Mountain Biking Tips
Mountain biking is one of the most thrilling sports of all. Get better at it with these mountain biking tips.
Mountain biking is a tough sport albeit an adventurous one. There is great joy in rolling down the mountains on that amazing sport bike, beating the terrain and biking on forward. But make no bones about it, mountain biking can be really tough and you need to be in the right shape to be able to survive the tougher terrains. So here are some mountain biking tips for beginners.
Mountain Biking Tips and Techniques
Mountain biking comes well to those who've been at it over a period of time. It is really the beginners who have a trouble with it. So here are some of the mountain biking tips and tricks for beginners.
The Bike
Let's get to the very basics of mountain biking. Mountain biking requires a different bike, it is not the same as road biking. Mountain bikes are generally sturdier and stronger. But that aside, a mountain bike needs to be light enough to let the driver handle some of the tough ascents. Mountain biking also demands a better suspensions to facilitate a smoother ride. Last but not the least, mountain bikes come with a good number of gears, so that the rider is not inconvenienced over the course of the ride.
Don't Ride Alone
Especially if you're a beginner, you need to ride with a more experienced lot, who can help you become a better rider. Riding alone or along with other novices will be tougher and potentially dangerous as you really do not have a feel for the sport. You may be an accomplished road biker, but mountain biking isn't quite the same thing. So find a bunch of people who have been riding for sometime (a lot of mountain biking clubs exist around town) and ride with them. The stuff you'll learn while riding with experienced people will be the best training you'll get.
The Grip
A lot of first time riders tend to grip the handles rigidly and take too strong a grip, thus locking the elbow and wrist joints. The grip on the handle is supposed to be flexible and only tight enough to ensure that you don't fall down. Loosen up your body and don't take a tight grip, otherwise all the shocks on the road will have to be fended by your bike.
Posture
The main posture of the rider in mountain biking is the 'attack' position. In this position, the biker is off the seat, pretty much standing, but with the legs heavily bent. You are supposed to work the legs like a spring, gently going up and down on the pedals. Don't lock your feet and your hands, as it will make the motion more rigid and your joints will absorb all the ensuing pressure. Rocking backwards and forwards gently will also help you pedal faster.
Work the Gears Well
The gears are your best friends on the trails. By learning to work the gears well, you'll be able to ride longer and stronger. The gears help absorb a lot of pressure on the ride and hence will make it easier to overcome a lot of difficult ascents. The gears need a little bit of getting used to (if you aren't already) but they can make all the difference!
The Descent
If there is one aspect of mountain biking which petrifies most riders and are looking for mountain biking tips on is for the decent. A long, rocky slope can be intimidating for most. Downhill mountain biking tips revolve around braking. Make sure that on the descent, you don't grip the brakes to hard, which will result in the bike skidding and falling. Make sure that you brake, but softly and on 2 second intervals. The point of braking on the descent is not to stop the bike, but to ensure that you are in control of the bike.
Riding Safety
Mountain biking is tough and even the most seasoned bikers are not immune to injury on their trails. So it is important that you follow the basic riding safety norms. Make sure you have the proper gear on, the helmet and the knee and elbow pads.
Read on for more on mountain biking.
•Best Mountain Bike
•Best Entry Level Mountain Bike
•Specialized Hardrock Mountain Bikes
•Mountain Bike Buyers Guide
So this was all about mountain biking tips. If you're looking to learn mountain biking for beginners, let me assure you that nothing but prime fitness levels will do. Mountain biking is a demanding, yet amazingly enjoyable sport!
Mountain biking is one of the most thrilling sports of all. Get better at it with these mountain biking tips.
Mountain biking is a tough sport albeit an adventurous one. There is great joy in rolling down the mountains on that amazing sport bike, beating the terrain and biking on forward. But make no bones about it, mountain biking can be really tough and you need to be in the right shape to be able to survive the tougher terrains. So here are some mountain biking tips for beginners.
Mountain Biking Tips and Techniques
Mountain biking comes well to those who've been at it over a period of time. It is really the beginners who have a trouble with it. So here are some of the mountain biking tips and tricks for beginners.
The Bike
Let's get to the very basics of mountain biking. Mountain biking requires a different bike, it is not the same as road biking. Mountain bikes are generally sturdier and stronger. But that aside, a mountain bike needs to be light enough to let the driver handle some of the tough ascents. Mountain biking also demands a better suspensions to facilitate a smoother ride. Last but not the least, mountain bikes come with a good number of gears, so that the rider is not inconvenienced over the course of the ride.
Don't Ride Alone
Especially if you're a beginner, you need to ride with a more experienced lot, who can help you become a better rider. Riding alone or along with other novices will be tougher and potentially dangerous as you really do not have a feel for the sport. You may be an accomplished road biker, but mountain biking isn't quite the same thing. So find a bunch of people who have been riding for sometime (a lot of mountain biking clubs exist around town) and ride with them. The stuff you'll learn while riding with experienced people will be the best training you'll get.
The Grip
A lot of first time riders tend to grip the handles rigidly and take too strong a grip, thus locking the elbow and wrist joints. The grip on the handle is supposed to be flexible and only tight enough to ensure that you don't fall down. Loosen up your body and don't take a tight grip, otherwise all the shocks on the road will have to be fended by your bike.
Posture
The main posture of the rider in mountain biking is the 'attack' position. In this position, the biker is off the seat, pretty much standing, but with the legs heavily bent. You are supposed to work the legs like a spring, gently going up and down on the pedals. Don't lock your feet and your hands, as it will make the motion more rigid and your joints will absorb all the ensuing pressure. Rocking backwards and forwards gently will also help you pedal faster.
Work the Gears Well
The gears are your best friends on the trails. By learning to work the gears well, you'll be able to ride longer and stronger. The gears help absorb a lot of pressure on the ride and hence will make it easier to overcome a lot of difficult ascents. The gears need a little bit of getting used to (if you aren't already) but they can make all the difference!
The Descent
If there is one aspect of mountain biking which petrifies most riders and are looking for mountain biking tips on is for the decent. A long, rocky slope can be intimidating for most. Downhill mountain biking tips revolve around braking. Make sure that on the descent, you don't grip the brakes to hard, which will result in the bike skidding and falling. Make sure that you brake, but softly and on 2 second intervals. The point of braking on the descent is not to stop the bike, but to ensure that you are in control of the bike.
Riding Safety
Mountain biking is tough and even the most seasoned bikers are not immune to injury on their trails. So it is important that you follow the basic riding safety norms. Make sure you have the proper gear on, the helmet and the knee and elbow pads.
Read on for more on mountain biking.
•Best Mountain Bike
•Best Entry Level Mountain Bike
•Specialized Hardrock Mountain Bikes
•Mountain Bike Buyers Guide
So this was all about mountain biking tips. If you're looking to learn mountain biking for beginners, let me assure you that nothing but prime fitness levels will do. Mountain biking is a demanding, yet amazingly enjoyable sport!
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