Skip to main content

3 unspoken rules of mountain biking you should know

The things nobody tells you about mountain biking

Going around a corner on a mountain bike with the Smith Forefront 2 helmet and Smith Wildcat sunglasses
Travis Reill / The Manual

Mountain biking comes with a set of rules for the trail. Well, “rules” is too strong of a word—etiquette is more appropriate. 

Recommended Videos

While those guidelines focus on how mountain bikers should interact with other trail users, there is another set of rules within mountain biking culture. Some unspoken rules are mainly for fun; others are more serious.

So, to be invited back to the next group ride, you should heed these warnings.

Mountain biking down a trail in Evo Bike Pants
Travis Reill / The Manual

Unsanctioned mountain biking trails are serious business

Perhaps the biggest “no-no” in mountain biking is to disclose the location of unsanctioned trails. Disclosing secret trails is a surefire way to not only get uninvited back out to that trail, but you will probably also get the friend in trouble who invited you.

Unsanctioned trails are illegal mountain biking trails. There are many reasons why mountain bikers may illegally build trails. The trails in their area may be too dull. Maybe they don’t have enough features, like jumps or drops. Or perhaps there just aren’t any trails at all.

Whatever the reason is, trail builders take to the forest and start sculpting their dream trail. Since these trails are illegal, they can be demolished anytime, meaning months of work go down the drain.

This is why word of these mountain biking trails is often so hushed. Unless you stumble upon one, the only way to ride an unsanctioned trail is usually by invite. 

If invited, that means the trail builders have a certain amount of trust in you. Leave your action cameras at home, don’t drop any pins, and keep pictures off social media. 

A mountain bike with different tire brands front and rear
Travis Reill / The Manual

Don’t mix mountain biking tire brands

Mountain biking tires come in all shapes and sizes—actually, only one shape. Lots of sizes, though. 

Amongst that mountain biking tire variety is quite the assortment of different tire brands. Some have sworn their allegiance to one brand or the other, but, for the most part, mountain bike tires are all pretty good.

However, an unspoken mountain biking rule regarding tires is not to mix and match brands. In other words, don’t have “Brand A” for your front and “Brand B” for your rear tires. 

Why is this? There is something to say about particular tires working better with others. Many mountain bikers prefer different tires front and rear: more aggressive in the front, faster rolling in the rear. Different tires within the same brand are made to work together. That may be different with mixing brands.

Ultimately, it comes down to a style point. Most mountain bikers think mixing tire brands looks silly. You can expect to hear about it if you roll up with two different brand tires.

A trail sign indicating riders go up and down the trail
Travis Reill / The Manual

Mountain biking up, when most go down

Mountain biking etiquette indeed says that when on two-way trails, riders descending should yield the right of way for riders climbing. This is common knowledge for mountain bikers, but many argue it shouldn’t always be followed.

At nearly every mountain biking trailhead, there are (technically) two-way trails primarily ridden in one direction: down. And when I say mostly, I’m talking about 99% of people.

The unspoken rule isn’t that you can’t pedal up these trails, but perhaps you shouldn’t. Ultimately, it is unsafe. Riders usually don’t expect others to come up when 99% go down. So, be watching, be listening, and be ready to pull over, which is counterintuitive to “regular” trail etiquette.

If climbing fire roads isn’t appealing to you, and you must climb up a trail, go when the trails aren’t busy, like a weekday morning. 

Bottom line: use common sense. If the trailhead is full of cars, it may be a good day to go the same way as the masses. 

Travis Reill
Hi! I'm Travis, a teacher turned stay-at-home dad turned freelance writer. Mountain biking is my passion. Fortunately, I've…
Ikon Pass 2025/26 offers new ski perks, mountains, and discounts — what to know
If you choose to ski with the Ikon Pass this 2025/26 season, here's what to expect.
Ski lift

The Ikon Pass is a multi-resort ski and snowboard season pass from the Alterra Mountain Company, and on Thursday, March 13, they will be offering the lowest prices of the year with some great perks. This pass gives you access to some of the best ski mountains, namely a network of 61 mountain destinations across the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and even Japan. If you choose to ski with the Ikon Pass this 2025/26 season, here's what you can expect.

First, there are the two new mountains, which are stunning. Ischgl, Austria, is Europe's seventh Ikon Pass destination, with 1,273 acres of deep powder, big mountain lines, modern lifts, and even a long ski season (November to May). Second is Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, which has 1,428 acres of groomed runs, steep chutes, and backcountry-style terrain, with a season that typically runs from November to June. At this location, you will have unlimited access with no blackouts on the Ikon Pass. With these new additions, the Windham Mountain Club will no longer be available on the Ikon Pass for this ski season.

Read more
Why you should swap hiking boots for trail runners on your next adventure
Say goodbye to your hiking boots. Here's a better option
Man running on a trail with mountains in the background

For decades, hiking boots have been the go-to shoe for every kind of trail, but modern hikers are beginning to change that. If you've ever worn heavy leather hiking boots on a trip before, you're probably familiar with the blisters, sweaty feet, and sore legs that often come with the journey. While getting out in nature was always the best part of my week, I swapped my heavy hiking boots for some lightweight trail runners last year, and it was the best decision I ever made. Here's why.
Why you should ditch your hiking boots for trail runners

Trail running shoes are a middle ground between sneakers and hiking boots. They're sturdy, but still lightweight enough to reduce strain on your legs as you hike. Most hiking boots have stiff soles, but trail runners will allow you to navigate uneven terrain easily due to the flexible soles. These are great for long-distance hikes, especially where speed and efficiency matter. I also love the fact that trail runners have quick-drying and water-resistant mesh, which allows sweat to evaporate easily for a more comfortable journey (and less stinky shoes!)

Read more
3 duct tape camping hacks: Why it should always be in your hiking or camping kit
Stick to duct tape while camping — here's how
Closeup of two friends setting up a tent in the woods.

One of the most useful scenarios for duct tape is out in the wilderness, but it can be tricky to figure out how to store it. One of my go-to ways is to simply wrap several feet of duct tape around an old credit card or a sturdy piece of cardboard. I've also seen people wrap duct tape around their water bottles, but that's never appealed to me since it can be a bit of a mess to clean. Regardless of how you do it, taking some duct tape with you might just make or break your next camping or hiking trip. Here's how.
3 uses for duct tape while out in the wilderness

Patch repairs with duct tape
Sleeping pads pop and nylon tears. We've all been there, and duct tape can save the day! It's great to have duct tape on hand to patch a hole or close a gap in my tent. If you happen to accidentally tear your sleeping bag, a patch of duct tape will get you through it. Reinforce broken straps, seams, zippers, or even sole separation in your shoes and you'll make it home all right.
Duct tape in first aid
When thinking about duct tape, first aid might not always come to mind. However, duct tape is great in a jiffy for splint support if you or someone in your party ends up breaking or spraining something. With a piece of clean cloth or gauze, you can create a makeshift bandage in an emergency. You can also use a small square as blister protection if your shoes start rubbing your feet raw.
Using duct tape as an organization tool
While masking tape might work a bit better in this case, duct tape can still be used to label and tag gear or mark items. That said, nothing is better than duct tape if you want to seal an open liquid container. Duct tape can also be used to keep loose cords, tent poles, or stakes bundled together in a pinch.

Read more