Mountain Biking for Fitness

Bend, Oregon: Biking, Climbing, and Beer

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Mountain biking is an excellent way to stay healthy and fit. It doesn't stress the bones and joints with the constant pounding of running or aerobics. It builds lower-body muscular strength and endurance and hones your agility and balance. And according to professional triathlete and Ironman champion Paula Newby-Fraser—one of the fittest women in the world—mountain biking's climbing and high gear turnover make it a superior cardiovascular conditioner. In fact, in her book Peak Fitness for Women Newby-Fraser says she'd prefer to spend less time riding the roads on her ultralight, sleek triathlon bike and more time training with her mountain bike on off-road trails. The interesting surroundings and exciting terrain keeps training from becoming a bore, she says.

As with any exercise, the more vigorously and regularly you work out, the more benefits you will realize. However, part of the beauty of mountain biking is that you can ride fast or slowly, on steep, technical terrain or gently rolling gravel roads, and still feel the benefits. It's so much fun your "workout time" will fly by whether you ride for a half hour or all day long.