Great mountain biking news for families! Opportunities for family trips are available throughout the country.

By doing a quick Google search, you can find all kinds of information about mountain biking trips, as well as information about how to mountain bike with your children. Mountain biking news for families includes:

• An article on GORP called “How Safe is Mountain Biking for Children?” This article reminds parents that children should always wear mountain bike helmets while riding, along with mountain bike gloves for protection during falls.
• An article on Away.com that is an excerpt from the 2006 National Outdoor Book Award Winner Extreme Kids: How to connect with your children through today’s extreme (and not so extreme) outdoor sports. This article shares:
  • How friends of the author got their children started in mountain biking
  • How the author’s family got their children started in mountain biking
  • Specific sites to take children for a terrific mountain biking experience, including Moab, Utah and Crested Butte, Colorado.
  • How to choose the best bikes for your family
  • The importance of good hydration for children

Ready to follow up the terrific recommendations made about mountain biking protective gear in these informative articles?

The recommendations made were for quality mountain bike helmets, mountain bike gloves, and hydration systems for your entire family. You can find these items at XSportsProtective, your mountain biking protective gear expert. Order today to enjoy a wonderful summer and autumn with your family!

Very encouraging mountain biking news! Mountain biking boosts your health and fitness in numerous ways.

RealBuzz.com posted an article about the “health benefits of climbing every mountain” and here is a quick summary of them:

• Builds leg strength: quad, calf and glut muscles, plus your tendons
• Optimizes fat burning: this takes place when your heart rate is between 65% and 75% of your maximum heart rate – which is 220 minus your age for men and 225 minus your age for women
• Works the cardiovascular system: your heart and lungs work more efficiently when you’re fit

Here is mountain biking news you already knew: mountain biking is fun for the entire family.

You can mountain bike with your children or with your spouse or with friends. It’s a fun way to spend the day – or an entire vacation.

Remember to wear your mountain biking protective gear, especially your mountain bike helmets, every time your family rides.

That way, you’ll be able to enjoy the health benefits of mountain bike riding, plus the fun you’ll have sharing an activity with friends and family – while being protected.Here is more information about mountain biking protective gear, including mountain bike helmets.

Announcing . . . the addition of Fox MTB and BMX protective gear to the XSportsProtective inventory . . .

You can’t get any better BMX news than that! Fox has a great reputation as a company that provides premium MTB and BMX protective gear – and I can tell you that this reputation is well deserved, which is why I’m so excited about making this announcement.

At XSportsProtective, you’ll now find the following MTB and BMX Fox protective gear:

• Fox BMX helmets: Flux Fox BMX helmets or the Transition Fox BMX helmets
• Fox BMX gloves: Digit gloves, Mojave gloves, Unabomber Fox BMX gloves or Sidewinder BMX gloves
• Fox BMX shin guards, knee guards and elbow guards
• Fox BMX body armor: the Launch BMX body armor

Now, let us know your BMX news. Where are you riding this summer? What’s been your biggest adventure so far?

Email us at info@XSportsProtective and let us know your BMX news. If you already rely upon Fox BMX safety gear for your riding protection, what is your favorite piece of Fox BMX safety gear? Why? How has it protected you? What would you recommend to people who will be trying out BMX protective gear from Fox for the very first time?

Thanks!

Mountain biking news: the Great Divide Mountain Bike Race is off and running!

On June 13, sixteen mountain bike riders began a 2,711-mile race that started in Banff, Alberta in Canada, will take the riders along the spine of the Rocky Mountains and then end in Mexico.These riders will take mostly dirt roads on their journey, carrying with them all they will need in food, water and shelter. There are no support crews or any other form of outside assistance, so these riders are “truly on their own” and “facing snow-packed passes, unnervingly large carnivores, and no hint of a cell phone signal.”

Here’s the second part of the Great Divide mountain biking news.

On June 20^th, a second set of riders started across the United States portion of the race only, which is 2,490 miles in length. The Tour Divide blog is providing up to date mountain biking news about both races and their “high-quality human drama and unparalleled long-distance adventure.”

OK, so maybe you’re not planning to cross the U.S. this summer. But, when packing for your mountain biking adventures, remember the importance of mountain bike protective gear.

Whether you mountain bike for weeks or days at a time – or even for one hour, remember the importance of mountain bike protective gear.

No matter how long or short you ride - down the block to the CircleK or into the backcountry - mountain bike helmets save lives. According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, a helmet advocacy group, head injuries are the cause of ¾ of the 900 bicycle-related deaths per year. The good news is that helmets reduce the risk of serious head and brain injuries by 85%. Argue all you want about state helmet laws and mandatory use, but the facts are pretty clear. Helmet use saves lives.

So, be more protected with mountain bike protective gear! Choose full face mountain bike helmets or regular mountain bike helmets from XSportsProtective today.

Head to DirtWorld.com for information about mountain biking trails around the United States and the world.

There are literally thousands of miles of quality mountain bike trails for you and your family to enjoy. At DirtWorld.com, you can check out these mountain biking trails by state, and you can also find out which trails are for beginners and which ones provide more strenuous challenges; trails are rated “beginners,” “something for everyone,” “weekend warriors” and “advanced skills.”

There is also mountain biking news and information about Canadian MTB trails – and mountain biking trails in other parts of the world.

Mountain bike protective gear: choose wisely to ride much more safely!

This week, I read an astounding statistic. According to information released by the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB), nearly 75 percent of injuries that occur when a person is practicing an extreme sport (which would include mountain biking injuries!) happen when the person was not wearing protective gear.Don’t let mountain biking injuries ruin your ride. Instead,remember to always wear the important pieces of mountain bike protective gear, including:

• Mountain bike helmets (full face mountain bike helmets and regular mountain bike helmets)
• Mountain bike body armor (mountain bike body armor for your upper body, and mountain bike body armor for your lower body)
• Mountain bike pads (mountain bike pads for elbows and forearms / mountain bike pads for mountain biking pads for knees and shins)
• Mountain bike gloves
• and more!

Discover more about mountain bike protective gear today so that you can be protected as you ride the trails.

Warm weather is right around the corner! To prevent mountain biking injuries, remember to keep your knees warm and protected

When sunny weather arrives, it’s tempting to go biking while just wearing shorts rather than mountain bike protective gear for your legs, but Active.com Cycling recommends that you keep your knees covered – meaning warm and lubricated – until the temps reach 60, or maybe even 65 degrees.

According to this site, “Simple preventative measures will save you some potentially serious heartache.”

Here’s what Gregg’s Cycles blog has to say: “If you’ve ever felt that dull ache in your knees after a ride, there’s a good chance your doing some damage to your knees. Knees work well if they are nice and lubricated. When they get cold they lose some of that lubrication and the joint starts to grate a bit. Keep grating during a long ride and you’ll feel it once they thaw out. Keep doing this and it could lead to some long term problems.”

Other tips on how to avoid mountain biking injuries to your knees include:

• In a two-hour ride, you’ve bent your knees about 10,000 times; so warm up and stretch before you ride
• Make sure that your seat is properly adjusted
• Shift to the best bike gear for the terrain (i.e. keep pedal revs up)

Simple measures to prevent mountain biking injuries include wearing mountain bike knee pads with a protective knee brace undersleeve underneath.

I’m sure you’re anxious to get out and ride, so we’ll make this short and to the point. To protect your knees, use the following mountain bike protective gear:

• Mountain bike knee pads and guards
• Protective knee brace undersleeve

If you have any questions about the best mountain bike protective gear for you, including mountain bike knee pads, call us at (800)930-4084 or email info@XSportsProtective.com.

Check out this clever way to share mountain biking news: see if you can be fooled.

I’ll admit that I was tricked by this mountain biking video; how about you? If you were, that’s okay, because what’s really important is the message behind the video – that awareness counts in mountain biking and that you need to watch out for other cyclists, as well as being aware of your surroundings at all times.

When it comes down to it, mountain bike protective gear is all about being prepared for whatever happens.

For example, it isn’t enough to wear your mountain bike helmet only when riding downhill; you need to wear your helmet whenever you ride. To quote Kevin Tisue of About.com: Mountain Biking, “I’ve gone down just as many times, if not more, while going up as I have while going down. Furthermore, it’s not hard to figure out that one rider is almost always going up in a head on collision.”

Also remember to “Ride Safe, Ride Responsibly and Share the Trail.” Here is more important info on mountain biking news and etiquette that helps keep everyone safe.

You can count on XSportsProtective to have the mountain bike protective gear that’s just right for you.

Whether you need a mountain bike helmet, mountain bike body armor, mountain biking accessories, mountain bike lighting systems or more, contact us for top quality gear that helps keep you protected.

Mountain biking news: mountain bikers contribute more than $26 billion annually to the American economy!

I’ve been blogging about how mountain bikers care about the environment and how mountain biking improves the health of the riders. Well, I have one more post from the study conducted by the Shimano American Corporation and the International Mountain Bicycling Association – and that’s about the huge contribution mountain biking makes to our economy.

Better health, a cleaner environment and stronger economy! All from mountain biking, which is amazing.

More encouraging economic mountain biking news:

This study also indicates that:

• “more than 1 in 5 Americans age 16 and over ride a mountain bike”
• “50 million Americans ride a mountain bike – more than 1 ½ times the number of people who play golf”
• “every dollar invested in trails led to almost three dollars in direct medical benefit”

Mountain biking health and safety: here is another study that reveals how much mountain bike protective gear a group of mtb riders wear.

Since I’ve been focusing on mtb studies, here’s a bit more. A study that focused on mountain biking health and safety was conducted in New Zealand. I was happy to see that 100% of both downhill and cross country riders say they wear mountain bike helmets and I was encouraged by the relatively high percentage of riders who wear mountain bike gloves.

I encourage all of you to wear mountain bike helmets, as well, plus mountain bike gloves, mountain bike pads and so forth. For more information about what mountain bike protective gear is best for you, read this article.

More mountain biking health and safety news: Want good health? Try mountain biking!

In a recent post about mountain biking, I talked about a study conducted by the Shimano American Corporation and the International Mountain Bicycling Association that showed how well mountain bikers treat the environment. That’s great news.

Here’s more great news. This study also quotes this World Health Organization recommendation: to ride “a bike to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.” So, besides being environmentally friendly when you go mountain biking, you are also treating yourself to a fun, family-friendly activity that boosts your good health – and that of your family!

Here’s even more terrific mountain biking health and safety news.

According to Kozo Shimano, a sponsor of the study, mountain biking is significant to “both the economy and to keeping people healthy.” One recent cost benefit analysis concluded that every dollar invested in trails led to almost three dollars in direct medical benefit.”

That’s the health news; now here is the safety tip:

Choose the best mountain bike protective gear for added protection for you and your friends and family.

The most important piece of mountain bike protective gear is the mountain bike helmet. If you enjoy downhill, dirt jumping or other high speed riding, consider the added protection of a full face mountain bike helmet. If you prefer cross country, single track and recreational riding, a regular mountain bike helmet provides excellent lightweight and well ventilated protection.

To place your order - or to talk with a protective gear specialist – call (800)930-4084 or email info@XSportsProtective.com today.

Mountain biking health and safety news: study shows that mountain bikers care about and protect the environment.

According to a study conducted by the Shimano American Corporation and the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), mountain bikers:

• are dedicated conservationists
• volunteer time, labor and money to protect the natural resources in the places where they ride
• are enjoying a sport with a low impact on the environment, comparable to hiking

According to the IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel, “From the beginning, IMBA members have embraced a stewardship ethic that benefits conservation of our natural lands and waters.”

The IMBA member survey also showed that their network provides more than 750,000 volunteer hours in the United States each year, a value estimated to be $13 million.

Remember to protect yourself, as well, with mountain bike protective gear!

You’ve got all sorts of rides planned for the 2008 season, which is great, but it’s important to wear the protective gear that will help keep you and your friends and family safe.

Helmets – full face mountain bike helmets and regular mountain bike helmets – prevent injuries and even save lives. Pads protect your shins, elbows, forearms and knees, while wrist guards protect your wrists.

Order your mountain bike protective gear from XSportsProtective today, including:

• mountain bike helmets
• mountain biking pads for knees and elbows, and
• mountain bike wrist protection, and more

Also check back with this blog often for more mountain biking health and safety news!