Chris O'Callaghan - qualified mountain bike leader (mbl). Chris has been mountain biking since 1999 with qualifications in all outdoor education since 1992. In the articles below Chris goes through:

Most frequently asked questions about Mountain Biking

What you should know about Mountain Biking

Fitness for Mountain Biking:

• It is advisable to build up a reasonable level of fitness prior to taking up Mountain Biking (Hill cycles and spin classes etc). This will prevent getting disheartened at the start and allow you to enjoy the fun stuff!
  

Skills for Mountain Biking:

• There is Mountain Bike Training at the trails and some of the Outdoor Education Centres in Ireland (see the Mountain Biking Training/ Certification tab for information on the training courses and how to progress through the levels). This is the best way to try out mountain biking without purchasing a bike at the start
• Bikes can also be rented at the mountain bike trails to try out the sport/ practice your mountain biking skills. For information on Ireland's Mountain Biking Trails including directions and trail descriptions please see the Course Provider tab for details
• The best way to develop and progress in mountain biking is to join a mountain bike club and take part in the competitions and events. Please see our Mountain Bike Course Provider tab for a list of clubs by county
  

Mountain Bike Equipment

• For advice on mountain biking equipment and a list of Bike shops please click on the Mountain Bike Equipment tab

Diciplines Explained

There are multiple disciplines within mountain biking. For those of you looking for an all round challenge, then cross country mountain biking is the discipline for you. If you’re looking for the ultimate thrill, then it’s got to be downhill mountain biking.

 Cross country mountain biking is what most mountain bikers actually do. Taking in a wide range of terrain, cross country or xc as its known is essentially riding your bike up and down hills for a long(ish) period of time. The duration of the cross country ride is up to you.

 Downhill mountain biking or dh, is much shorter than xc. Dh is an explosive sport with a huge technical demand on the rider. Taking large jumps and drops at speed are the name of the game. It then follows that the higher the hill, the longer your downhill run will be!

The beauty of mountain biking is it can be tailored to suit your style. In soccer there is 90 minutes in a match but with biking, there are no rules or time constraints- just get out and have fun.