When it comes to staying upright while riding over rough spots, a mountain bike beats a road bike every time. Stability really counts if there's roadwork or construction on the roads you ride. But aside from safety, urban mountain biking is fun.
"Believe it or not, there's great terrain in the city," says Alan Greenberg, owner of Cottonwood Cyclery in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. "There are steps, ledges and concrete skate parks. It's called 'the urban jungle' for a reason."
Greenberg is an expert on traveling the city by mountain bike, which can be just as technical as navigating on single-track trail.
Something as simple as opening a door to get in or out of a building with your bike can be a bang-and-bash affair if you don't know how to manage it gracefully. Greenberg advises: "Stand between your bike and the door. Hold the bike stem [on which the handlebars are mounted] with one hand to steady the bike. Open the door with the other hand, wheel the bike in while holding the door open, and you'll make a smooth entrance or exit."
You're already prepared for the unexpected if you ride narrow dirt trails. But paved city riding can lull riders into not paying attention until uh-oh, watch out! A mountain biker often will stay upright with determination. I was going fast on a dimly lighted street one evening when I rode up on an unexpected tangle of chain-link fence. Without thinking, I just powered on the pedals and rode over it -- preventing an otherwise painful crash.
Greenberg says that's sometimes the best way to handle a sudden obstacle like a pile of boards or trash: power through. Road bikes cannot do this.
Here's a great way to cross a busy street without having to get off and walk your bike: the "scooter" technique. Stand on the pedal that's on the side of the bike without the gears, bring the other leg around the back of the wheel to the same side you're standing on. Let your foot hang in back of the pedal, almost like a scooter. Keep hands near the brakes and glide across the street. The technique allows for quick foot agility in case you have to escape unexpected traffic.
Vehicles can be a threat even when they're not moving. Keep an eye on parked cars. If there's someone in the driver's seat, slow down and be prepared for a door to open right in your path, or for the car to pull out in front of you.
ActiveStyle on 05/19/2014