Well, I would normally go out and ride then sit around and talk about it (same goes for bike maintenance) :) But here are some choice bits for all you riders and non-riders out there. . .
Mountain biking is really a sport that everyone can do. If you’re someone who would like to get into mountain biking, then the first thing to do is to buy a bike. I just recently picked up a new rig, a Pivot Mach 6 Carbon, full XTR di2, with some sweet ENVE parts (stem, bars and wheels). But hey, it’s not the parts that make the rider; it’s the rider who makes the mountain biker (Of course it is nice to have a nice bike). So the Intense EVP 5.5 joins the Rocky Mountain Element Race in the stable and will keep the single speed and Mekk Poggio 2.6 company. (Unfortunately, the Cannondale M700 and the Trek Suspension Track 9000 were stolen out of the stable, but hey, I guess that’s life.)
Now if you can't spring the cash to get a really outstanding bike, then there are plenty of good deals out there to get in the lower price ranges. The trick is to look at the frame material and the components. It is always a trade off when buying a lower priced bike, some bikes come with a good frame and crappy components, and some bikes come with great components and a shitty frame; one just has to find a good compromise. Generally go with the good frame though, then when parts wear out you can replace them or upgrade as needed, its nice to have a good frame to build off of.
Now that you have your bike you're ready to hit the trail right? Wrong, go back to the store and buy a helmet and a pair of gloves (if you buy them with the bike you can usually get 15% off . . .). However, since the use of these protective items is common sense, I won't go through the lengthy lecture on the importance of proper safety gear; suffice it to say, wear a helmet. Well, now that you’re ready, you can't wait to climb like Ned or descend like Tomes (Giardia and all), right? Well, it’s not quite that easy. The first thing to do is to find someone to ride with; it is never really a great idea to go out alone (not saying that I’ve never done it though). The best person to ride with is someone who is close in ability to you, that way that person won't leave you in the dust or hold you back, thus making the ride much more enjoyable. The best advice is to have patience, not everyone has the natural talent for being an expert over night. Another suggestion would be to go to your local bike shop to ask about a suitable (and legal) trail to ride.
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