If you know how to ride a bicycle, then you can join in on the exciting experience of mountain biking: conquering steep hills, jumping cliffs and scratching up your skin. Mountain biking is a little more risky than regular bike riding. Before you decided to hit the trails, you should have some basic mountain bike riding skills mastered.
You can practice your basic skills anywhere. I suggest a nearby park, a modest bike path, a nearby school, or around your own neighborhood. Mainly, you are looking for a practice location that has some of the elements of a scaled down mountain bike ride.
PRACTICE YOUR FOOTWORK ON THE PEDALS
Once you find an ideal location, you are going to want to focus on your footwork. You are going to practice moving your foot off the pedal. Initially, you are going to want to do this while sitting on the bike and have the other foot place on the ground. After you get a good feel for this, pedal around and practice taking your foot off the pedal, then putting it back on again. This skill may take you longer to master if your bike is equipped with toe clips or clip shoe and foot pedals.
MAKE SURE YOU ARE PROPERLY ALIGNED
Next, you are going to want to insure you are in the the best possible position on your mountain bike. Your position will give you maximum performance and ultimately a bit more comfortable experience. Ride around on your mountain bike and take note of your positioning. Your arms should be slightly bent and loose. The seat height needs to be properly adjusted, if it is not already. You know the seat is at the right height when you have 70-90 percent extension of your leg and the end of every pedal stroke. You should always keep your body relaxed, do not lock your knees or stiffen your elbows. If you discover that you have to lock your knees or elbows, you need to adjust your position or seat height.
GEAR SHIFTING
The next mountain bike skill you need to master is shifting gears. The higher the gear, the harder it will be to push the pedals, but higher gears allow for better acceleration. The lower the gear, the easier it is to pedal. The lower gears will assist you when you need to climb an incline. As you approach a steep hill, it is best to shift into a lower gear before you get to the hill, versus waiting until you are on the hill.
LEARNING TO COAST / RIDE NEUTRAL
You will also want to learn how to coast on your mountain bike. You can master this skill by standing up on your pedals, with your butt off the seat and weight slightly adjusted for comfort and performance. Remember to keep your arms bent, knees loose, and elbows unlocked. Once you are comfortable doing this, you want to practice shifting your weight toward the rear of the mountain bike. Shifting your weight forward while climbing a hill and moving it over the rear tire while in a downhill position.
LEARNING TO PEDAL WHILE STANDING
Pedaling, while standing up, is an essential mountain biking skill. First, lift yourself off the seat. Next, stand up on the pedals. Last, you are going to just crank them around full revolutions. The best way to practice this skill is to use higher gears on flat ground and lower gears while conquering an incline.
USING CURBS
When mountain biking, you will constantly be going from one level of terrain to another. The best way to learn how to make a smooth transition between these terrains is to practice with obstacles of varying height in your practice location. Often, curbs are available at different heights. While going a reasonable speed; stand up and coast from the upper level of the curb to the lower level. Once you are comfortable doing this, keep repeating it at different speeds and different heights, if available. You want to keep practicing until it becomes an automatic, effortless, and comfortable motion.
After you practice these skills, you will be able to hit the mountain bike trails with a bit more knowledge and skill. You will not be quite an expert, so use your discretion when faced with obstacles and challenges you might not be familiar with. You will be confident over time in your riding and less likely to injure yourself. These skills take time to perfect, so be patient. However, once you perfect them, they will become second nature to you. Remember, whether just practicing, or on the trails, you should always wear a helmet and protective gear.
Don’t be a dork, protect yourself!