8 Beginner Mountain Biking Tips You Should Know
If you’re thinking about trying one of the extreme outdoor sports, mountain biking can be quite a thrill. However, it’s important that you first get well-informed and prepared before you hit the road. This is for your own safety. Follow these 8 beginner mountain biking tips and you will be able to master this sport in no time.
Stay Loose
You don’t have to rigidly control every move of your bike. The point is to loosen your body and let the bike do its job. In other words, all you need to do is stay loose and the bike will be able to move beneath you without any problem. If you’re completely new to this, start by trying to hover your butt off the saddle while you are riding over any type of obstacles such as rock and roots. The more technical the terrain you are on, the more room your bike will require in order to move. Also, when you are ripping down a descent think of the movement your body makes for a push-up and think of the position the legs are in when you’re on a horse. Flare out your elbows and knees so that your body will let the bike flow on its own. Don’t try to fight it.
Maintain Momentum
This one might feel implausible, but it’s a very important factor and you need to keep it in mind when you are riding up a mountain. The key is to hold speed, even better if you keep speeding up. When the terrain gets challenging is the moment when you start holding your speed or even speeding up, because that is what you need at that moment to help your bike keep going. At that point, all your bike needs is momentum. Maintaining momentum in the hardest and most challenging parts of your route is essential and you need to master this technique.
Shift Your Weight
If you plan on starting mountain biking as a hobby, be prepared to hit some very extreme terrain. You will come across many obstacles, inclines, and declines. Here is what you need to do once you reach a climbing pitch. What you need to do is learn how to shift your weight. You need to shift it forward and lean forward so that your center of gravity is right over the rear wheel. This way, you will be able to maintain traction. Once the trail tilts downward, you need to go in the opposite direction. Start by shifting your weight behind the saddle and over the rear wheel. This will help you to avoid going over the bars.
Go Easy on the Brakes
How you use your brakes is also very important because if you don’t know how to properly hit the brakes on challenging terrain you can risk getting injured. You will most likely feel the urge to grab the brakes and pull them harder than you need to when you’re going down the hill. However, this is the worst possible thing you could do. You need to resist this temptation. Brakes on the mountain bikes are too powerful and shouldn’t be squeezed too hard. All you need to do is to just lightly press them with just one or maybe two fingers and you will be able to modulate your speed.
You need to work on adjusting your speed before you face the tricky stuff such as corners, roots, and rocks. Once you adjust the speed, you just need to maintain it. Also, try not to abruptly stop your front tire. This will send you flying over the bars and you will most likely end up injured.
Invest in a high-quality mountain bike
If you plan to start mountain biking regularly, you need to invest in a high-quality mountain bike that will last you a long time. You need a bike that is durable and that is going to be able to withstand the obstacles of tricky and challenging terrain. Apart from that, you need to make sure you have the right equipment and adequate clothing since you will most likely be riding your bike in all kinds of weather. You need to be prepared in order to protect your safety and health.
Use All the Gears
The terrain you will come across can be very dangerous and unpredictable. You need to anticipate changes on the route and be ready to shift gears before you need to so that you can avoid potential injuries. This practice will help you learn how to maintain momentum.
Set Your Suspension
Most of the mountain bikes today already have a front suspension fork already built-in. Most of them also have a shock absorber in the rear too. These inventions are very useful and can make big bumps almost disappear. They will help you glide over obstacles and avoid injuries. However, it’s important that you have them set to their active positions so that they would work when they need to.
Take your time and get to know your vehicle. Make sure you understand how to adjust the settings. Also, make sure you know how to properly lock-out and open your suspension to avoid rolling out onto crazy terrain with a rigid bike.
Look Where You Want to Go
Lastly, if you stare directly at the road ahead of you and keep watch for every tiny rock you might hit, you will most likely hit it. This is called “target fixation”. It is when your bike goes where you lead it with your gaze. You should avoid doing so and instead try to look past obstacles and keep your eyes to where you want to go. Also, you need to try to keep your chin level to the ground, keep your eyes forward, and try to look as far down your road as possible. Use your peripheral vision and you will be able to avoid obstacles more efficiently and quickly.
Conclusion
All things are considered, mountain biking can be quite extreme and dangerous, but that shouldn’t discourage you. With the right equipment and practice, you can become a true professional. Just make sure you use all of these tips and practice the moves as much as you can and you’re good to go.