Tips for beginner mountain bikers

What are the ties that bind you and your significant other? For Tim Bell and Carmen Rae it can clearly be stated that they are a couple that will try anything including the extreme sport of mountain biking.

Rocks, berms, extreme pitches, however you slice it, mountain biking is not for the faint of heart. But with a little can-do attitude and grit it can become a fun pastime during any age or stage of life. This summer Rae and Bell decided that they wanted to try something new. Although they were no strangers to road cycling, the purchase of a e-mountain bike got them off the asphalt onto the trail.

“I have never done this before in my life,” said Rae. “I rode around the playground on my bike when I was a kid but that was about it. Then we got into road biking for exercise and to train for the DV100,” said Rae. Rae thought that maybe it was time to consider mountain biking when they started taking their road bikes off road.

“We just found that we liked being on the trail more than the road,” said Rae.

A seemingly simple decision took them on some very mountainous adventures. At the time of this interview the couple has logged 300-400 km over trail, and mountainous terrain, but it has not been without its steep learning curve. The two have tackled the sport head on and have come back with some ideas that can help people considering the sport make the transition.

Bell said the e-bike was a game changer.

“Mountain biking with an e-bike helps you up the trails. This is why we advanced so quickly because we get four times the downhill speed as people who don’t have an e-bike,” said Bell. The e-bike has helped close the gap in making harder terrain more accessible.

“Mary Trails in Castlegar is a 750m gain to get to the top of the mountain, there is no shuttle. You either get there or you don’t,” said Bell. Proper equipment is a high priority for both Bell and Rae. “Make sure you wear proper shoes, a good helmet and gloves. Always bring water and hydrate…or die,” said Rae.

Beyond equipment, the two maintain that progressively growing and taking lessons is also a must-do. “Take some lessons, that was huge,” said Bell. “Lessons in any sport are invaluable.”

Rae said for those interested in biking, Drayton Valley is a great place to start.

“People looking to get into the sport. They can start off with a two km route in town. Keep it short, keep it flat. Use the pump track to get started,” said Rae. She also notes that the Pembina Rotary Community South Trails (cemetery trails) is another good place to start, next the Pembina Nordic ski trails and then the Hilltop and Hillside trails in Eagle Point Provincial Park.

“Start here, in Drayton Valley. This morning we just did over six km on the Hillside and Hilltop trails. The actual ride time took us about an hour,” said Rae.

It didn’t take the couple long to branch out to other great spots to ride. Bell said his greatest triumph this year was biking down Captain Kangaroo in Castlegar.

“Even if I had to walk down part of it. I felt that all my lessons and the time I put in was all starting to come together there,” said Bell.

Some other favourites include Spirit Lake around Columbia Lake Provincial Park, Mary Trails in Castlegar, Ellison Park Vernon, Mt. Swansea in Fairmont, and the Fire Smart Trails in Nordegg.

No matter the location, mountain biking is now ranked as one of the top sports that the couple enjoys doing.

“I am about as addicted to mountain biking as I am to skiing. It is fitness and nature,” said Bell. Rae echoes his sentiments, “You know you are cruising along and you look up and it is just beautiful.”