6 Tips to Become a Better Mountain Biker

Like most mountain bikers, you want to feel like a bird when you are riding your bike. You probably have fantasized about riding fast, shooting up the hills, roll over the rock, and then descend smoothly. If you are a competitor, you wouldn’t mind winning the prize money, and getting the fame and prestige you deserve as a popular pro cyclist. Perhaps you are okay with just riding your neighborhood trails without crashing.

People tend to have different reasons for riding a bike. But one thing is certain; they all want to be good at it. And that calls for biking skills as well as trail confidence for a pleasurable experience. If you are looking to buy a new mountain bike, you can use this review to find best one suitable for your needs.

So, here are six tips that will help you achieve your heart’s desire…

#1. Relax

If your body is tense there is no way your senses won’t magnify that little bump ahead of you. To avoid making a mountain out of a mole hole, try relaxing your knees, arms, legs and your body in general. If it helps, you can say the word “relax, it’s not a big deal,” under your breath each time you are faced with something that threatens your composure.

#2. Get Your Bike Checked Out Frequently

Those noises coming from your bike is enough to distract you, especially when you are training for a competition. Having your bike checked out for maintenance issues will not only save you from damaging your bike, but can actually prevent you from having a fall from a faulty bike.

You can start with yourself by going over the bike looking out for any broken, worn, cracked and pieces that are not of much use. The bike should fit you comfortably without it being too big or small for you.

#3. Pay Attention to Your Destination

Biking on a road that has plenty rocks and roots can be dicey. When you are on such trail, your attention should be on the line you are on. People that have made use of target fixation will tell you this pattern works. It just involves looking ahead and fixing your eye on a line and following it.

#4. Make Use of Your Innate Suspension

You already have your natural suspension that you are born with which is your legs and arms. Always endeavor to bend every time and then moving up and down to be able to absorb the chatter and bumps or ruts and roots. Just elbow out like you are in a push up position so that you can loosen your handlebar death grip.

#5. Take breaks before obstacles and not in the middle

Momentum and speed are highly needed if you are looking to be a better mountain biker. Speed will help stabilize your bike, while momentum clears it for bumps. Once you sight an obstacle, try to evaluate it at first hand before even getting to it. You will need a good braking for both sides of the bike. To float, just let off the two brakes so that you can float for most of the ride.

#6. Ride with more experienced bikers

The best way to get better is to challenge yourself and ride with people who have biking skills that you can benefit from. Just pay close attention to how they position their bodies when climbing or ascending a mountain. You ought to also pay particular attention to how they maneuver rocky and rough pathway. You may even pick their skills on how they fix their flat tires and many more skills.

The Bottom Line

Putting these tips to work will have you riding better than you usually do. If you don’t know people to train with, contact a local bike shop and get to learn of the group rides that are available.

About Jason Spencer

Jason Spencer has a tremendous enthusiasm for all facets of health, fitness and physical performance that stems from an athletic lifestyle from childhood. Jason was fortunate enough to compete in collegiate football and learned to love the challenges that physical activity placed on the body. As Jason progressed through his higher education and became increasingly aware of how science is applied to physical activity and how it reveals the benefits of exercise, he realized very quickly that he wanted to pursue a career that gives him the opportunity to teach others to compete, challenge, and push themselves towards something more valuable to them than anything else; health, fitness and self worth. Being a fitness professional allows Jason to do this for them and he is always incredibly grateful for that. Jason has a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. Neuroscience and his acquired knowledge of the nervous system and muscle stimulation techniques has been extremely instrumental towards building a unique ability and feel for training the body for optimal form and function. As a personal trainer he is certified with ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine). He's also a strength & conditioning specialist with NSCA (National Strength & Conditioning Association). He has additional certifications in both kettlebell principles & techniques (Equinox), and Flexibility & Corrective Exercise (Swedish Institute of Health Sciences in NY). Jason has worked as a trainer and conditioning specialist in a variety of fitness facilities over the years such as: LA Fitness in Piscataway, NJ, the YMCA in Metuchen, NJ, and Equinox Fitness Clubs in New York, NY. He also does private in-home sessions all over the Manhattan area.