Mountain Biking - trying mountain biking for first time this weekend... please help

Can anyone help me out? I have the mountain bike (til now it's only seen road miles) and necessary equipment... I just need help with the skills. :rolleyes:

I'll be trying mountain biking for the first time this weekend. Going with one guy who's very good, another who's been a few times, and another total newbie like myself.

What to expect? We're doing what is (from what I understand) a reasonbly easy trail. Here's a link if you want to read the description: mohican wilderness (http://www.mohican.net/course.htm)

Anything I should know before heading out? I'd like to try and figure out basic stuff (like bunny hop) before I go. What else does a newbie need to know? :confused:

I wouldn't worry about bunny hoping. You'll learn that in time. You do want to know how to wheelie though. Nothing real high or for a great distance, just enough to lift your front tire over a tree root, or the opposite side of a rut. If you can wheelie over a curb, that's good enough for a beginner.

As a beginner, you should be concerned with body english. I know you've been cycling for a while now. But off road, you position on the bike is much more critical.

Your position forward or backward will be significant in what your bike does. When climbing; bend forward at the hips, keep your elbows tucked in and pull back on the bars when the climb gets steeper. The steeper the climb, the more forward you want to move on the saddle (toward the tip) and the more you want to drop your shoulders.

When descending, you want to move your weight back even to the point where your butt is behind the saddle.

When riding, keep your arms relaxed and loose, and keep a loose grip on the bars (just enough to keep your hands on, but not superman tight!) Also, keep your arms and legs slightly bent. Stay loose and use your own suspension to absorb the bumps.

Braking on a trail is about 70% FRONT brake 30% rear. If braking while descending, keep your weight back. Skidding is a big NO-NO, if you're skidding, you're using too much back brake and don't have as much control. Skidding = Sliding = No Traction. Also, it damages the trail!

Don't use clipless pedals!

Wear a helmet!

Wear gloves!

Beginner's have a horrible habit of looking 1' in front of their tire. Try to look further up the trail, at least 5', I try to look about 10'. Believe me, you mind will remember what you've seen. Another thing, look at where you WANT to go, not at what you may hit or don't want to go. Your subconscious will steer your body english at where to go. IOW, don't stare at that tree, or you'll hit it!

Besides that, just have fun. This is almost too much information. I would say, prepare to fall. Think "Tuck and Roll like a ball", not "spread eagle and try to catch myself". Try to ride relaxed, and worry ONLY about learning how to pop a wheelie. (Practice over a 2x4 on edge). The rest will come in time!

Enjoy & Welcome to the Dirt Side of the Force!

L8R

Another thing, if you're riding tight twisty trails you can almost steer with your hips. I taught my wife this trick and it helped her a bunch. As you enter a sweeping turn, rotate your hips (lower body) in the direction of the turn. This will help your body english to shift your weight in the right direction. IOW if you're turning left, rotate your hip counter clock wise. Steer more with your hips than your hands!

L8R

don't get so caught up in learning all the skills at once. you'll learn over time. just relax and have fun.

Originally posted by OctoberBlue
I'll be trying mountain biking for the first time this weekend. Going with one guy who's very good, another who's been a few times, and another total newbie like myself.


Everything A2 said is dead on right for someone to learn. Watching and riding with this guy should get you everything quickly...in fact I wouldn't be surprised if he took the time you could be bunny hopping by the end of the day. :) I made the mistake of trying to teah myself...it doesn't work in this sport very well...riding with better riders is much better than falling all over your self trying different techniques when an experienced rider can help you in 2 seconds. :)

If I could add to a2's advice, dont forget to keep in a low gear, you cant grind on trail in a high gear, the big ring is for downhill only, long open downhills... You will probobly find that a high cadence will help alot!

Why no clipless pedals? They're useful for uphills, and on downhills all u gotta do is unclip one side for emergencies.

Oh, and when going downhill, make sure you got the biggest gears on, like 3 in the front and 1 in the back. This keeps the chain tension at the highest, and as long as you don't put force on the pedals, you won't damage the chain. This technique prevents the chain from coming off or slapping your frame silly. :p A lizard skin chainstay protector is also a very good accessory to protect your frame.

Originally posted by The Bishop
don't get so caught up in learning all the skills at once. you'll learn over time. just relax and have fun.



Best advice in this thread in my opinion. Worry about the skills as they are needed. Have a good ride :p

Maybe I am an overly competetive person but my first day out I was trying to go as fast as possible and bunny hopping etc...I couldn't just wait for the 'over time' to arrive haha :D

Originally posted by Chi
Why no clipless pedals? They're useful for uphills, and on downhills all u gotta do is unclip one side for emergencies.


Don't get me wrong, I think clipless pedals are a great thing to get... once you've been riding for a while. (one of the best upgrades I've made on my bike)

But.... You can't deny that they do add a level of complexity when riding. Especially when you're just learning. If you're just getting used to the balance and whatnot for the bike, there's going to be a point when you need to bail quickly, and getting used to the unclipping is going to slow you down, probally to the point where you'd fall over.

What'd I'd say for a beginner who was looking into clipless pedals, get used to biking first. While they do make some 'advanced' techniques easier (also they alow you to be a bit sloppier with form), it isn't neccisary by any means.

Just like what everyone else is saying, the important thing reagardless of anything esle is just to go out there and have fun!

Although there was some good advise regarding skills, my only suggestion would be to use the experienced rider to your advantage. Just like a couple other peopel said, riding with experienced riders will imrpove your skills more than anything else. Study what they do, and how they do it. Try to stay on their tale, which may be hard, but going at it hard will only improve your skills on a trail. Use the guy to your advantage, because he will be the best tool for you to improve your skills and turn you into a better rider.

Another good tip that I dont believe was mentioned is to look ahead of you. Just like your driving, you should always be looking ahead and picking the best line down the trail. Always look where you want to go and not where you dont. After some hard pushing on a trail you will get tired and your bike will more easily follow the direction in which your head is pointing. So try your hardest to stay focused and concentrate on where you want your front wheel to go. It sounds simply but it helps. Its much like riding on skinnies (skinny manmade structures) where you must concentrate on whats in front of you and not off to the side. Lastly, dont be afraid to push the limits.

Originally posted by rashenup
What'd I'd say for a beginner who was looking into clipless pedals, get used to biking first. While they do make some 'advanced' techniques easier (also they alow you to be a bit sloppier with form), it isn't neccisary by any means.

werd

Trail Etiquette anyone?

Mountain Bikers are low man on the toem pole. Yield to all other traffic on the trail. When you encounter another MTB'er on the trail, UPHILL rider has the right of way.

Be courteous when approaching hikers/eqestrians...announce your approach (especially when overtaking from behind), with a simple "Biker on your left/right"...when/if approaching an eqestrian; dismount and wait for instructions from the horse rider (they'll normally step off the trail and tell you to go ahead and pass)...

BikeColorado- I assume when you say to yield to the uphill rider, you mean the rider going up the hill, not the one in the uphill position? That is what I was taught since it is harder for him or her to get going again.

Ettiquette? What's that? Is that when Eddy cuts you off?

How about, "Leave no trace", and "Pack it in, Pack it out"!

Also, regarding trails. To prevent further erosion, try to stay on the path. When approaching an obstacle you are not comfortable going over, it's better to dismount and climb over than to ride around and open up the width of the trail. Same thing with mud puddles, better to ride right through the middle vs. around the outside causing a bigger puddle. (Plus it's more fun!).

Oh yeah, the most important thing: "Bring a camera, take lots of pics, and post them here, so we can see how much fun you're having!"

L8R

Wow! Thanks, all! Those are some great things to keep in mind.

To set the record straight, I'm not going clipless on this ride. My road bike has SPD pedals, but my MTB has those Zefal mini clips which should be more than adequate.

My goal is to complete the trail without hurting myself or doing anything too stupid, even if it means walking portions of it. :rolleyes: I have been assured that there is no shame in walking, however, I'd much rather ride when I can. :)

Will try the curb-wheelie thing beforehand (and forget bunny-hop for now). The 'steering with hips' thing might take some experimentation.

It should certainly be fun, interesting and different from hiking the trails! :)

Anything else I'm missing?

Speaking of trail etiquete...I had the cutest thing happen to me today. I went for a ride on a local bikes only trails and found a family of hikers....mom, young son, 12 year old daughter and cute 2 or 3 year old (I am guessing but she was short and cute) daughter.. as I passed by I hopped off on this gnarly section. They had given me a tonne of room but just in case I wiped out I didn't want my bike or me to fly into innocent people. The little girl says to me "You really shouldn't be riding here" and I say "but this is a trail I ride all the time" she says "but you might fall and hurt yourself (as she points down the cliff)" It put a smile on my face the whole ride thinking of that cutey....

but she jinxed me...my riding blew today and I fell 3 times in half an hour...but I still smiled :D

Update:

I've been practicing in a friend's backyard and driveway.

I've been trying to 'wheelie' & roll over a 4"Hx4"Wx24"L block of wood in the yard. Actually made it a couple of times. I only totally fell once. :) This was after going up & down the driveway a few times, popping the front wheel up... well, sorta up -- usually between 1-4 inches. Getting used to it, ya know?

The weight-transferance thing will take some getting used to. It's harder than people (including my friend) make it look. :rolleyes:

I am making some good progress though, considering I'd never even attempted this stuff before. :beer:

Wish me luck tomorrow! :D

Don't get hung up on the details. If you can get your front wheel up just a couple of inches, you'll be fine. As a result of even lifting the front wheel an inch, you've essentially unweighted the front tire. That in itself will make going obstacles easier.

Good luck, bring lots of water (2 bottle minium, or a hydration pack).

Enjoy and don't forget to take a camera!

L8R

well, a2psyklnut's first post was full of about everything i wanted to say...

my only qeustion has already been covered: clipless pedals... i would say that if you are comfortable with them it should be no problem... but you've already set up w/o clipless which is ok too... do whatever you're comfortable with.

but yeah, relax and learn from the experienced riders... i've taken out a lot of beginers with all kinds of different levels and there's such a difference in how people learn. some are out of shape, some are really scared to fall, some don't understand how your center of gravity and using your body weight it so important... and some have "learned" in like 30 minutes and were asking where the hard trails were...

last weekend i took an intermediate-experienced, but really fit girl with on a 4-day mountain biking trip (lake Garda Italy) and we did some super-extreme downhills and she did great - and she has a rigid bike with no suspension! it was pretty amazing as she had a lot of confidence and rode a lot of sections that guys with full suspensions were walking down... i'd just mention a technique about braking or moving your body weight and she'd do it - was pretty cool!

have fun and report back!

Well, I survived and had a pretty good time. I might even do this again sometime -- though I'd choose an easier trail. :)

Parts of the trail were really nice. They were comfortable to ride and there was some beautiful scenery. Sorry, I forgot to bring the camera. :( Other parts were downright scary, therefore I did my share of walking. (That, and I was still trying to take it easy on the ankle I sprained :mad: the week before.) The adventurous guys even chose to walk portions of the trail though... like the narrow ladder bridge and the one particularly rocky downhill section with a switchback or two.

Thanks to everyone here for the tips and such. I appreciate it, guys!

Glad you had a good time. Now get back out there. Before long you will be riding most of the sections that you walked this time. You will be amazed at how much you improve after you ride some.