Mountain biking for a woman does
present some gender-specific issues.
These range from the practical
pain-in-the-butt riding, to the
broader concerns of women in the
sport.
One of the first questions
that is asked, is whether a
women-specific bike is necessary
in mountain biking for a woman.
The answer will depend entirely
on your build, your preferences,
and your riding style. Finding
the right bike for you, involves
test-riding as many types as
possible. This will give you
the best indication of your
body's fit on a non-gender specific
bike, compared to a women-specific
bike.
Looking at mountain biking
for a woman, a regular bike
is fine, but your hip structure
may necessitate choosing a more
suitable saddle. If you are
narrow-hipped, you probably
won't have a problem. If this
is not the case, you will be
more comfortable on the wider
structure of a women-specific
saddle.
As for the bike itself, unless
you are quite small, with a
short upper body and short arms,
there is a good chance that
you won't need a women-specific
bike. In most cases a normal
frame type with the straight
bar, holds up better for mountain
bikes, and is commonly used
in mountain biking for a woman.
This type of frame encourages
a position where the weight
of your body is more evenly
distributed between the two
wheels. On the typical 'women's'
bike with a sloping top tube,
the weight is placed back on
the saddle. This position is
not very effective in mountain
biking for a woman.
Also keep in mind that, in
mountain biking for a woman,
an elastomer fork may be your
most comfortable choice. Lighter
riders perform better with these.
Find a specialized bike shop
with a reputation for good mechanics
and service, as well as knowledgeable
salespeople. If you are a novice,
you will need some guidance
at first. It is important to
make sure that they have experience
in mountain biking for a woman.
Mountain biking for a woman
involves more of a distinction
when it comes to clothing. The
main difference is in the shorts,
so to speak!
You will need a good pair of
cycling shorts, with a chamois,
specifically made for use in
mountain biking for a woman.
You don't want the chafing center
seam present in men's shorts
- riding isn't supposed to be
torture! The secure-fitting
Triple S Short by Shebeest is
an example. The aerodynamic
cut, with eliminated inseams
and flatlock center seam, is
a dream to wear. DriStyle fabric
ensures superb wicking.
Padded baggie shorts are gaining
in popularity. Look for names
such as Sugoi and Pearl Izumo.
In warmer weather, your top
can be a cap sleeve base in
Silkweight Micro Polyester with
Spandex, by Shebeest. This offers
the lightness you need in mountain
biking for a woman. In cold
weather, you can add the Full
Zip Velocity Jersey in DriStyle.
The zippered pockets come in
handy, and the full zip front
gives a variety of cooling options.
Fox Racing protective gear
has a great range aimed at mountain
biking for a woman. Their elbow/arm
pads and knee/shin guards in
size small seem to fit most
small women well.
Mountain biking for a woman,
is no longer limited to the
sidelines. Many strong-voiced
advocates are emerging to promote
the sport among women. Finding
ways of making entry-level racing
more open to women, are often
on the agenda at conferences.
Bike shops, clinics, and clubs
also play an important role
in opening up the sport. Bike
shops are no longer seen as
intimidating and over-technical.
They are constantly trying to
come up with ways to make the
store inviting enough to support
mountain biking for woman.
Many articles and books have
been written about mountain
biking for a woman. These offer
how-to advice, bike buying tips,
basic riding know-how, and trail
advice. One of these is 'Mountain
Biking For Women' by Robin Stuart
and Cathy Jensen. It is clear
from their writing that they
are experienced riders.
Watching the 'Wildflower Mountain
Biking for Women' video, is
a great way to start mountain
biking for a woman. It features
topics such as bike selection,
bike maintenance, finding riding
companions, practice drills,
and more.
It will be difficult to find
a more entertaining, mind-and-body
building sport than mountain
biking for a woman.
For more information visit
Best-Mountain-Biking.com
Rika Susan of Article-Alert.com
researches, writes, and publishes
full-time on the Web. Copyright
of this article: 2006 Rika Susan.
This article may be reprinted
if the resource box and hyperlinks
are left intact.
