It's been right there, in the back of your garage, calling to you all winter - And there you are... taking it out for the first spin around the block this spring. Only to discover that what used to whir now rattles, creaks and won't shift.

Time to get your mountain bike tuned.

South Lake Tahoe mountain bike shops are backed up with bikes waiting to get tuned up for the trails.

Some of the basic tune-ups for a mountain bike include a full cleaning, air in the tires, lubing up the chain and checking shifters and brakes according to bike mechanics at South Shore's Tahoe Sports LTD, Sierra Cycle Works and WattaBike shop in Meyers.

"But it is always a good idea to have it checked out ahead of time, to make sure everything is in working order," said Paul Tindal of Tahoe Sports LTD with two locations at the "Y" and at the Village Center in South Lake Tahoe.

"It's best not to wait to get it checked the day before you plan to ride. If you're gonna ride on a Saturday, you should bring it in on Tuesday," he said.

But a bike sitting in a cold dry garage all winter and then exposed to heat in the summer can sustain damage.

Keeping your tires inflated is key to your first rides of the year. Also, the quality of the tire you buy makes a difference, said Chris Drake of Sierra Cycle Works in South Lake Tahoe.

A lot of flats can be prevented if your tire pressure is maintained, Drake said.

Proper tire pressure is around 40 to 45 pounds for mountain bikes and about 80 pounds for road bikes, experts say.

As far as upgrades go, Kent Wattanachinda of WattaBike shop in Meyers on the South Shore recommends riders switch to clip-in peddles for better control and efficiency. But it is important to remember that maintenance is important with the clip-ins, which require bolt-tightening after each ride, he said.

Otherwise, they tend fall off, Wattanachinda said.

Those in the market to buy a new a mountain bike should set a budget and then try and get the best bike for that price.

Price points on mountain bikes range in price from $300 to more than $5,000 so there are many options, according to Drake, Wattanachinda and Tindal.

Trails in the Tahoe-area vary as much as the styles of bikes (cross-country, downhill, freeride, cyclecross and single-speed) the men said.

Riding here can be as tame or extreme as you want, say Darren Springer, a bike