Find Dealers
View dealers around Make a new search
Search to complete Delete
My Tires Tire Selector
My garage : Make a new search
bfg garage header image 1




Pursuit Essentials:
Mountain Biking with Kyle Strait

 

 

 

 

Welcome to Pursuit Essentials, a series where we dive into the diverse sports, pastimes, and recreational activities that BFGoodrich drivers passionately pursue. Informed by subject matter experts whose lives are immersed in each pursuit’s world, these guides are meant to serve as introduction and inspiration to learn more about the pursuit at hand and the community that lives, breathes, and builds for it.

body 1

Kyle Strait, Pro Mountain Biker 

Kyle Strait has been coasting through the natural ripples of the earth for as long as he knew how to ride a bike. His early thrill-seeking nature drove him toward competing in the Red Bull Rampage at just age 14, and he hasn’t looked back since. With his mother and father both off-road racers in motorsports, the chase for adrenaline has always run deep in his veins. Before he could get his hands on his first motorbike, he stumbled across the art of mountain biking. The freestyle nature of mountain biking and its high-speed drops kept him on track to become the accomplished rider he is today.

body 2

 

Mountain Biking: An Essential History 

In 1886, the US Army began using bikes off-road as a substitute for horses. The idea prompted dirt races in 1902, where competitors quickly grasped the fun, energizing potential of mountain biking. This served as an initial foundation for the future sport.

In 1953, American Inventor John Finley Scott created a modified bike, called the "Woodsie Bike," to handle different terrains. The bike is considered the predecessor to modern mountain bikes, featuring derailleur gears (a variable ratio bicycle gearing system) and flat handlebars. 

The mountain biking movement continued to gain traction into the 1960s, as people started modifying and making their own bikes to suit their preferences, geographies and riding styles. In the late ’70s, the manufacturer Specialized introduced “Stumpjumper” — the first mass-produced bike. This model showcases thicker tubing, a broader frame and stabilizing handlebars. 

Mass media also played a significant role in the sport’s popularity as people began tuning in to watch extreme races with these new models, slowly turning mountain biking into a global phenomenon.

As the sport and its culture flourished, athletes like Strait rose to prominence, winning over fans and racking up hardware for their unmatched technique, style and spirit.

body 3


Mountain Biking: Essential Gear

When mountain biking, safety should always come first. Before all else, your essential gear checklist should include the right bike and helmet.

The first question to ask yourself when choosing a bike is what type of riding you’ll be doing. Different styles and frames are built to suit cross-country, enduro and downhill riding. Additionally, if you’re planning to tackle particularly tough terrain, you might want to go with oversized tires. Then you should decide whether you want a full-suspension or a hardtail bike. With full-suspension absorbing more overall impact, it is better suited for more aggressive riders. Hardtail mountain bikes include only front suspension, offering a more controlled, rigid ride for longer distances.  

Next up, we have the helmet. It is worth noting that while you can wear any type of mountain biking headgear no matter the discipline, some are better fit for certain riding styles. As with bikes, there are helmets specially designed for all-mountain, enduro, cross-country, dirt jumping and downhill riders. Generally, cross-country and all-mountain riders will opt for half-shell helmets that cover the top and back of the head and the ears. If you love the rush and adrenaline of downhill, enduro or BMX trails like Kyle, you might want to go with the more protective full-shell helmets, which additionally cover the majority of the face.

Much of your gear setup will depend on the type of riding you do. For example, high-speed downhill riders like Kyle usually use more external protection like goggles, elbow pads, knee pads and shin pads. Types of clothing will also range depending on your environment and will include items such as cycling socks, weatherproof gloves, wicking jerseys and stowaway wind jackets. As with any extreme sport, it is always better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.

 

body 4


Mountain Biking: Essential Skills

Attention to Detail - It’s important to go through your mountain biking checklist and make sure your setup is fully dialed in before you take on any run. Responsible mountain bikers never rush past this crucial step. It’s a key skill to have the patience, awareness and mechanical know-how to check your tire pressure, brake pads, steering and suspension before you hit the trail.

Confidence - As with riders like Kyle, confidence is key. You must be confident in yourself climbing the hill, landing the trick and taking flight as you propel off the jump. Without believing in yourself and your abilities, your real-life riding won’t be where you want it to be. 

Discipline - Every mountain biker needs discipline. Whether that involves making the extra push to practice even when you’re tired or going through your pre-ride checklist one more time, you can’t cut corners with this sport.

Awareness - Mountain biking requires a heightened sense of your surroundings while riding through elevated altitudes at high speeds. You need to be able to anticipate the high-stakes twists and turns of the terrain before you ride it, as well as during your journey. Awareness is also essential in a race, as you round the tracks in close proximity to your opponents.

Enthusiasm - Always consider your level of enjoyment when it comes to mountain biking. In Kyle’s case, his love for the sport and appreciation for nature is a huge part of what has driven him to his respected professional status.

Balance and Agility - Quick turns, steep drop-offs and hilly trails are elements of mountain biking that require an acute sense of balance and agility during each ride. 

Physical Fitness - Mountain biking is a demanding sport. You need a combination of leg and core strength for those uphill treks, as well as immense upper body strength and cardiovascular endurance to maintain your stability across challenging terrain. 

Sense of Community - Even though this is a one-person sport, it is important to value a sense of community and inclusiveness as you venture into the world of mountain biking. Great riders enjoy learning from one another, building off one another and helping their sport grow as much as possible.

body 5

Mountain Biking: Essential Destinations

One of the draws to mountain biking is the opportunity to be one with nature and witness astounding views and scenery. Here are Kyle’s top 15 destinations, each offering unique atmospheres and varied terrain for all riding styles. 

  1. Moab, Utah - With its rugged terrain and breathtaking nature, Moab is one of the mountain biking community’s most desired destinations. It offers a wide variety of trails, from open-desert environments to scenic singletrack forested routes. This area consistently makes the top of mountain bikers’ bucket lists. 
     
  2.  Lakeside, Montana - This is a wonderful destination for exceptional greenery and a variety of trails. Home of the Legacy Bike Park, Kyle’s a huge fan of its downhill riding as the additional technical and flow trails make it a well-rounded course.
     
  3.  Bentonville, Arkansas - Crowned the “Mountain Bike Capital of the World”, Kyle Strait can attest that this destination is worth visiting. From pump tracks to single tracks and a plethora of twists, jumps and turns, Bentonville offers adrenaline-packed experiences for any time of year.  
     
  4. British Columbia, Canada - If you want to travel outside the U.S. for mountain biking, Kyle recommends the Whistler Mountain Bike Park in BC, Canada. This is a great place to be surrounded by biking culture and demonstrations, as well as events for children and newer bikers.
     
  5. Rotorua, New Zealand - Another international biking destination that made Kyle’s list is the Redwood Mountain Bike Park in New Zealand. This trail has been awarded gold-level ride center status with its broad geographical layout offering a unique riding experience.

 

body 6

Mountain Biking: Essential Lingo

Bike Park – An area containing mountain biking terrain and trail features that allow for outdoor riding. Can be private or public.

Downhill (DH)  – A form of gravity-heavy, aggressive mountain biking with few uphill sections.

Flow – A type of mountain biking trail that offers smooth-riding terrain. 

Technical  – A particularly challenging trail and form of riding for any experience level.

Cross country (XC) – Long-distance mountain biking.

Side-by-Side – An all-terrain utility vehicle used to transport mountain bikes, tools, gear, and even earth across difficult terrain efficiently.

Enduro – A form of timed mountain biking that is often competitive and downhill. Events vary in difficulty and duration. This term is also used to describe equipment associated with the type of race (ex: Enduro helmet). 

Drop – A trail feature that involves the rider launching their bike off an elevation and landing on lower terrain. Can be man-made or natural. 

Bunny hop  – A mountain biking skill referring to the rider lifting their front wheel followed by the rear wheel so that both are in the air simultaneously.

Wheelie – A mountain biking skill where the rider forces their front-end wheel in the air while in motion.

Clear – To land an obstacle successfully and smoothly without having to stabilize. 

Dab – To lift your foot off the pedal and put it back down in an attempt to avoid a crash.

OJ  – To overjump, referring to an overpowerful launch into the air, resulting in a less-than-perfect landing. 

Case or 50/50 – To come up short on a jump.

Tag – To barely come up short on a jump. 

Tank slap – To land in an out-of-control manner.

Derailleur gears – A system that allows bikers to switch speeds while pedaling forward.

Suspension – The front and/or rear shocks of a mountain bike that absorb ground impact.

body 7

Mountain Biking: Essential Vehicles and Tires

Getting to the trail can often be just as difficult as riding it. When transporting your mountain bike, it’s crucial to choose the right tires. By anticipating the conditions of your drive, you’ll get to where you need to go every time, in good time.

The two key features all mountain biking enthusiasts consider when choosing a vehicle are bike-carrying capacity and off-roading capability. The right vehicle must be able to safely haul several bikes to the trailhead and back without issue. Especially for people newer to the sport, this can be accomplished in many ways. Put a quality bike rack and good off-road-ready tires on just about any vehicle, and you’re off to a good start. With the right mods, any vehicle can be a great mountain biking rig.

 

body 8

No matter what vehicle you’re using to get to the trailhead, running quality tires is a must. Consider the types of terrain your vehicle will encounter on the way to your favorite destinations. For vehicles that will see a lot of highway miles, plus gravel trails, ice, snow and other tougher terrains, the BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain T/A tire is an excellent choice. This hybrid on-road/light-off-road capable tire can take you from the pavement to the trailhead without missing a hairpin. 


For a next-level-capable ride, the BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO3 tire is the way to go. The toughest all-terrain tire we’ve ever built, the KO3 tire is as practical as it is capable. It’s tough as nails and a jack of all terrains, designed to conquer any task you put in front of it — rock, mud, gravel, pavement, snow and more.

 

body 9

To keep up with Kyle — or learn more about his mountain biking endeavors—check out his Instagram.

 

 

 

Related Content

Pursuit Essentials: Fly-Fishing with Juan Morchio

Juan Morchio has fishing woven into his DNA. For rigs that will see a lot of miles, Juan trusts BFGoodrich tires to transform almost any vehicle into an off-road ride.

SEE THE STORY

Kyle Kuhnhausen: The Self-Taught One-Man Show

Kyle Kuhnhausen's perseverance, passion, and the relentless pursuit of excellence crafting award-winning cars has proven that with enough drive and determination, anything is possible—even for a self-taught one-man show in a small-town garage.

SEE THE STORY

How the Toughest Tire on Earth Got Even Tougher: The Making of the KO3 Tire

The toughest tire on earth get even tougher through relentless innovation and the drive to push possibilities further. The KO3 tire is made for those who drive to the edge and beyond, whether you’re an intrepid zoologist, a ski champion, or just someone with a spirit of adventure.

SEE THE STORY
You are using an unsupported web browser
You are using a website browser that is not supported by this website. This means that some functionnality may not work as intented. This may result in strange behaviors when browsing round. Use or updgrade/install one of the following browsers to take full advantage of this website