Friday, February 25, 2011

Mountain bikes: DownHill


What do you know of moutain bikes?

Not much I guess. But did you know that there are European, local for each country, even World Mountain Bike Cup. But the category I want to focus on, the sport I've practised for the past 2 years is called DownHill (often used as DH). What makes this sport so different from the other Mountain Bikers? Everything. As you can understand from the name, it is down the hill, it's about riding down, using the slope to speed you. Nowadays it is practised all over the world, in this number smaller countries like Bulgaria and Serbia. What makes people like it so much? For some it is the passion of sliding an inch from a tree with 60km/h; for others it is the fear oposing their idea of bravery (and craziness); for others it is simply addiction. For me it is all the 3.

What about the gear?

Well, the most important piece of equipment is the bike. It's price can be from 900$ to the cosmic 20 000$. In my opinion for a beginer a bike for 1000-2000$ is perfect. Then you need the protection - the helmet is a "must" have. Other protective gear you may (in my opinion if you want to be protected enough you must buy them) is a body armor, knee and elbows protection, gloves. You may go even further by buying a neck-protector, a butt-protector and even special shoes. In my opinion the heavier you are is not a guarantiee you will be save. After all the sport opposes some risk.

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