Mountain Bike Riding Techniques

1) Riding Techniques

· Riding with your head up, looking ahead at the path.

· Focus weight on your feet, not the seat.

· Use your whole body to propel the bike.

· Use your gears.

· Knees in, provides a more powerful stroke.

2) Concept of Riding Over Obstacles

· Riding semi-flexed - Body weight supported by musculature, joints unlocked and spine bowed to absorb a wide range of Shock…Focus Weight on Pedals, Keep Feet Level a.k.a. athletic stance.

· Front Wheel Hop

o Pre Hop - Arms inflexed and torso compression.

o Hop – Raise torso, pull up on handlebars, front wheel, pedal hard ½ stroke.

o Shift weight forward after front wheel clears, so you do not slam your back wheel.

o Speed is your friend – Having momentum will allow you to get over many obstacles.

3) Riding up and down hills, (Body Position)

· Adjust position to be centered over bike.

o Uphill – Shift forward as needed, to keep weight centered over bottom bracket. If you come off your seat less weight is on your back wheel and there is potential to spin out.

o Downhill – Shift back, slide back on seat if necessary, weight over or behind seat. “Do not ride front brake”. Keep front “loose”, if you are stiff, chances are, you will be taking a trip over the bars.

4) Braking

· Most of your braking comes from your front brake.

· Locking your back brake will cause you to skid out, i.e. losing traction and control of your bike.

5) Crashing

· Front Tumble Rolling Fall – tuck head and shoulders first (No Hands), and roll at high speed, you will do a front flip – develop the discipline to tuck your head, bend your back, hang onto the bars and roll with it.

· A rolling fall spreads out the g-forces that cause injury.

· Side Fall (Never attempt to check a fall with your arms) Relax your body and tuck it into a configuration that works with the vector of the fall, not against it.