Mountain Bike Basics

Successful Mountain Biking By Steve Bean


There are various tips needed to help improve your Mountain Biking enjoyment.
Here are some top tips to help:
Essential items you should you take with you
- Rucksack
- Waterproofs - unless it's a scorching summers day you know that it is bound to rain when you are miles from home, so well worth it.
- Water - Camelbacks are perfect for this and can fit inside your rucksack if needed
- Food - If you don't want to take the time to make jam sandwiches then pack in a couple of energy bars
- Pump & Puncture repair kit, although a new inner tube would be much better and quicker to get you on your way. Plus the essential tyre levers.
General riding tips
1. Look where you want to go, not at the tree/rock/edge of the trail. Looking at the thing you do not want to hit is called "target acquisition". Trust me, you do not want to 'acquire' any of those targets, and if you look at them, you are bound to hit one.
2. Look ahead, down the trail. Where you look, your wheels will follow. Your brain will register the things on the trail in a photographic fashion; no need to think about them.
3. Ride light: do not have a death grip on your handlebars. You should be able to wiggle your fingers. Your arms and shoulders should be relaxed. Do not lock your elbows or hunch your shoulders. If you can't ride without locking your arms or tension in your shoulders, have the fit of your bike, specifically the stem length checked professionally.
4. Momentum is your friend. Momentum can get you over small obstacles, up and over rises, and around corners better than going slow and braking for everything. Too little momentum will stop you when you could just roll or hop over something.
Effective Climbing
Depending on the grade, stay seated, get a good leg extension, and set a pace that you can maintain. Try and save one last gear in case you need it. For steeper climbs, or getting over an obstacle while going, get forward. Get so far forward that the nose of your saddle is poking you in the butt, and put your chest down to the handle bars, and maintain your momentum. Use a little body language and momentum to get up and over whatever it is. Also, try and keep the front of the bike stable, pull back and down gently on your grip if it seems like your bike is wandering all over the trail.
Effective Descending
Get your weight back use the neutral position as a starting point. It can be a subtle weight shift, or it can be extreme shift. Get off the saddle, move back and lower your center of gravity. Speed can be your friend. Just don't ride out of control. If you are skidding to slow down while descending, you are out of control. Do not grip the saddle with your thighs. It's unstable and ineffective. Keep you heels down.
Remember that above all, cycling is a fun activity and you still need to enjoy yourself.
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