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Top10 Tire Tips | Top10 MTB Tips | Top10 Trail Gripes
Top10 MTB Tips
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Top 10 MTB Tips
In past years we offered a 4-part seminar series called MTB101 where each session focused on specific mountain biking skills. We haven't had time to do that recently, so we took the most important parts of that series and made a 1-day presentation out of them. Here they are. No, it's not the same as attending the class, where you get an hour or so of class time followed by several hours on the trail, with instruction. But it's a good place to start. These Tips are presented in countdown (reverse) order, not because we're huge fans of Letterman - just 'cause.
10. Downhill rider yields to uphill rider. It's easier for the downhill rider to get started again. Mountain bikers yield to hikers, even though hikers usually step aside first because it's easier for them. Everybody yields to horses. Avoid spooking horses by stopping, getting off your bike, removing your sunglasses and helmet, and speaking with the rider.
9. Don't skid. It's poor form, can upset your handling, and damages the trails.
8. Keep your upper body loose; don't lock your elbows. Flutter your fingers occasionally to avoid the Death Grip.
7. Be mindful of your center of gravity. Move back on the saddle when descending to prevent pitchpoling (face plant) and forward when climbing to maintain steering control. Weight the outside pedal in turns. Unweight the front wheel when crossing obstacles. Keep your head and torso upright (perpendicular to the horizon).
6. Look where you want to go; don't look at what you want to avoid. Your body will automatically go where your eyes lead it.
5. Use the 2-second rule from Driver's Ed. Look where you'll be in 2 seconds. Beginners tend to focus too closely. Once something's right in front of you it's too late to do anything about it.
4. Get off the saddle at speed; hover an inch or two above it. Keep your elbows and knees flexed to absorb rapid jolts.
3. Experiment with bike setup. Little changes make big differences. Adjust the suspension, the position of the controls, the saddle and handlebar height. Set things to extreme positions and ride briefly to become familiar with what bad fit feels like.
2. Join an advocacy group, or two or three. IMBA.com (international); sorba.org (southeastern U.S.); HMBA.org (Indiana); joinOMBA.org (Ohio); KYMBA.org (Kentucky). There are tons of others. Do trail work. Become an educated trail builder.
1. Have fun! You can race and train and lead group rides and build trail and take kids out to ride, but have fun. If you're not having fun, pick another aspect of mountain biking.