If you enjoy downhill mountain biking but aren't exactly a fan of the idea of trying to ride up the mountain before you begin your descent, there's a good option for you to consider. Many people in your situation ride up to their starting point on a mountain bike shuttle. This motorized method of transportation helps you to save your energy for the ride down the mountain, rather than expend a lot of it trying to reach your starting point. If you're in an area where mountain bike shuttles operate, there are generally several different ways to take one. Here are three options.
Online
A popular way to arrange your transportation on a mountain bike shuttle is to book your ride online. Shuttle companies almost always have websites that provide schedules for their shuttles' operations. You can determine when and where to catch the shuttle and then book your ride on the vehicle — even days or weeks in advance if you're planning your mountain bike trip well in advance. If you're traveling with a few other riders, you can secure your group's spot on a shuttle by booking online.
In Person
There can be scenarios in which you walk or ride past a mountain bike shuttle's pick-up spot and stop to inquire with the driver to see if you're able to hop on the shuttle. Many riders take this approach if they don't book online in advance. Perhaps you want to assess the mountain before you decide whether you'll ride up it or take a shuttle. If you get to the area and quickly decide that you'd rather take a shuttle, you can walk around and look for shuttle pick-up spot signage. If a particular shuttle is fully booked, you can simply wait for the next one to arrive.
Group Reservation
If you're traveling to the area with a large group of riders and you want to take a shuttle together, you can look online to find a shuttle company and then contact it to book a shuttle exclusively for your group. It may be easier to exclusively book a shuttle rather than try to find a shuttle that has enough open spots to accommodate your group members. Your group may also find that it's more enjoyable to have a shuttle completely to itself rather than share the space with others. Look online to find out about the mountain bike shuttles that operate in the area you're visiting.
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