Developing The Best Mountain Bike Skills

Less visible, but just as important, is the advent of index shifting, first popularized by the Shimano Corporation, one of Japan's two largest bicycle components manufacturers. Shimano's S.I.S. system, as well as competitive systems like Suntour's Accushift or Campagnolo's Synchro, let the rider change gears by pulling or pushing the gear lever to an audible click, eliminating the hunting back and forth typical of Mountain Bike Skills.

''For the neophyte, it takes all the fear out of shifting,'' said Mr. Costantino. ''For a racer, it's just as big an improvement - you find you shift a lot more,'' he said. A high-end option just two years ago, index shifting is now ubiquitous on bikes priced over $300, he said. ''Dealers say 'if it don't click, it don't sell.' ''

Easier Mountain Bike Skills makes an easier sale, but dealers also stand to benefit from index shifting farther down the road. Because the relationship between sprockets, derailleur and shift lever is critical, the new systems force riders to maintain their bikes more carefully, increasing service revenues.

Another user-friendly component is step-in pedals, which work like ski bindings to lock the rider's foot in place, but still allow quick removal. These pedals, which were pioneered by the French company Look, increase a rider's efficiency just like toe clips and cleated shoes, but without foot cramps and stoplight panic. ''People who already have a good bike will drop $100 on shoes and $85 on Look pedals at the drop of a hat,'' said Mr. Leblow.

When Rick Goeden heard about a contraption called a mountain bike, he thought he had discovered the perfect sport. He had tried riding a bicycle on the streets near his Santa Monica apartment but wasn't fond of inhaling exhaust fumes. He had tried hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains, but that was too slow for him.

The mountain bike, also known as the off-road bike, promised to combine the best of both pastimes, allowing for fast pedaling through the spectacular scenery of the hills. For about $400, it would give him two fat, sturdy tires that could grip the road and 18 gears for going up and down steep slopes. Goeden went out and bought one.

There was a catch, however, and Goeden found out about it on his first outing, a ride to Will Rogers State Historic Park. "The ranger at the gate told me to stay away from the trails," he recalled recently. "In fact, the ranger came on pretty strong and said, 'You better not go (on them) or you'll be ticketed."

Mountain Biking