Start off slow, says Jake Plapp of Absolute Bikes, which has shops in Sedona and Flagstaff. “It’s really important for gaining those fundamental skills… When you feel confident and feel like you can keep yourself safe, you’ll have so much more fun.” “Be able to repair a broken chain, and be able to repair a flat,” says Dennis Leiker of Tucson-based Fair Wheel Bikes. Mountain bikes (pictured, left) typically require a frame 4 to 5 inches smaller than a road bike. For example, a 6-foot-2 rider would be fitted with a 21” frame, allowing him to sit comfortably without hunching forward. Road and mountain bike frames are measured from the top of the seat tube to the center of the bottom bracket.
Make sure the staff fits your bike to your body. “Don’t be scared to demo a couple bikes in your local bike shop,” says Kate Phelan of Soul Ride in Prescott. Trepidation that comes along with starting a new sport.” The right gear you need,” says Adam Cornette of Flag Bike Revolution in Flagstaff.
“Find a shop you trust that will get you started with exactly One that provides the intoxicating sensation of gliding over rocks, branches and scrub like a Lycra-attired angel. Hard to believe, but 30 years ago, mountain biking was barely even a “thing.” Then someone got the bright idea to equip a standard road bike with larger, thicker tires and jolt-reducing shock absorbers, and – voila! – a new pastime was born. Whether you want to foray into fat-tire fun or pedal from museum to cafe, this guide will help you get from sofa to saddle to scenery. We have Martian-esque mountain biking, one of the country’s top 10 cycling cities, and miles of sweet, pine-shaded single-track. If you’re looking for an easy ride and aren’t sure about dirt trails, you might want to look into riding Phoenix’s canal system.From gorgeous cross-country mountain biking in Flagstaff to Locomotive adventure in Williams, Arizona is up to its axels in freewheeling fun.īonus: Five delectable drives for the fall!įor two-wheel touring, few places are as diverse as Arizona. So, if you’re ready to ride, let’s go! If you’re ready, but without a ride, check out our mountain bike rentals– we’ll set you up with something perfect for riding Papago Park. There’s really nothing better than a mountain bike ride with variety on the trail, city views and the notion that a post-ride beer and meal are waiting for you. A few places to try are NCounter, Blasted Barley Beer Co, Pedal Haus Brewery, and La Bocca. If you’re mountain bike riding at Papago Park, all you have to do is ride south out of the park onto Galvin Parkway, left on Van Buren and continue south across the Mill Avenue Bridge until you hit a great stretch of restaurants, breweries and shops. Ride as long as you want with a seemingly unlimited amount of options for looping and skipping across to different trails. Choose to sprint a longer loop like the Elliot Ramada Loop or the Double Butte Loop, or go easy on a small loop like the (easy) Ranger Office Loop. Got your morning off to a late start but still want to get a ride in? When you’re pressed for time but still want to ride, Papago Park is the perfect spot. Fun fact: you are riding on the three city borderlines of Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale. If you’re riding the Ranger Office Loop, you’ll be able to peek down at the Phoenix Zoo (look for the Bighorn Sheep!) and if you’re riding the trails on the west side of Galvin Parkway, you’ll see the Desert Botanical Garden. Riding in Papago Park will give you classic views of Tempe’s downtown and Tempe Town Lake, downtown Phoenix to the west, and South Mountain Park/Preserve in the distance. Either way, you’ll find a great variation of technical and easy mountain bike trails at Papago Park.Īlso check out: 3 Best Mountain Bike Areas in Scottsdale 3 Reasons You Should Mountain Bike in Papago Park But you can’t sell Papago short, it also boasts trails of significant difficulty level with chunky rock and loose fast descents that raise the level of challenge. Many refer to Papago Park as the “bunny slope” of mountain biking in Phoenix because it has a number of the easiest mountain bike trails in Phoenix, making it great for introductory trail riding. The park is not big, but there is a variety of mountain bike trails to switch it up and plenty of punchy climbs, fast descents and technical sections to keep things interesting. Papago Park’s red sandstone buttes speckled with holes like swiss cheese make it an unmistakable attraction for mountain biking in the Phoenix area.