Downhill mountain biking on dedicated DH runs and the singletrack stretch on your favorite trail can be nerve racking for many riders. The bike wants to naturally carry speed down the hill so – when you see technical trail features or obstacles – the first reaction for those that are not comfortable is to grab the brakes and slowly roll over. I am here to give you some great news. There is 1 way you can drastically improve your downhill abilities and tackle that technical trail feature (TTF) starting on your next ride.
Follow Another Mountain Bikers Rear Wheel
This mountain biking riding tip works for all kinds of downhill mountain biking. Whether you are at Windrock ready to take on a ladder drop or your cross country trail trying to get through a technical section, following another mountain biker’s rear wheel is the #1 way to conquer the descending fears and tackle the obstacle.
Following the rear wheel of another mountain biker actually goes against everything the fear in your brain wants to do when looking at this section of trail or obstacle. Naturally, you want as much room around you so you can see everything and the last thing you want is another rider directly in front of you.
But…by following another rider…you are accomplishing several things for yourself that you can not do alone.
- You can visually see the results directly before you attempt – A lot of mountain biking is seeing the ride in your head before it happens. Have you ever had one of those rides where you knew you were going to wreck that day and you did? Same thing. Now…you are physically visualizing the success before you hit, so your brain is already turned on.
- You take all of the calculation out of the run – When you sit there and stare at a drop, rock garden or technical section of trail, your mind is going through a thousand calculations on where to pedal, where to brake, how much speed you need, etc. By following someone else that already knows how to ride that section successfully, you are taking all of that calculation out and focusing on what you should be – riding. After you complete that section successfully, you will remember what it took and apply that to the next run.
- You are riding instead of starring – You can stare any trail feature in the face for hours before you finally get that lump out of your throat and hit it. By following another mountain biker, you are taking action instead of delaying to the point you just turn around and go home. The longer you stare at something, the harder it is going to look even if it ends up being the easiest drop you have ever done in your life. Stop starring and ride.
It is really that easy. In your quest to become a better mountain biker and tackle trail obstacles and features that you used to deem impossible, find a rider who has successfully ridden that section of trail and hold on to that rear wheel. Who knows…you just might end up being that rider that others are latching onto over time. 99% of riding is all in our heads so we have to find ways of getting around our own thinking. The rest will be taken care of by our bike and our helmets.