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Oklahoma is a great mountain biking state, but few people realize it.

Especially the mountain bikers who don't live here and perceive Oklahoma as a relatively flat state, says Christian Combs, president of the Oklahoma Earthbike Fellowship.

Combs was shocked when he moved from Seattle to Oklahoma and discovered the abundance of great trails for mountain biking.

"We don't have the Alpine riding that people associate with mountain biking, but we have lots of valleys and rolling topography that make for some of the best mountain biking you will find,” Combs said.

Members of the Oklahoma Earthbike Fellowship maintain trails at Roman Nose State Park, the Draper Mountain Bike Park around Lake Draper and Bluff Creek in northwest Oklahoma City, a wonderful mountain biking trail that is rare for cities the size of Oklahoma City.

In the Oklahoma City area, there are trails at Lake Arcadia and Lake Thunderbird State Park. There is no shortage of places to ride in the state.

"You can go an hour in any direction from Oklahoma City and find five or six quality trails,” Combs said.

In Tulsa, the Turkey Mountain trail along the Arkansas River has been voted Oklahoma's favorite trail and Lake McMurty in Stillwater is another popular destination.

"In the Ouachita Forest, there are trails down there that nobody maps and there are tons and tons of trails in the southeast part of the state,” Combs said.

"Keystone and Greenleaf have trails few people know about. People just don't realize the quality of mountain biking here.”

A minimum investment of $300 to $400 will get you started in the sport with a bike and helmet, although die-hard mountain bikers will spend much more. Combs says he has more money in his bikes than his car.

About a dozen bike shops exist in the Oklahoma City area that can fit the person with the right mountain bike, Combs said.

"Mountain biking is a completely different experiece than road riding,” he said.

"You really need to be fitted properly from the start. Your best bet is to go with someone who specializes in bicycles. You are getting more options and have a place to go back to if there is a problem.”

The bike stores also are savvy about trails and are a good place to network with other mountain biking enthusiasts.