Mountain biking is a fun and engaging sport, but it’s a little difficult to break into in the beginning. It’s intimidating, and it’s a lot different than regular biking; it’s much more intense. Still, in the end, it’s worth it. If you can research your way into the sport, it’s a way to get exercise, see the world and have fun. Here are some tips to help you get into Mountain Biking.
Mountain bikers should make sure to have all the necessary safety equipment. Mountain biking, while fun, is pretty dangerous. A durable helmet is essential. The same goes for a pair of mountain bike goggles and shoes. You need to make sure you have all of the materials to be comfortable on your bike if you ride it long distances.
Build up endurance before you go on a long trip. Mountain biking is also pretty involved and energetic. It’s more difficult than street biking because of rugged terrain and dirt paths. While you may be excited to go on a long trip, you need to build up some baseline endurance before you go. Start by gradually increasing the length of trips in a safe area and doing other endurance training to build up your baseline. Once you feel prepared, go on a track that you think will be too easy. Don’t push yourself right off the bat.
You should ignore other riders. If you feel the need to check a drop or walk a turn before attempting it yourself, ignore other riders who fly by. They started in the same place you did, and they didn’t get to the place they are by being reckless. Don’t do any risky jumps when you’re starting. There’s plenty of time for that later when you have your sea legs.
With that being said, pay a little attention to other riders. If other, more experienced riders are taking a turn slowly, pay attention to them. They may have some information that you don’t, and they at least have more experience. Caution pays when you’re starting. Flying off your bike in the rugged mountain terrain hurts. So, while you should ignore others when you feel you need to be more cautious than other riders, take heed when the experts on the track feel the need to slow down.
Start with small and easy tracks. There are a lot of the ins and outs of mountain biking, such as cornering on hills. Even experts often need to practice corners to maintain momentum; a rider must crouch on the bike and let the bike lean under them while the rider stays upright to cut the curve. To get your feet on the ground, start your practice on small, easy tracks. This way, corners are not as sharp, and drops are not as big. Practice doing things the right way. Research how to corner, jump, and maintain momentum before taking on the more challenging tracks.
Overall, once you take heed of this advice, you’ll find that mountain biking can be a rewarding sport. Although it is difficult to get into, there is plenty of information available to help you get into the sport and discover the rewarding aspects of biking. Just remember to be cautious, to have fun, and to put your safety above everything else.
Leave a Reply