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Summer is upon you again and you decide that the best thing you could do for a summer holiday is to take the family on a mountain bike holiday for something a little different. The kids are all excited and your wife decides that it might be a good idea after all. At least this kind of mountain bike break, she decides, will mean she may actually get to spend some time with you at least.

You throw the kids in the back of the car whilst your wife settles herself in the passenger seat. You then quickly go back inside to collect all the bags that have been stuffed with whatever clothes and equipment has been collected from around the house and throw them too into the back of the boot.

You dig the bikes out the garage and mount them on the roof rack, run round to the driver’s door, get in and set off.Should it really be like this – well no. More time is required to make sure that everyone is ready for a mountain bike holiday and that everything is packed properly.

Firstly, it’s important to remember that mountain bike riding isn’t just a case of hopping on and pedalling off. The bikes themselves need lots of careful preparation and maintenance before a holiday like this. Without it, the bikes may be dangerous to use, especially if they’ve been sat in the garage for long periods of time. Who knows what condition the mountain bike is in after long periods of time sat in the garage. Like all machines, if they are left for too long they can begin to seize-up and suffer from rusty moving parts. It makes great sense to make sure that the mountain bikes are not rusted up and that the moving parts are loose and well oiled. If the kids are with you too, you should really make sure that every mountain bike is in the best condition.

Other things to consider include the necessary mountain bike equipment, such as spare inner tubes, tools and puncture kits. Water bottles that are easily mounted on the mountain bike frame are essential, as well as spare water containers that can be carried in backpacks. Other kinds of emergency products that would be wise to take on a mountain bike holiday would be batteries and spare bulbs for the bike lights.