Become a good mountain biker with this easy to follow Letsfixit guide. Since 2001, professional coach Candace Shadley and her Trek Dirt Series team have taught more than 10,000 riders—both men and women—to become better mountain bikers. Whether you want to rip berms, air Whistler Bike Park jumps, or roll a dirt track for the first time, these nine tips will help you get more comfortable on the bike.
Step Two
Tune Your Fore-Aft and Lateral Balance - When you’re riding up steep inclines, down rock faces, and through corners, it’s important to move on your bike. Shift your weight forward while climbing to keep the front wheel tracking. Shift your weight back while descending to keep your bike balanced and to keep from being pitched over the handlebars. In tight switchbacks, shift your weight to the outside to counteract the pull to the inside.
Step Three
Weight and Unweight - To roll a log, pump through a trail, or air off a ledge, weight and unweight your bike. Sometimes it’s one wheel at a time. Other times it happens simultaneously. In either case, compressing and releasing, plus creating and managing pressure, will make your riding more dynamic and fluid.
Step Four
Use Both Brakes - Use your brakes like dimmers not light switches—feather them, don’t slam them. This will help you control your speed while riding down the trail and stop efficiently and effectively when you want to.
Step Five
Ride the Right Bike - Know where and how you ride, and where and how you want to ride in the future. With the help of a specialty retailer, find a bike that fits your style and the terrain where you live.
Step Six
Progression Is King - Success breeds confidence, and confidence breeds success. It’s tempting to take a huge leap in one day, but you’ll go further by taking small steps. Move from a little drop to a big one gradually, and you’ll be less likely to get injured in the move.
Step Seven
Think Positive - If you ride a skinny elevated bridge and think you’re going to fall off, guess what? You’re likely going to fall off. You’ll be stiff looking to the side with your weight back, and that’s not a recipe for success. If you think you can ride the bridge, you’ll likely be looking ahead, staying athletic and balanced on your bike. That’s how to master a feature.
Step Eight
Look Ahead - “It’s the key to everything you do: ride the trail with your eyes before you roll it. You go where you look, so look where you want to go,” says Shadley. And don’t just look with your eyes—your head, torso, hips and knees should all point where you’re headed.