Learn How to Mountain Bike
A mountain biking beginner may feel totally overwhelmed
when introduced to bikes, maintenance basics, and all the
trails and tribulations of riding!
However, introducing some basic skills will quickly give a
mountain biking beginner the ability to start enjoying the
sport, and to tackle obstacles with confidence. It doesn't have
to take years to reach this point!
The first and most important step in beginner mountain
biking is to make sure that you have a well-fitted helmet. No
biker, beginner or otherwise, should ever be on the road
without this vital piece of equipment. Buy the best you can
afford - your life may depend on it!
When you are learning the ropes as a mountain biking
beginner, you are less confident, and more likely to make
contact with the road at some point! Protect your hands with a
good pair of gloves. This will also be more comfortable than
gripping the handlebars with bare hands.
For a mountain biking beginner, Lycra cycling shorts is
still a good choice, especially if you are planning a long
ride. Padded mountain biking shorts is another good option,
gaining in popularity. It is a matter of personal choice. Try
both, and decide which one you prefer.
Clipless pedals necessitates special mountain biking shoes,
designed to clip into the cleat. A good pair of sunglasses will
help to protect beginner mountain biking eyes from flying
insects and other strange objects! Also make sure that you have
a full water bottle, and something to eat.
Beginner mountain biking can be daunting, but if you make
contact with knowledgeable personnel in a specialized shop,
talk with experienced bikers, and do some reading, you will
soon get the hang of it.
To buy a bike suitable for a mountain biking beginner, find
someone you can trust to give you the best advice. Your budget,
and the terrain on which you will use the bike, will determine
your choice. Go for full suspension if at all possible. Make
sure that the saddle is adjusted according to your height.
A long list of accessories are available. Not all of these
are necessary for mountain biking beginners! Use your common
sense, and buy according to your needs. One must-have is a
repair kit for use on the trail. This will contain the basics
for fixing a flat, and a multi-tool for bike repairs.
As a mountain biking beginner you have to be
ear-to-the-ground for valuable tips from experienced riders,
who know how to take care of small mishaps.
Make sure that the store where you buy your bike, offer a
repair service. Make a note of maintenance advice, such as
cables needing to be wiped and relubed. As a mountain biking
beginner, a good habit to get into, is washing your bike
immediately after any ride. Some sticky stuff becomes a
permanent part of your riding kit if you don't do this!
Beginner mountain biking skills will quickly progress from
the basics, such as getting to know your pedals. Practice will
soon give you the confidence to start taking your foot on and
off the pedals while pedaling. Remember that your body weight
needs to be to the rear of the bike on a steep descent.
Shifting gears is an important skill to master as a mountain
biking beginner. Lower gears will help you up a hill, but you
need to shift gear before you actually get to the hill. It is a
question of timing, which will become second nature with
experience.
To stop your bike, use the front brake more than the back.
Use a series of quick, tiny micro-braking actions called
"feathering". If you feel your brakes are getting less
effective, one common problem is pad residue on your rims. It
is easy to fix this, by cleaning the rims with steel wool.
As a mountain biking beginner, you will find that learning
specialized techniques is a confidence-builder. Perfecting your
bunny hopping will help you to get over all those obstacles,
and will impress your riding companions no end!
Keep in mind that a common mistake mountain biking beginners
make, is trying to avoid an obstacle. This is the surest way to
crash! Always focus on where you want to go, not on the
obstacle itself.
Most importantly, learn to relax and enjoy yourself. When
you finish that first trail ride, you will forget all about the
hard work that preceded it.
Riding like a pro, is just around the corner! Soon you will
no longer be a mountain biking beginner, but the one other
novices approach for advice...
For more information read Mountain Biking Apparel
- Getting Into Gear! at http://www.best-mountain-biking.com/mountain-biking-apparel.php |
Rika Susan of http://www.Article-Alert.com
researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web.
How to Mountain
Bike DVD
This mountain biking instructional DVD is almost 3 hours long
and contains insight from some of the world's leading experts
on mountain biking. Learn mountain biking techniques by
simply watching how the pros do them. It's
like a personal lesson - in your own home. Also some helpful
advice on bike set-up.
Mastering Mountain
Biking Skills
 I
don't usually recommend instructional books when
great videos are available, but this guide is an
exception. With over 100 color photos and tons of
diagrams, you can truly learn some quality mountain
biking skills and be able to apply them yourself. And if
you really take to mountain biking, Expert
Mountain Biker Brian Lopes covers techniques in
multiple riding styles, including
downhill, cross country, mountain cross, free riding, dirt
jumping and urban terrain. Not a bad investment if I say
so myself.
Video: How to Ride a Mountain Bike
Over Obstacles
How to
a Ride Mountain Bike Over Obstacles
Mountain
Biking DVD for Women
Excellent video for beginners. Pro
Cyclist Sue Hayward demonstrates drills you can
practice off the trail, plus instruction on body
position, ascending and descending,
clearing obstacles, cornering and slow speed
riding. Hayward also gives important tips on basic bike
care and safety. Get out there and have
fun! Mountain Biking for
Women
What to Get: Mountain Biking Gear 
When buying a mountain bike, first think about where
you'll be riding it. In general, most moountain bikes
are ridden on prepared trails. If this is you, you want to look
for a bike that has a moderately stiff frame and a good shock
absorber system.
Secondly, consider the weight of the bike.
Bikes made of aluminum (rather than steel) are more expensive -
but are about 40% lighter than steel. Riding a heavier bike
(especially uphill) can be a lot more work and may make it more
difficult to keep up with a group of other riders on lighter
bicycles.
It's a good idea to test-ride several bikes
before making your purchase, and then getting your bike
properly fitted to you. If test-ride find
a bike you like in a store, and then find it online much
cheaper, you can buy it online and then take it to a bike shop
to get fitted (for a small fee).
Where to Go: Mountain Biking Destinations
- SingleTracks
Awesome! Mountain bike
trail maps, videos, photos, mountain bike
reviews, community forums, bike races, GPS data,
training logs and mountain biking gear.
- Mountain
Biking Colorado
Cyclist Robert Hurst shows you 70 different mountain biking
rides in Colorado's popular San Juan Mountains near Durango
and Telluride. Comprehensive trail descriptions, with
directions, and helpful elevation profiles.
- Biking
Northern California
Find 67 of the best mountain biking trails in Northern
California from coastal trails to mountain adventures.
Detailed descriptions make trails easy to find and follow,
plus rating guide give you a good idea of technical and
physical difficulty before you attempt the ride.
- Mountain
Biking Utah
For riders of all levels: a great assortment of rides
varying in length and difficulty. Find rides in the Wasatch
Mountains around Salt Lake City and in Southern Utah - in
and around Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. I can't
imagine a more beautiful place to bike.
- Biking
North Carolina
Tim Muth looged more than 2,000 miles on his mountain bike
to bring you information on any kind of trail you would
want in North Carolina. Easy-to-read maps and ratings on
technical and physical difficulty levels.
- RentABikeNow.com
Find bike rental shops nationwide, so you can turn a
regular vacation into a biking vacation - and not have
to haul your bike around.
Who to Ride With:
- Find
People to Mountain
Bike With
Find people in your area who are interested in mountain
biking, and make new friends who enjoy spending
time exploring new trails as much as you do.
- Mountain
Biking
Groups
Find a
group of mountain biking enthusiasts (at all different
riding levels) near you and around the world through a
free online service called Meetup.com. Mountain
biking groups can be fun, and make the sport more
challenging and rewarding at the same time. Highly
recommended.
Mountain Biking Articles &
Tips
Mountain Biking Organizations: USA
Cycling | International
Mountain Bicycling Association
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