1 Take the path less trodden
The trails that are most appetising to me are those that appear to go nowhere. They tend to be the ones that take you to the most inspiring places and are the most interesting to ride – a double-whammy no-brainer! For me, the backcountry almost always takes the upper hand over more populated areas. The trails are more exciting, the views more jaw-dropping and the people both happier and more hospitable. The only downside is the absence of street food. So, take the path less trodden and pack plenty of grub – who knows when the next village will be?
2 Keep your wheels rolling
Wheels are important. I cannot emphasise this point enough. If you’re descending some godforsaken mountain pass,mast’, you’ll want it fixed up at the nearest repair shop – most likely a modest shed with an ingenious mechanic and very few spare parts. So firstly, I’d recommend opting for a set of strong, good-quality rollers. And secondly, a set that’s replaceable and repairable – 29ers aren’t yet common in most parts of the world, so some alloy 650b or 26in wheels would tick that box.
