Beginner Mountain Bike Skills

Beginner Mountain Bike Skills
Mountain biking is an exciting sport that can beenjoyed by anyone who knows how to ride a bike. Compared to the average bike ride, it does presentsome danger. Therefore, you should master thesebasic skills before you hit the trails or the dirt.
You can practice these beginning skills at a localpark, school, bike path, or simply around your house. If you can, try to find a location witha steep hill.
Get a feel for your pedalsPractice moving your foot away from the pedal, first while sitting on your bike with one foot onthe ground. Next, move on to releasing and replacing your foot while pedaling around for a bit. Those with toe clip and clipless type footpedals will want to spend a bit more time practicing.
Sit and spin for positionSimply sit on your bike and pedal around. You should keep your arms slightly bent. You shouldalso adjust your seat height so your leg is 70 to90 percent extended at the bottom of every strokeon the pedal. Keep your body relaxed, as there will never be a position where you should have either your knees or your elbows locked.
Shifting gearsGet a feel for shifting gears with your bike. Thehigher gears are harder to pedal and will go faster while the lower gears are easier to pedaland will help you ascend hills. As you get to steeper hills, its best to shift before you get to the hill rather than while your on it.
CoastingYou should spend a bit of time coasting while standing on your pedals, without actually sittingon the seat. Keep your arms bent but don't lockyour knees. Now, try experimenting with shiftingyour body towards the rear end of the bike.
Pedal while standingYou should get as comfortable as you can with pedaling while standing on your bike. Try liftingyourself off the seat while standing on the pedals,then crank them around. You should try this in higher gears on flat ground then again in lower gears while on a hill.
Dropping down a curbTry finding a curb where you can easily get to theupper portion of it. Practice at a moderate speed,standing and coasting right off the curb from theupper level to the lower level. Try this at different speeds until it becomes second nature.
Once you practice these techniques and get the hang of them, you'll be able to hit the trails feelingcomfortable on your mountain bike. Even though itmay take some getting used to, it'll become secondnature before you know it.
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