Navigating Freedom — 6 Hot Tips For Mountain Biking Dominance
The feeling of whipping around a corner, down a slope, rolling over some rocks while feeling the wind on your face…
There’s nothing quite like mountain biking.
It’s not always the easiest skill to learn though — and it’s likely to come with its fair share of crashes.
Crashing your bike at high speed can be painful… and super expensive if your gear doesn’t have a crash replacement guarantee.
So I’ve put together a few tips to help you stay on top of your bike — and keep it rubber side down.
1.Don’t Ride Alone
While you can ride alone occasionally, it’s better to ride with a crew.
Having someone around in case of an emergency is only part of the reason — you can also learn from each other.
If your crew has some riders who are more skilled than you, that’s fantastic.
Watch how they ride, and try to pick up some of their habits.
2. Stay On The Bike
The more you ride, the better you’ll get.
Ride to the corner store, ride to your job, and ride to meet up with your friends.
I’d tell you to ride your bike in the house too — but that could get messy.
Professional gear isn’t as expensive as you might think, and it has some serious benefits.
It’s made for people like you, riding the trails, and designed to keep you comfortable.
Also if you get your gear from a good supplier, they’ll replace it for free if you wipe out too hard.
4. Know Your Bike
Your bike is more than just some wheels and a frame, so get to know all of its parts and how they work together.
You need to maintain it regularly and know it well enough to notice when something isn’t right.
Taking care of small repairs as they become necessary will definitely save you money, and could even prevent a crash.
5. Loosen Up
Don’t let go of the handlebars, but loosen up your grip, your knees, and your elbows.
Your bike may come with shock absorbers, but they’re definitely not as good as the ones you’ve got already.
Learn to let your body gently absorb the shocks and it’ll start to feel like you’re floating over obstacles.
6. Practice The Technical Skills
This is probably the most boring part, but can also be the most useful.
All the technical skills like front or rear hopping, braking, and spins will really pay off once you master them.
They might not be the most exciting things to practice, but you can find ways to make it more fun.
Try to find a section of trail where you can work out a routine that lets you practice multiple tech skills in one short run, then do it until you improve.
Hopefully, these tips will help to keep you rubber side down when you’re cruising the trails.
Just remember to keep your bike in good shape, practice your skills, wear the right gear, and learn from your friends.
You’ll be flying over the hills in no time!
