| While mountain biking is typically associated | | | | mountain biking, street urban mountain biking |
| with the cyclists pitting their reflexes, | | | | is an option. |
| strength, and athletic abilities against some | | | | |
| of the world's most treacherous back country | | | | Street urban mountain biking is great for |
| wildernesses, deserts, and canyons, there is | | | | those who like to explore and take on |
| a new breed of mountain biker--the city | | | | whatever challenges they find. Those who have |
| dweller. Urban mountain biking may be the | | | | been lucky enough to hone their skills in |
| next big thing in sports. | | | | skateboard parks can try them out on the city |
| | | | streets, going with the flow of downtown |
| Where To Go Urban Mountain Biking | | | | traffic, jumping gaps and grinding ledges or |
| | | | rails, and even tackling stair sets--but only |
| One place where urban mountain biking fans | | | | if they are very, very good, and have someone |
| can develop their skills is at their local | | | | spotting for them so that they are in no |
| skateboarding parks. Almost every city of | | | | danger of landing on someone. Street urban |
| more than a few thousand people has at least | | | | mountain biking is the type of mountain |
| one skateboarding park, and biking in them is | | | | biking most likely to cause controversy, and |
| a lot more convenient that finding ways to do | | | | those who engage in it have an obligation to |
| urban mountain biking on public streets or in | | | | ride with the safety of people and property |
| parking lots and parking garages. | | | | as their first priorities. |
| | | | |
| Skateboarding parks will let urban mountain | | | | Urban Mountain Bikes |
| biking riders perform many different stunts, | | | | |
| by tackling the ramps, rails, ledges, and | | | | Urban mountain bikes are solidly built to a |
| bowls the skateboarders use. Vertical riding | | | | very basic design, with 20-inch wheels and |
| on a half pipe doing twists and air spins | | | | intended to make their riders do the work. |
| will require urban mountain biking skills as | | | | They do not have accessories like pegs and |
| advanced as any needed in freeriding, and | | | | suspension forks to make them more |
| will also require full protective gear | | | | maneuverable so that less experienced riders |
| including a full face helmet. The risks that | | | | can look good riding them. |
| you could fall on concrete from seven or with | | | | |
| feet above a ten foot vertical ramp are not | | | | Urban mountain biking is gradually gaining in |
| to be taken lightly. | | | | popularity, but until it has enough support |
| | | | so that every major urban area boasts a |
| Skateboarding parks are ready and waiting for | | | | number of quality singletracks, urban |
| those ready to do some urban mountain riding | | | | mountain biking will remain limited to those |
| and best of all, the bikers don't have to | | | | daredevils willing to perform their stunts on |
| send time digging or building obstacles. But | | | | public thoroughfares, in public parks, and |
| for those bikers who don't have a local | | | | while ascending or descending public |
| skateboard park, or those who live in cities | | | | stairways. |
| where skateboard parks have banned urban | | | | |