Do you like cycling? Want to spend more time outdoors, possibly with other like-minded individuals? Have you considered mountain biking?
Karen Einig thinks about mountain biking a lot. As an organizer for the Meetup group St. Louis Area Mountain Bikers—a group for those “who share the passion of mountain biking”—and as an advocate for Gateway Off-Road Cyclists—a local organization that protects, builds, and maintains local trails—she’s biked all over the St. Louis area.
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“Every trail I ride here, I love it,” she says. “First of all, the beauty. Just being outdoors is amazing.” There’s plenty of variation in local trails, from “fast and flowy” to bumpy hills. “A lot of it is just the challenge of getting over rocks and roots, or just setting a great pace.”
She and dozens of other cyclists get together to ride trails as close as Castlewood State Park and as far away as the Ozarks. While that might sound daunting to some, the group is friendly to beginners. In fact, the beginner rides are some of the most well-attended, with 10 or more riders often RSVPing on the group’s Meetup page.
For the aspiring mountain biker, there are a few things to know. “Not everyone has to learn on a beginner’s course,” Einig says. Greensfelder and West Tyson County Park’s Chubb Trail, for instance, offer more technical rides that newbies still enjoy.
Before you go, though, you should learn the “rules of the trail,” she says. St. Louis Area Mountain Bikers discusses etiquette with riders, and Gateway Off-Road Cyclists provides a list of tips on its website.
“We are also advocates of the trails,” Einig adds. Respect your surroundings: Don’t ride muddy trails, yield to hikers and equestrians, and prepare for the conditions.
It’s also important to pack the proper equipment: a helmet, eye protection (like sunglasses), snacks, first aid, and hydration. Every bike should also have a patch kit, spare tube, pump, and tools, as well as well-maintained tires, shifters, cables, brakes, and chain. Need a new bike? Einig suggests visiting a local bike shop, which carries quality equipment and can offer sound advice.
Her most important tip? “Get out there and try it. Have fun. Be prepared. Explore.”
Online resources for mountain bikers:
- Gateway Off-Road Cyclists’ website includes comprehensive trail information and advice.
- Trailforks is a trail database curated by GORC members.
- St. Louis Area Mountain Bikers’ Meetup page details upcoming events.
- STLbiking.com provides information and forums for local cyclists.
- Team Revolution is a local women’s cycling group.
- Additional information on local trails can be found here, here, and here
