All angst is immediately forgotten as you tip your wheel downward and descend in a euphoric rush of diving turns, exotic plant life and vigorous waves to baffled farmers. A gaggle of grinning children surround you at the bottom. As they walk with you to the local hostel, you ask if they can lead you to other trails in the morning. Mountain bikes are perhaps the ultimate land-based exploration tool—and there is still much of the world that has yet to be ridden.
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There are two basic forms of mountain bike travel: mountain bike touring and mountain bike exploration. Like road bike touring, mountain bike touring uses the bike as a travel vehicle, usually along a predetermined route. Unlike road bikes, however, mountain bikes allow easy passage over rugged terrain and through locales with undeveloped road systems.
Mountain bike exploration is less about getting from point A to point B and more about arriving at your destination, bike in hand, then finding and logging epic rides once you get there. Traditional cyclists often choose the former, while singletrack junkies usually opt for the latter.
For most hardcore mountain bikers, exploration is what it's all about. Pick a destination, buy maps, hit local bike shops and seek out the best trails. Drink deep of adventure and the land's forgotten crevices. Pavement eventually leads to dirt—this is the first step. Then you find a rough jeep track or an overgrown footpath, and before you know it you're scrambling up rocky hillsides, discovering white-knuckle singletrack, hidden waterfalls, itinerant wisemen.
In terms of where to mountain bike the world over, the options are truly limitless. Italy, with its unending singletrack, spectacular scenery and rich cycling heritage, is one of the premier mountain bike destinations in Europe. Austria and Norway also have prominent mountain bike cultures and equally good riding. Experienced riders and those willing to pay for all-inclusive tours are increasingly drawn to Asia and South America.
In Asia, it's hard not to fixate on the Himalayas. There is a burgeoning mountain bike culture in Nepal supported by several outfitters based in Kathmandu. Mongolia, Vietnam and the Kashmir region of India are emerging as culturally rich destinations for hardy riders who crave the challenges of trailblazing. Mongolia, which has lots of dirt roads winding through beautiful, rugged countryside, has less technical riding. Dirt-road touring also abounds in Vietnam and Kashmir, but the real draw for adventure riders in these areas is their abundance of unridden, unexplored, off-road trails. Because so little mountain bike exploration has been done in these places, no one really knows which trails are ridable and which ones could turn into hell trips. Most don't even show up on maps. This is the intrepid mountain biker's arena of choice for true frontier-style exploration.
All of South America is a mountain bike traveler's paradise, and many countries now have guiding operations. Chile and certain areas of Ecuador and Peru are the established outposts, while Bolivia is the continent's next frontier.
In North America, Colorado, Utah and British Columbia are all well known for their superlative riding. Colorado has the best singletrack, Utah the best unearthly terrain and British Columbia the most technically challenging wilderness rides. The Yukon and Alaska are still relatively undiscovered as mountain bike destinations, but with formidable mountains and rugged, uncharted terrain, they are prime targets for serious backcountry exploration.
Although Africa does not have much infrastructure for mountain biking, Morocco is the exception. Several outfits in Marrakech offer Jeep road tours, while those willing to go it on their own in the Atlas Mountains will be rewarded with incredible desert singletrack. New Zealand is also a rising star, with friendly people, tons of guides and some of the most beautiful trails in the world.
Touring is more flexible than backcountry exploration, as it requires only dirt roads. Explorers usually seek mountains, although mountains do not necessarily guarantee good riding. Make sure the area not only has plenty of trails but that they are open to bikes. There are a host of ecological and social impacts in every area that mountain bikers must be sensitive to. Do your research beforehand by contacting local parks authorities or environmental agencies to find out if the land is protected or particularly ecologically sensitive, who has jurisdiction over it and what its intended use is. You don't want to be the ignorant tourist damaging the environment or compounding local conflicts.
A bicycle is a machine, simple and beautifully efficient, but a machine nonetheless, and machines can break. Bringing a bike makes a trip more complicated, but for the patient and determined, the logistical headaches are more than offset by the joy and wonder of exploring a new world on two wheels.
Even if you plan to have a bike trip outfitter provide you with just about everything, plan on bringing your own helmet, bike gloves, bike shoes, clips and saddle. You should know how to fix your bike and have the parts and tools to do so. For any problem, Park's Mico Tool Box MTB-1 (651-777-6868, http://www.parktool.com/, $39.95) offers astounding options to save the day. Nothing's faster than or easier to pack than the tiny, mighty Blackburn Mammoth Dualstage Pump (877-346-6098, http://www.blackburndesign.com/, $44.95) with dual action draw, which lets it fill a tire in half the time it takes an ordinary pump.
Always ride with protective eyewear to keep rocks, sticks and the sun out of your face. The Smith Remix (800-635-4401, http://www.smithoptics.com/, $60) is a super-tough piece of eyewear with a shatter-proof polycarbonate lens and Smith's Tapered Lens Technology which assures distortion-free vision. The Giro Exodus helmet (800-969-4476, www.giro.com, $125) has 21 cooling vents and a stabilizing fit system that's ponytail compatible.
Next comes the body armor. Try Dainese Pro arm and leg guards (714-481-3701, www.dainese.com, elbow/forearm, $45.00, knee/shin, $49.95) for technical, remote riding under Sugoi Conrad Radial baggies or pant (800-432-1335, www.sugoi.com, $90- $120) which also look good in town.
Once safety is out of the way, think comfort. For extended trips, you'll be happy to have proper bike shorts. Pearl Izumi Mesa shorts (800-328-8488, www.pearlizumi.com, $75) are padded and baggy, surf-style. Bellwether's Hidden Ridden Skort (800-321-6198, http://www.profile-design.com/bellwether/, $59) doubles as a riding short and skirt for women.
When there's no avoiding rain, Pearl Izumi's Storm Shield Pant and Jacket (800-328-8488, www.pearlizumi.com, $140 jacket, $110 pant) are fully waterproof and feature a hood and pit zips, both essential.
You'll be able to ride longer when you hands and feet are happy. Start with a good pair of gloves. The Fox Racing Sidewinder glove (888-369-7223, http://www.foxhead.com/us , $38) with a generously padded palm and increased ventilation will help prevent blisters while still keeping your paws cool and dry. Size your gloves carefully looking for a snug, comfortable fit. Since walking on serious trips is inevitable, shelve the stiff cycling shoes and opt for something like Diadora's muscular Transalp (800-729-4482, www.gitabike.com, $100), which hikes as well as it bikes. Lightly cushioned for a snug fit inside your cycling shoe, SmartWool cycling sock (800-550-9665, www.smartwool.com, $10) will keep your toes tapping for miles and miles.
When it comes to deciding what bike to take, the Santa Cruz Superlight X (831-459-7560, www.santacruzbicycles.com, $2,299) may be the ultimate adventure travel bike. Thanks to a simplicity and efficiency of design the Superlight is exceptionally easy to maintain on the road. It's also light, durable and climbs as well as it descends, perfect for all-day singletrack explorations. An affordable touring option is the dependable Marin Eldridge Grade (800-222-7557, www.marinbikes.com, $830). Add a Rock Shox MTB Seatpost (800-677-7177, http://www.sram.com/rockshox/home , $119) to minimize back and butt strain.
Self-supported bikers will need either a trailer or panniers. The BOB Yak Trailer (805-541-2554, http://www.bobgear.com/ , $250) totes all your gear. Although you can get a BOB dry sack for only $29 more, spring for the burlier Ortlieb Rack-Pack instead (253-833-3939, www.ortliebusa.com, $90 XL). It fits perfectly. Trico Sports' Iron Case (800-473-7705, www.tricosports.com, $299) is lockable, with room for the gear that isn't going riding.
If you1re driving, Yakima's Steelhead (800-581-6748, www.yakima.com, $100) is still an industry standard for fork-mount roof racks, easily fitted to a wide range of rims and tires. Add locks ($20-$50) and bring along a fat tire-compatible Kryptonite Evolution ATB (800-729-5625, www.kryptonitelock.com, $55) for when you aren't on the bike and it isn't in the rack.