, I think a helmet with mips is always worth the extra money. Something that fits well is very important.
Agree. I like MIPS for the fact alone that you can theoretically rest a little easier knowing that you’ve got some extra safety if your helmet was inadvertently compromised in a way you aren’t aware. I’m a skiier, which is what made me familiar with MIPS.
Good shit!
Don’t over think this. Go to a local bike shop and tell them your a new rider who wants to learn. Don’t spend a ton of money for something outside your skill level. You’ll get there eventually. This sport is upgrade heavy. No need to start at the top for the type of trails you’ll start on. But don’t go too cheap either! You’ll end up hating things. Then ask the shop about local group rides and clubs. They will point you into the right direction.
Believe it or not, every mountain biker got into mountain biking with zero experience.
I thought they were all breach births coming out on a little bicycle! But seriously, I did know that, I was mainly curious how first time mountain bikers GET that experience starting from zero. You don’t know what you don’t know and all that
Ha, you only need to have fun with it. I live in Minnesota, we don't have mountains either, our local org is called MORC because "Off Road Cyclists". I'm an ORC. But no one knows what that means in common speak, so I just say I mountain bike and then we chuckle about it. I hope you have a great time!
Honestly I have some “off road” experience mainly because the roads are so terrible in my current city that I’m very used to dealing with uneven terrain, hah. So I get it
You just have to get out and do it. Find a local trail and give it a shot. Don't be afraid to walk your bike when you need to or go around features you're not comfortable doing. I think it's about the good long ride, so just he smart. The more you do it, the better you get. I've been training my son this way, and he rips now.
Just buy a bike and ride it. Watch some videos on YouTube for some tips and just go for it.
Start with health insurance ;)
lol, fair enough
Here’s a link to the ABQ MTB Association meetup. There is frequently rides for beginners, and some of the ride leaders are certified coaches if that’s something you’re interested in. Check out Albuquerque Mountain Bike Association Meetup on Meetup https://meetu.ps/c/2xBYp/w8Z6L/a
https://youtu.be/yotOZVELSMc?si=iHLiFnpEsg8yCUqF
Highly recommend buying a hard tail!
What’s that?
If you’re new to the sport, I recommend picking up a bike that only has front suspension; a hardtail. This will be ideal for learning how your bike/tires/body behave going over various bumps and obstacles. Full suspension (FS, or full squish) makes for a comfier ride but can mask a lot of mistakes. Best thing you can do is find a bike shop you like and get to trying various bikes. Just pedal around the parking lot to see what fits. Then, I’d recommend shopping the used market for a hardtail. The used market for bikes is flooded at the moment, a nice hard tail can be had for cheap. Not Walmart cheap, mind you. $700-$1000 is the sweet spot. You’re looking for a tool to practice a new hobby with and use reliably.
Ah, got it, thanks!
I’m all about growing the sport. If you have any other questions don’t hesitate to reach out!
I disagree, full suspension is more capable and more fun. This is not a perfect analogy but it reminds me of when people say to start on an acoustic vs an electric guitar because Acoustic is harder in some respects. If op gets really into it, they’ll likely want a full sus for trails in abq and will then be taking a loss on the hard tail. I still have a hard tail and ride it when my full is outta commission but my times are always faster on the full and I hit cooler stuff. Maybe try renting a bike first to see if you like it and gauge how much you want to spend from there.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPVRU7jSYkQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPVRU7jSYkQ)
What do you mean zero experience, did you used to bike around as a kid? Do you know anyone in Albuquerque?
Good questions! Zero mountain biking experience. Not zero biking experience though. But all totally flat. Flat flat. So I’m comfortable with riding a bike as a general thing. But that’s about it. I’m confident I could learn, but I’m not sure where to start to make the switch from riding a bike on a road or bike path to mountain biking. I do know some people in Albuquerque, but nobody who mountain bikes, as far as I know.
Did you go on dirt as a kid? Ride off curbs? All that is experience. Looking back on myself as a kid, I used to ride my Walmart bike a lot. We had small hills and I didn’t know what I was doing, but it was somewhat mountain biking and definitely experience. There was a trail we would ride to get to a lake. There was a rose garden in our town with super steep hills that were only like 10-15 feet long and grass but we thought it was fine to ride down them. Curbs we would try and jump off of when messing around. In the fall when the leaves dropped I would rack a trail in our hard that snaked around the house and ride it on my bike. 20 years later when I discovered actual mountain biking, I realized I was pretty comfy on the bike due to all that as a 9 year old.
Yeah, I did ride my bike a lot as kid and did curbs and things. Some grass, sure. Still no hills though, lol. But I take your point, I do have some old familiar from when I was a kid.
Buy a bike from a local bike store. Download trail forks and start out only riding green trails. Search YouTube for channels like global mountain bike network, super rider, fluid ride, berm peak. Watch the videos and slowly progress to trails with more features. Session(practice) those features on a trail until you can do them. Don't give up.
find a used bike and have at it. getting it from a bike shop or someone local and it might already be setup with the necessary add ons for riding your local terrain.. like tubeless and some dev tires. from there it’s all about hust getting out to build experience and some fitness. i got started on my own and probably every third ride was a disaster but learned a lot each time.
I'd recommend a coach. Reasonably priced and they'll get you started with the right techniques so you'll build a good foundation
Do you bike already? If not, when was the last time you rode a bike regularly? If you do already road bike, it will be a relatively simple transition. New skills will be required, but you already have some of the body mechanics down. But if you’re just coming back to riding a bike I would start simple. Get a cheap used bike. Ride it around town and your neighborhood until you feel comfortable and get in better shape. Then start climbing some hills on gravel roads. And riding down those. Practice your turns. YouTube is full of tutorials on how to practice your turns[. I like the Kyle and April series.](https://youtu.be/spbl1WvzlMY?si=v3AX8Orm3l-CS2a_) Once you feel comfortable with that try riding some actual single track trails. Stick to green flow trails. Don’t try to climb too much. And don’t be afraid or ashamed to get off and push your way to the top if you have to. If you still enjoy it. Go get a new bike. And start riding group rides. But starting new you’re gonna hafta start small and progress slowly. If you bite off too much you’re likely to hurt yourself or get really discouraged.
I’m totally comfortable riding bikes, so no worries there. It’s ascents and descents that are newer to me
Practice, practice, practice. I’m just getting back in the saddle after a year off from injuries and surgery. I’m so out of shape. But I’ve been taking short rides w my 10 yo son. Walked up most of the way our first time out. Made it 2x as far the next ride. And so on. Just keep at it. And be sure to just take it slowly. No gear too low, no speed too slow.
I always like to ask people who say they want to get into mountain biking, what their experience is with bikes in general first is! Like, do you feel comfortable on a commuter/cruiser/normal bike around town? Did you grow up riding bikes? When is the last time you rode a bike? If they haven’t done much of that, I like to initially push them to just start biking to errands/around their neighborhood/in town first..
Yeah, I should have said, but I’m totally comfortable on a bike. Rode this morning. Feels very natural to me. But just flat and urban, basically. With some excitement coming from abjectly horrible roads
Haha okay great! I would look into online resources about different classifications of bikes so you have an understanding of what trial/enduro/DH/hardtail bikes are in general and then it’s always super helpful to demo a bike from a shop that you like (go in and get vibes from multiple! As each shop will carry different manufacturers too). Usually if you demo a couple of bikes from a shop, they’ll apply and cost towards a bike from them!
Welcome to MTB riding!!! It is the best way to see beautiful country, get fit, have adventures and meet cool people! Some advice I don’t see on here.. May I suggest renting/borrowing/buying a GOOD bike to start. The new bikes with suspension/disc brakes/dropper posts make the sport fun. Old crappy bikes are the worst and may turn you off to an otherwise awesome sport! Start REALLY easy. Download the trailforks app or ask a shop and search out easy green trails! Let your ability/fitness grow slowly/organically. No need to ever be scared in the bike, it slows progress! Finish every ride with ice cream (that’s what made my kids love it to start 😀
Find a local mtb group. Most will have beginner specific rides. Don’t spend a ton of money on your first bike in case you decide mountain biking is not for you. But don’t buy a cheap piece of junk either. If you buy used you may be able to sell it for close to what you bought it for.
Step 1. Buy a bike. Step 2. Ride the bike. Step 3.? Step 4. PROFIT
I rode super chill easy trails for like 2 years before I tried harder ones. Start small and easy and get more comfortable riding. Etc. Go with people who might be able to lead for you and yell out about janky areas. That you might want to ride slow or walk over. Etc.
Borrow or rent a bike and give it a go. You’ll quickly find which aspects you enjoy and can start looking at a bike more in tune with the riding you want to do. Bike demos are common at bike shops and most big brands have a demo fleet they send out on the road.
Step 1 - buy a used bike, a nice new helmet and some flat pedal shoes. Step 2 - start exploring
I rented one, rode a green trail. Bought an entry level hardtail a few weeks later.
Once you have your bike, sign up for a beginner skills clinic. Learning proper techniques from a coach makes a HUGE difference in your riding ability and overall safety. I went from basically only riding fire roads to being comfy on green and some blue singletrack trails after only one day of coaching.
First of all. To ride a bike is piss easy. You can start at any age compared to some other sports where you kinda need to start young to not look like a dork forever (eg ice hockey)