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Beginner Mountain Bike Skills
Mountain biking is an exciting sport that can be enjoyed by
anyone who knows how to ride a bike. Compared to the average
bike ride, it does present some danger. Therefore, you should
master these basic skills before you hit the trails or the dirt.
You can practice these beginning skills at a local park, school,
bike path, or simply around your house. If you can, try to find
a location with a steep hill.
Get a feel for your pedals
Practice moving your foot away from the pedal, first while
sitting on your bike with one foot on the ground. Next, move on
to releasing and replacing your foot while pedaling around for a
bit. Those with toe clip and clipless type foot pedals will want
to spend a bit more time practicing.
Sit and spin for position
Simply sit on your bike and pedal around. You should keep your
arms slightly bent. You should also adjust your seat height so
your leg is 70 to 90 percent extended at the bottom of every
stroke on the pedal. Keep your body relaxed, as there will never
be a position where you should have either your knees or your
elbows locked.
Shifting gears
Get a feel for shifting gears with your bike. The higher gears
are harder to pedal and will go
faster while the lower gears are easier to pedal and will help
you ascend hills. As you get to
steeper hills, its best to shift before you get to the hill
rather than while your on it.
Coasting
You should spend a bit of time coasting while standing on your
pedals, without actually sitting on the seat. Keep your arms
bent but don't lock your knees. Now, try experimenting with
shifting your body towards the rear end of the bike.
Pedal while standing
You should get as comfortable as you can with pedaling while
standing on your bike. Try lifting yourself off the seat while
standing on the pedals, then crank them around. You should try
this in higher gears on flat ground then again in lower gears
while on a hill.
Dropping down a curb
Try finding a curb where you can easily get to the upper portion
of it. Practice at a moderate speed, standing and coasting right
off the curb from the upper level to the lower level. Try this
at different speeds until it becomes second nature.
Once you practice these techniques and get the hang of them,
you'll be able to hit the trails feeling comfortable on your
mountain bike. Even though it may take some getting used to,
it'll become second nature before you know it.