Whether today's mountain bikers are born again outdoors people or new to the hills, their motivations are similar. Many other recreations provide these same rewards, but few are as accessible, affordable or offer such variety. For the price of a good quality sleeping bag, pack and tent you can be set up and ready to go, and for most there s a good chance you can ride from your back door to the boonies and back, in a couple of hours. Then, with the money you ve saved commuting by bike, you can afford to head somewhere really remote, maybe for days on end. Depending on your ability or desire for challenge, you might head for leisurely gravel roads, smooth clay single track or steep rocky 4WD tracks.
Speeds vary from walking pace to 'scary-fast'.
As mountain biking has evolved from fringe to mainstream, it s become much easier for people to take up the sport. Specific shops and clubs for mountain biking have sprung up in all New Zealand cities and most towns. The number of rides described in the guide book Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides has grown to over 400. The beauty of fully guided mountain bike trips is that they offer newcomers the opportunity to dabble without spending lots of money and time setting themselves up. Bikes, helmets, a guide, and often food, are provided.