All Mountain Biking involves is a mixture of fitness and machine. Getting started is often simply a case of getting a basic mountain bike (if you haven’t got one speak to us) and getting out their. Britain has a superb network of trails and bridleways just waiting for you - we at live2ridebikes offer fantastic mountain bike holidays and weekends away for all. 

Riding competently off-road is a skill which develops through experience and practice, we organise various weekends on trails to suit your ability. The very best riders can perform miracles, but every cyclist can master the basics and enjoy the challenge of riding away from roads.

One of the best ways to learn off-road skills is by watching other riders. Riding in a group also has added safety benefits. so why not give it a go… 

The pleasure of riding in a traffic-free environment cannot be understated.  Mountain Biking also puts you closely in touch with nature and the landscape and every ride has the potential to become a mini adventure. However, for some, the ultimate test is just to start.

A video promoting cycle safety awareness has proved a big hit on Youtube. Filmed for Transport for London, the ad asks viewers to follow a basketball game to test their awareness, counting the number of passes made, but like cyclist on the road it’s easy to miss something.

Team Blazing Saddles Live2ride mountain bike weeked
Crashing into the valleys
Location: Afan, South Wales

For images of their fantastic mountain bike weekend go to Team Blazing Saddles.

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Live2ride bikes organises mountain bike holidays and weekends is soon to open a much needed bike shop in the town of Frome in Somerset. The first in the town for several years.

This new venture is the brainchild of Richard Evans a local resident with a lifelong passion for bikes, who, until recently, enjoyed a successful career in graphic design. Live2ride bikes will be based at The Old Filling Station at Badcox and will fulfill every bikers needs.

Not only will you be able to buy well made bikes, parts and accessories but there will also be the most up to date bike wear as well.

Live2ride bikes wants to make bike buying an enjoyable experience in a relaxed an informal environment that will make you want to return time after time. There will also be a workshop for all your repair and servicing needs.

This shop will cater for complete beginners or a lifelong enthusiast. Visit Live2ridebikes to book adrenaline-fuelled mountain bike holidays and weekends for further information on launch date and opening times

Mountain biking holidays are getting ever more popular and Wales has some of the best Mountain Bike trails to chose from.

Live2ridebikes run fantastic mountain bike weekends in Afan Forest Park. Afan is the fastest growing mountain biking holiday centre in Britain. It has developed a series of world class bike trails with over 100km to explore. It also boasts more singletrack than any other mountain bike Wales Centre.

 To find out more visit www.live2ridebikes.co.uk

Tourism leaders are backing calls to build Wales’ first chair lift for mountain bikers in the Afan Valley.The Afan Valley has been voted among the top 10 destinations in the world by enthusiasts of the sport.

Now the idea of introducing a lift to carry bikers some 2,000ft (600m) up the steep valley slopes is gaining support. Ski lifts in continental Europe are already used during the summer months to save people pedalling uphill so they can complete more routes in a day.

The Afan Valley is home to a network of mountain bike routes and attracts visitors from across the UK and beyond and is the fastest growing mountain biking centre in Britain. It has developed a series of world class bike trails with over 100km to explore. It also boasts more singletrack than any other mountain bike Wales Centre.

Live2ride will take you to the finest run’s in the Afan Forest as well as Somerset. We know the best routes to suit your ability. It is the perfect way to get out and enjoy some fantastic riding without any hassle.

Cwm Carn has a freeride area and a great downhill track with uplift facilities, but for me the real delight is the Twrch Trail. Within minutes of the start you get a lung busting workout on a challenging scenic climb, which rewards you, big time, when you reach the top. Fantastic views of both Seven bridges, the Bristol Channel and, on a clear day, the Quantocks.

Then you’re off onto a fast flowing piece of singletrack, with naturally developed berms, and endless ribbon of sheep track and an awesome stretch as you pop out of the darkness of the trees into sunlight with epic views down the valley.

The final descent home is exposed, fast and not for the faint-hearted, but it’s gorgeous and skinny and flows all the way.

Live2ride have managed to link Cwm Carn with Afan for that ultimate mountain biking weekend experience… so go on give it a blast, it’s what your mountain bike was made for.

www.live2ridebikes.co.uk

How many times have you felt stressed, the world on your shoulders, only for this pressure to subside as you ride home.

We probably all know that we feel better, are generally more positive and have a greater esteem when we exercise. Having some evidence can make you feel even better and when you know you’re doing yourself some good. Forget about the physical benefits, the balance of mental acuity are just as important.

A study published in 2006 on over 6,000 adults from 20 to 88 adds further weight to the argument that exercise equals well being.

Looking at the scores of fitness using a treadmill together with assessing depression and well being by questionnaire the researchers found a statistically significant set of findings. 1. Depressive symptoms are lower as fitness level improved. 2. Feelings of physical well being increased as fitness increased.

Findings here over such a vast number of people covered eight years of research at the Cooper Institute in Dallas gives a rock solid seal of approval to a side of your riding you probably part recognize but sometimes overlook.

So what better way of busting the stress of the week than escaping onto a mountain biking weekend, returning back to work on Monday re-charged mentally as well as physically.

www.live2ridebikes.co.uk

Regular maintenance of your bike means increased safety for you and extended lifespan for your bike and it’s components.

Firstly, buy the best quality tools you can. Cheap tools will often bend making it impossible to carry out maintenance jobs properly. They could also damage your prized components.

Secondly, bikes need a delicate touch, use less force when dealing with your bike than you do on your car. Nuts and bolts only need to be tight, do not over tighten then or they will shear. If in doubt use a torque gauge. Refer to recommended torque settings, these will be included in the manufactures instructions. Keep all instructions you get with your bike, tools and components.

Thirdly, because bikes often have different materials coming together i.e a carbon fibre seat post in a aluminium frame, you must always apply grease or some other anti-seize barrier between the two materials, except for one or two exceptions.

www.live2ridebikes.co.uk

Before you set off on your mountain bike weekend or even for a short ride, you should get into the habit of running through a few basic checks. By carrying them out you will minimise the chances of mechanical failure, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable ride and lower the chances of having an accident.

These checks should only take a couple of minutes but will help you avoid the majority of accidents caused by equipment failure. They also help you to keep you familiar with the maintenance needs of your bike. For example, check if any cables are rubbing paintwork, check tyres, do they need to be replace or even pumped up, brake pads, check if they are running low, take a replace set, pads wear down quickly in wet muddy conditions and finally check your gears are not slipping or any parts coming lose. 

Safety checks allow you to replace parts in good time or carry out some non-urgent maintenance work. It is time well spent. We recommend all our riders do this before they come on our weekends, but don’t worry if you’ve not proficient in bike maintenance as all live2ride riders will be able to help you and ensure you have an adrenalin packed weekend.

www.live2ridebikes.co.uk