A guide to learning the basics in mountain biking. Learn these skills and riding a mountain bike will soon become second nature.
Mountain biking is an exhilarating sport that can be enjoyed by anyone who has learnt to ride a bike. Compared to a normal bike riding it can be dangerous, so you should make sure you learn the basic skills below before you begin.
You can practice these skills practically anywhere - on a bike path, at your local park, or simply around your garden. If at all possible, try and find somewhere with a hill.
Get to know your pedals. Learn to move your feet away from the pedals. Try this while you are sitting on your bike with the other foot on the floor. Once you have mastered that you can have a go at moving your foot on and off the pedal while pedaling around for a while. You might need to spend some extra time practicing if you have either clip less or toe clip type pedals.
Practice spinning For this one you need to do is sit on your bike and keep pedaling. Bend your arms slightly and adjust the height of your seat so your legs are 70-90% extended at the bottom of every stroke on the pedal. Make sure you relax, as there is never a situation where your elbows or your knees are locked.
Changing gears Get acquainted with changing the gears on your bike. If you are in a high gears you may notice that it is more difficult to pedal although your speed increases, while the lower the gear the easier you will find pedaling and getting up steep paths. As you approach anywhere steep, its better to change gears before you get there rather than while you are actually on it.
Learn to coast Practice coasting with your feet on the pedals without sitting down. Keep your arms bent but make sure your knees are not locked.
Learn to stand and pedal One thing you will definitely need to master is pedaling while standing on your bike, so you will need to practice this often until you get it right. Try standing up slowly once you've been pedaling sitting down for a while and then increase your speed once your confidence develops. You can practice this in low gears when on hills and in high gears when on level ground.
Dropping down curbs Look for a curb where you can get to the upper portion of it with ease. Practice at a reasonable speed, standing and coasting off the curb from the upper to the lower level. Practice this at different speeds until it is a piece of cake.
Once you have practiced these skills and got the hang of them, you will be able to start on the trails feeling full of confidence. Even though it may take some getting used to at first, you'll soon be a pro!
