Riding a mountain bike with correct technique may come easy to some, but for others you sometimes must kill the old habit and get the new ones to stick. With the proper technique, mountain biking can be easier, and you can be much better at it as a result and ride over much more difficult terrain. There are three main things that you want to keep in mind when riding on trails. These tips should never be forgotten, and any professional will tell you the same and agree with every bit of information in this list.
The first thing you want to remember is to keep you eyes looking forward. This is something that a lot of people tend to forget and it can really lead to some horrible things down the trail. When you are riding, you want to look ahead instead of right down at your front tire. A lot of beginners will tend to look at where they are placing the tire and that leads to riding through bad lines or running into trees or rocks. Looking ten to twenty feet in front of your track will reduce the chance of falling, and actually make you ride much faster than you typically were before.
The next thing that you need to remember is to keep your elbows up. This is called the “attack position” and is the key to riding better and being able to handle difficult sections. If you watch any mountain bike video or race with professional riders, then you will notice that they all keep their elbows up while they ride. This actually allows you to react quicker to obstacles and terrain that would otherwise be more difficult. On top of this, it raises your balance levels and makes it harder for you to go off track and keeps your body center. So keep those elbows up and “attack” the trail.
Last, but not least, is to remember to remain on the “balls” of your feet and keep your knees bent when standing in difficult sections. This is really important because keeping your center of gravity down and low will allow you to ride much faster, and keep you on the bike and help to keep you from getting thrown over the handlebars when you hit a large bump or rock.
These techniques are very simple to remember, and will ultimately make you a better mountain biker in the long run. You will be able to ride fast, longer and with much more confidence than you formally had.
By: William Torneau
About the Author:
William is an active extreme sports participant. He also makes websites for hobbies. If you are interested in a dvcam deck, then visit his latest site: http://www.articlesbash.com.
