This is one of the nicest times of the year for mountain biking, especially for those who are not heavily into the sport but enjoy cycling as a leisure outing. The Indian basant is a short season when it is very pleasant to spend the day outdoors. The sun has not yet acquired its summer intensity and, when you do feel hot and sweaty, a snacks-and-juice halt in a patch of velvety grass shaded by trees will refresh you. The nights are still cold enough to make you snuggle under blankets and the comfort of warmth flooding over hard-worked muscles ensures sound sleep. The likes of which are hard to come by in an urban lifestyle centred on office routines.

However, mountain biking, unlike several other adventure sports or activities, is not something you can do straightaway. You have to be able to ride a bicycle. If you didn’t learn in childhood or it’s been so long since your last acquaintance with a bicycle that you have become a bit rusty. You will first have to spend some time riding on level roads with minimal traffic. You must gain a certain level of comfort and control before venturing into off-road and hilly terrain. You must also be reasonably fit or else pedalling uphill will leave you panting.

Your first bike for learning, practice and general rough use should not be an expensive one. The top-end bikes are made of carbon and the price range starts with six figures. The Indian-made aluminium ones are more suitable for most of us. But they are a bit heavy (which is a factor when you have to carry the bike over a stream or boulder-strewn terrain). For a lighter bike, or to upgrade once you are past the initial stage in the sport, you can choose from the range of popular Firefox bikes. The hardcore mountain bikers in India prefer Trek bikes. There is a range of models and tyres to choose from, for both road and off-road riding.

The biggest challenge in mountain biking is the ability to ride on steep gradients with sufficient control to ensure safety. The bikes are equipped with 21 gears, through a combination of seven in the rear wheel and three on the flywheel. The gears make it easier to ascend and descend by requiring less effort. You will learn the basic technique and rules such as, when ascending or desending, the chain must be on the lowest gear. Gear shifting is done by using the hand gears on the right and left ends of the handlebar. During ascending, the button on the right of the handlebar is shifted inwards. Starting from the first gear, you can go up to the seventh. To release the gears, the button is shifted outwards. Similarly, during descending, the button at the left end of the handlebar is shifted inwards while release of gears is outward. The gears must be released when you return to level ground or the bike will not travel easily.

The best way to start the sport is to join an introductory excursion organised by an adventure company. You will be provided the bike, helmet, knee and elbow guards.

The Himalayan trails are the nicest and, to ride one, contact:

Team 4 Adventure, F-462/1, 1st Floor, Old MB Road, Lado Sarai, New Delhi-30 (Tel: 9818525928).