Bicycling for Youth - Getting Started

Learning to ride correctly and safely will help ensure that you will have best biking experiences. In order to get started, it is important that you know what type of bike and accessories are best suited for you.

Your Bike

There are two popular types of bicycle riding: road biking and mountain biking.  Many opportunities for both abound in Marin. 

Road Bikes

Road bikes are, of course, ridden on roads. The bikes themselves look like the bicycles that they use in European bike races. They are light and have very skinny tires. This enables the rider to go faster and cover great distances with relative ease.

Mountain Bikes

Marin County is often referred to as the birthplace of mountain biking. During the 1970’s, riders would cobble together heavy, old-fashioned bicycles using balloon tires and hitch rides to the top of Mt. Tamalpais. Then they would race down the fire roads and trails, often having to rebuild the bikes after each run. Today’s mountain bikes are hi-tech machines that are designed for racing up hills as well as down.

Both types of bike riding require an initial investment. Those budget-conscious beginners can buy a bike and enough gear to get started for about $500.00. Also, know that once you get hooked on the sport, there is no limit to the cost and the number of gadgets you can purchase, so make sure you understand your needs and your budget.

Your Clothes

When getting started, don’t overlook the importance of clothing and accessories.  Being properly outfitted with a jersey, shorts and shoes will make the experience a lot more comfortable and enjoyable. And, never forget your helmet!  A helmet is the most important safety item that you will ever use. Make sure it fits correctly, and wear it all the time. For riders under 18 years old, it’s the law to wear a helmet while riding a bike.

Things to Remember

One very important thing to learn and always practice is to share the road, bike paths and fire roads with all travelers. On the road, we have cars to worry about as well as pedestrians and other bikers. On bike paths and fire roads we often share the routes with hikers, families with small children, other bike riders, and even horses. So, ride safely and be courteous!