Mountain Biking - Basic Techniques

• Always commit to a track or line. This means that you need to think a few steps ahead and set out the line that you want to ride. If you hesitate for example because you are afraid of the obstacles that are ahead of you, it quite often happens that things go wrong. Your posture might change because you are afraid and thinking about your fear instead of just mountain biking. Especially going downhill, if you hesitate halfway through, you will surely fall off.


• Think 2-3 moves ahead. Don't focus on a single obstacle for a long time. Always be aware of the next thing you have to do.


• Don't lock your sights on the rider in front of you. You just might end up hitting a piece of rock that the rider in front of you has just managed to avoid. Look 1-2 meters ahead of you. Don't focus on your front wheel or the rear wheel of the rider in front of you.


• Shift to a light gear upon hitting an unforeseen patch of sand, water or mud. Transfer you weight more to the rear wheels by leaning back. Don't slam on the brakes for this will only cause you to loose the already little traction you have. Relax and just "spin" your way through. This will allow your front tires to glide through the soft terrain.


• Slide off the saddle as you ride down a steep bank or riding downhill. This will allow more time to react to unforeseen obstacles. Besides, it's easier to fall off the back of the bike than to fly over the handlebars when you loose control.


• Don't grip the handlebars too tight. This will make your upper body tense and will tire you faster. Loosen up but, not to loose.


• Don't put your thumb above the handle bar. This will make it easier for you too loose grip if you hit something unexpectedly.


• Slightly bend your elbows and loosen you shoulders, but not to hunched. This will assist in absorbing the shocks that you might experience in the trial.