Mountain biking is a great hobby, but beginners can be a bit daunted by this. If you are new to mountain biking, there are some tips that you should know about. These tips will ensure that each time you get on our bike, you have the fun and exciting experience that you want.
Stay Loose on the Bike
When you are on your bike, its job will be to roll over the mountainous terrain. Your job will be to allow this to happen and that is impossible when you are tense. This is why you need to stay loose on your bike as you ride.
You should hover slightly off the saddle as you roll over the terrain. The harder the terrain, the most space your bike will need to move and you have to give it this. As you go downhill, you should flare out your elbows and knees to allow the bike to flow instead of fighting it.
Shift Your Weight
When you hit different terrain, you need to shift your weight to make biking easier. If you are climbing a tough hill, you need to shift your weight forward and leave forward. This will keep your center of gravity above the rear wheel so you can maintain traction.
When you are going downhill, you need to shift your weight in the opposite direction. Putting your weight behind the saddle and over the rear wheel will ensure that you do not go over your handlebars. Your center of gravity will also be better placed which makes you more stable.
Go Easy On Your Brakes
There are times when you will be tempted to grab both of your brakes and pull as hard as possible. This is something that you need to avoid at all costs. Mountain bikes have very powerful brakes and you generally need only one or two fingers on them to adjust your speed.
You should only think about using your brakes when you are heading for tricky terrains such as corners and rock gardens. As you go through the terrain, you need to maintain your speed and keep your hands off the brakes. If you need to stop, you should stay off the front brake because hitting this will likely send you to the ground. Grabbing the rear brake can cause you to skid, but you are more likely to remain on the bike.
Look Where You Want Yourself And Your Bike To Go
When you look at the rock that you want to avoid, you are more likely to ride straight into it. This is due to the fact that you are fixated on the target and your bike will go where your eyes are. What you should do instead is look at where you physically want to go.
Have your chin level with the ground and look as far down the trail as you can. You can then use your peripheral vision to avoid obstacles that are right ahead of you. This is a skill that you will need to master and one of the reasons why you should always start on easy trails.