Beginner Mountain Bike Skills

March 22, 2023

5 minute read.

Mountain biking is a FUN, thrilling and challenging sport that requires a combination of physical fitness, technical skill, and mental focus. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced rider, there are always ways to improve your skills and become a better mountain biker. In this blog post, we'll explore some tips and techniques for improving your mountain biking skills.

Get in shape

Mountain biking is a physically demanding sport that requires a lot of strength and endurance. To improve your skills, it's important to be in good physical shape. Focus on building your cardiovascular fitness, core strength, and leg muscles. This will help you to ride faster, farther, and more efficiently.

Learn proper technique

Mountain biking is a technical sport, and proper technique is key to riding efficiently and safely. Some of the most important techniques to master include proper body position, weight distribution, and braking. Take a mountain biking class or clinic with a local group, or watch online tutorials to learn the basics.

Body Position

Keep your weight balanced and centered over the bike, with your elbows slightly bent and your hands relaxed on the handlebars. This will help you maintain stability and control over your bike as you ride over rough terrain.

A. Neutral Position - When you’re riding non-technical sections of trail, you want to be in a neutral position on the bike. This keeps you rolling along efficiently and comfortably while allowing you to easily transition into the ready position for technical terrain.

The neutral position includes:

Level pedals that are evenly weighted
A slight bend in the knees and elbows
Index fingers on the brake levers 100% of the time (rim brakes often require 2 fingers)
Eyes looking forward about 15 to 20 ft. ahead; ALWAYS LOOK where you want to go, not where you don’t

B. Ready Position or Attack Position - When the trail gets steeper or rockier, it’s time to move into the ready position. The ready position gets you mentally and physically prepared to take on technical sections of trail.

The ready position includes:

Level pedals that are evenly weighted
A deep bend in the knees and elbows (a 90-degree bend.)
Rear end off the seat and hips shifted back
Your back is flat and nearly parallel to the ground
Index fingers on the brake levers 100% of the time
Eyes forward looking about 15 to 20 ft. ahead; ALWAYS LOOK where you want to go, not where you don’t

How to Brake

The key to braking is balance. Imagine a pendulum that hangs from your belly button, directly through your bike's bottom bracket, perpendicular to your cranks. As long as your weight is pressing into the middle of the bike, your wheels are both weighted, and you have great braking control, and you cannot be thrown over the bars.

Drop your heels. Drop your heels so the combined force of gravity and braking presses into your pedals. You know you’re doing this right when your hands stay weightless.

Gradually squeeze both levers. Gradually on both front and back.

Brake hard. Really slow down.

Gradually release your brakes and return to your starting position. The entire sequence should be smooth and round.

Approach your braking point in a low hinge. Butt back, shoulders down. Weightless hands.

While your pendulum starts to swing forward, rotate your entire body — from the cranks up — down and back. This aims your pendulum safely at your bottom bracket instead of unsafely at the front tire.

When to BRAKE - Before you feel like you are going too fast! Brake before corners, turns, gnarly sections. Remember it is ok to walk sections.

Learn to read the trail

One of the most important skills in mountain biking is the ability to read the trail and anticipate obstacles. This will help you to ride more efficiently and avoid accidents. Pay attention to the surface of the trail, and look for features like rocks, roots, and loose gravel. A beginner's mistake is looking at spots you want to avoid rather than focusing on where you want to go, ALWAYS LOOK where you want to go. Pick a path and stick to it to get over and around tricky sections of trail.

What hazards should you look for? That depends on your skill level. A log that will stop one cyclist may be a fun bunnyhop for another. Generally, look for loose rocks, deep sand, water, wet roots, logs and other cyclists, hikers, and animals. Find your line: scan ahead for hazards by looking about 15 – 20 ft. down the trail. Then, move your eyes back toward your tire. Doing this up-and-back action allows your eyes to take in lots of information. Knowing hazards ahead of time can help you adjust your balance and pick a line around them.

Learn to ride with control

Riding with control means being able to maintain your balance and stability, even on challenging terrain. This is essential for avoiding accidents and riding efficiently. Practice riding over obstacles and in tight spaces to improve your control.

Ride with more experienced riders

Riding with more experienced riders can be a great way to learn new skills and techniques. They can offer valuable tips and advice, and help you to push yourself to become a better rider.

Take care of your bike. A well-maintained bike will ride better and last longer. Make sure to keep your bike clean and lubricated, and have it serviced regularly by a professional. This will help to ensure that your bike is in good working condition, and that you're getting the most out of your ride.

Practice, practice, practice

The more you ride, the better you'll become. Set aside time each week to ride, and make sure to practice different skills and techniques. Try riding on different types of terrain, such as rocky trails, steep inclines, and tight turns. This will help you to become a more versatile rider.

In conclusion, Improving your mountain biking skills is a process that requires time and dedication. By focusing on your fitness, technique, and practice, and by learning to read the trail, ride with control and taking care of your bike you will be well on your way to becoming a better rider. Remember to always wear protective gear! Follow proper trail etiquette, Have FUN and as always Happy riding!