Mountain bikes are a mile away from the bikes that you learnt to ride on as a child. With suspension, off road tyres and gears, these bikes are designed to go pretty much anywhere.
There are a range of trails to chose from; downhill for those who like the thrill of speed and cross country for those who like a physical challenge.

In Northern Ireland, whilst there is a substantial mountainbiking scene, there are few "official" mountainbike trails due to access issues, so it is not a very accessible activity in Northern Ireland. However, there is lots of work taking place to improve this situation for the future.

For those new to mountain biking there are several activity centres and guides who will take out groups and individuals, as well as hire bikes and share their knowledge of Northern Ireland.
There is also a strong mountain bike scene - check out the websites in "links" for information on the best routes and even organise to meet other bikers.

Mountain biking is relatively easy for most of us as we already know how to cycle, although a good level of fitness is a must, as well as lots of determination to get up those hills and bravery coming down the steep slopes.

If you book a session with an activity provider, you will be supplied with all the necessary equipment and gain a useful insight into the techniques to get the most from the sport. Another advantage of booking with an activity provider is that some providers such as Corralea in Co Fermanagh have special access agreements in place with local landowners so you can go on trails that otherwise you wouldn't be able to access.

Mountain bikes can be bought for as little as a hunderd pounds. You should also have a helmet, gloves and will need eye protection if tackling the more serious trails.