Mountain Biking

Most mountain bikes, a bit like most 4x4s actually, never have to tackle anything more risky than the route to the local shops, which is a shame. Modern off-road bikes are near indestructible and have a surprising ability to ride right over the rough stuff and stay upright - given half a chance. Of course, you don't have to hit the hairy high ground to have fun on a mountain bike, and you may simply want to take it for a gentle mooch through the scenery, but chances are that sooner or later you are going to find yourself going slightly faster than you meant to over terrain that seems to have been designed by whoever did the lunar craters. And that's when the fun begins.

Downhilling on a road bike is called freewheeling, and has associations of effortlessness and smoothness. Downhilling on a mountain bike is usually called 'oh my god' and seems to involve a lot of grimacing punctuated by the occasional crash. Here are a few tips for minimising the latter.

If you're using a hired bike then check the seat height (it should be at about hip-height as you stand next to the bike) before you get on. Try the brakes right away - not going into that corner with a car coming the other way.
Get used to standing on the pedals with both feet at the same height, particularly as you throw yourself into the twisty stuff. Personal experience dictates that if you have one pedal lower than the other it will catch on a rock and pitch you off the bike faster than a bucking horse. Resist the temptation to lock out your knees and instead keep them slightly soft and bent - all the better to absorb the jolts and judders and protect them.
Be aware of your weight and the way it affects your centre of gravity. Shifting your weight forward over the bike helps keep the front wheel in contact with the ground. That's essential for tough uphilling and may make all the difference between keeping and losing control when steering on rough ground. If you are going to reach for the front brake (often not the best idea) then shift your weight backwards first to try and avoid the bike dumping you off the front like a bucking bronco.
Believe in the bike. It's almost certainly capable of handling much hairier terrain than you are, so instead of getting scared at the first bumps and potholes try to relax and go with the flow. Yes, you are going to skid. Yes, you are going to bounce across the track like a drunk playing hopscotch on the deck of a trawler. Enjoy it and focus on balance, not brakes.
It may seem counterintuitive at first but a bit of speed will help your stability, so don't be afraid to give it a bit of welly as you come up to the bumpy bits.
Take it easy on the brakes and try to 'feather' them rather than grabbing a fistful of levers. Slamming on the anchors is one of the fastest ways of getting intimate with the ground and your best chance of staying upright and unbloodied is to give the brakes a break and instead focus on steering around/over/through obstacles. Oh, and grimly hanging on in there for dear life, of course.
Don't forget the plasters and antiseptic.


Custom Search