Mountain biking has proven to be one of the most entertaining and accessible ways to enjoy Arizona’s magnificent backcountry. Not to mention the added benefit of bragging rights that come with any feat of pedal-powered travel. If you want to find the best mountain biking trails in Arizona, visit one of the state parks!
Because of the beautiful landscape, varied topography, and challenging routes, the parks are an excellent place to spend a day or a weekend. In addition, 15 parks throughout the state provide camps and cabins, allowing you to extend your stay and explore more trails. However, it’s critical to pack and plan appropriately to ensure that you enjoy your trip to its full potential.
Preparation
One of the state’s well-known rides is the Arizona scenic trails, which offers bikers more than 750 miles of a rocky dirt trail and all of the spectacular views that come with it. If the entire ride seems too much, consider dividing it into smaller halves by only riding on a portion of it. When choosing a route, keep in mind that off-roading makes mountain biking so enjoyable.
Although packing days with kilometers and rushing through may appear to be more efficient; however, one of the most enjoyable aspects of mountain biking is taking in the stunning red-rock terrain. It’s also crucial to consider each rider’s skills. No one wants to fall behind or drive themselves to exhaustion only to keep up, so have everyone run the intended route before thoroughly completing the ride.
Packing
For the most part, Bicycling requires only a helmet and a bike. However, along with these two essentials, mountain biking, particularly in Arizona, requires a much longer list of items.
Of course, it’s not only your bike that you need to pack – there’s plenty of bike gear to pack too. One key piece of kit you may want to bring is a smartwatch, which will help you to track your heart rate and calories burned, amongst other things. How to choose a Garmin watch for mountain biking, however, is a different story. Garmin is one brand, but you should also look at others to find the best one for you. Once you have your smartwatch sorted, remember to pack the following things:
BIKE GEAR
• Riding t-shirts/jerseys
• Helmet
• Hydration Pack (recommended for all tours)
• Trail running shoes/lightweight hiking shoes
• Mountain Bike
• Bicycle repair tools, such as spare tubes, a patch kit, and a small set of Allen wrenches (if you are renting a bike, this is optional).
• Biking gloves
CAMPING AND OTHER GEAR
• A rainfly and adequate ground cover are required.
• Headlamp
• Sleeping pad
• Pillow
• Water bottles
• A warm sleeping bag
OTHER CLOTHING
• T-shirts – long and short-sleeved
• Sandals (comfortable for camping)
• Swimsuit
• Windbreaker or light jacket for cycling
• Visor/hat for sun protection
• Warm jacket
MISCELLANEOUS
• Camera, film, and battery
• Binoculars
• Insect repellent
• Ear Plugs
• Sunglasses, sunscreen, Chapstick!
• Bandana
The weather can be unpredictable, Arizona mountain biking tours can provide all the professional guide and support, so you can consider taking their service as well. On the contrary, check the weather forecast for your location before leaving to be aware of any last-minute changes. You will have a better trip if you are well-prepared.
Warm clothes for cooler evenings, appropriate rain gear for riding, and sunscreen are all items you should bring regardless of the season. Avoid wearing cotton clothing while cycling. Instead, to stay warm, layer yourself with different polypropylene fleece or merino wool weights. You can also consider wool clothing for the wide variety of climates for biking.
I have not gone mountain biking and would rather go hiking. First I need to fix my knees.
I have gone hiking in Arizona and seen people mountain biking. It is such a beautiful landscape with so much to see that it would be an amazing adventure but would sure need to be well prepared and in good shape.
I would have loved to do this 40 years ago. Great tips for those who can do this.