SDMB is the best resource for Southern Arizona and Tucson mountain biking!
The Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists is a club devoted to the promotion of mountain biking. We view the sport as a vehicle to encourage low impact outdoor recreation opportunities that are environmentally and socially responsible.

ABOUT SDMB - MOUNTAIN BIKE GLOSSARY

Newcomers to mountain biking can find themselves confused by mountain bike terminology. These technical terms will come to you in time, but some of the descriptions of rides may lead to unforeseen and possibly unfortunate consequences. In the interest of ride disaster prevention, here's a short (tongue-in-cheek, of course) glossary of some commonly confused terms:

Conversation-paced ride: We'll talk at the trailhead and for a brief warm-up, then go full-bore, every rider trying to drop the rider behind or at least cause him/her to seize up in painful cramps. We won't talk afterwards because we'll all be out of breath.

No hills on this ride: Minimum of 3,500 feet of elevation gain for each 12 miles.

I have to take it easy today because ... (insert injury, illness or bike malfunction here): When you least expect it I'm going to drop the hammer down and leave you eating my dust.

We'll shorten the ride because ... (insert any of the above excuses here): I hope you brought your lunch and don't have any dinner plans, because this is going to make the three-hour tour look like a five-minute break.

It can be kinda technical: Anything less than full body armor is suicidal. Fifteen frames have been broken here, as well as 32 collarbones, 17 wrists and two femurs.

A short climb to the top: You'll hit the summit in two hours, three tops.

You might catch some air: A catapult flinging a jet fighter off an aircraft carrier flight deck has about half the launching capacity of this berm. Parachutes recommended.

A tricky corner: An 18-inch-wide switchback at the edge of a cliff with a 400 foot sheer drop, it has a two-foot ledge leading into it and three 18-inch ledges leading out, each about two feet apart. Vultures camp at the bottom of this cliff. Very fat vultures.

It can get a little sandy: Prepare to churn for two miles through sand up to your axles.

You might wanna unclip: Nobody has ever ridden this section, although several died trying. Those red rocks along the edge? That ain't Navaho sandstone.

Honey, I'll be home in one hour, two tops: You won't be home for at least 4-hours, not including getting lunch after the ride.