Chapter 8: Getting to know yourself and your bike.

Yes, so you got a new bike, and think you can go at anything. Hold on before you land yourself in the hospital, you need to get a feel for the bike, and you need to evaluate yourself. No pro has just picked up a bike and was instantly a pro, they had to pay their dues. You have to know what your bike is designed for. Taking a bike like a stumpjumper and dirtjumping it is not a good combination at all, it cause premature wear on the frame and can cause it to break mid ride potentially causing injury. Yes, you can take a dirtjump bike and do trail riding or cross country and have it as a do all bike.* It makes a really good bike for aggressive trail riding and all, but isn't for everyone. You need to know the following with your new bike.

1)It isn't the bike that makes you a good rider, but it can help.
2)All bikes ride differently, even among the hardtails, it comes down to geometry.
3)Even if the bike is the correct size for you, the setup may need some tweaking to have it to your liking, can't improve if the setup is not to your liking. With this it is meant in regards to stem length, type of handlebars, and seat post height. Some people prefer being way up over the bars, and some just go with what is comfortable.
4)Your bike is not indestructable, things will break.

Now you need to know yourself and your limitations. Just don't get on the bike and go hit something you have never tried before. It can be mental and it can be physical, it's actually a combination of both. There is a bunch to be covered.

1)If you are afraid of getting hurt, then this sport is not for you. Injuries happen, you just have to accept what gets dealt to you.
2)Crashes happen, and sometimes you get injured in those crashed, in that case you just have to suck it up.
3)Learn from your mistakes, instead of repeating the same mistake time after time again.
4)You are the engine to your bike, sometimes the best upgrade is in the motor from just riding your making that motor stronger.
5)On videos, do not think what they are doing is easy. It may look simple, but most of the time the pro riders are filmed some form of slow motion, especially on those nice easy looking DH trails where they are going nice and slow. Not true, they are actually going at a pretty fast rate of speed and at the speeds they are going at anybike regardless of hardtail or full suspension is twitchy. These smooth high speed sections are usually more of a mind trip than a slower more technical trail.
6)Helmets are good.
7)If you listen to yourself when trying something new, 99% of the time you will not do it.
8)Trust your bike, do not play captain stiffee and death grip the bars and tense up you will get booted.
9)Music before a ride is good, it can get you into a frame of mind. I'll use myself as an example with this. For me, when I know it's going to be slow I'll listen to about anything, slow and rocky, Back in Black by Ac/Dc is perfect for me. Fast and technical- Opeth, for an epic- anything with a good beat. What works for me musically might not work for you though, so listen to what you want.
10)Mentally you have to let go of yourself at times and just go for it, sometimes the alternate way is even worse.

What was mentioned above can not be preached enough times.