What's your one technique tip for a newbie to MTB?

TonyMax

Caviar tastes on a popcorn budget
I've recently bought my first MTB (29er hardtail) after a few years of recent road cycling and many years of riding kids bikes long ago during a misspent youth when our house backed onto "the bush".

I think what I'm currently doing could loosely be termed Cross Country? As part of my triathlon training program I'm now riding loops of single track which have just as much down as up. I'm considering entering an off road duathlon (run/ride/run) which will be mostly on fire trails and dual track, but I'm training in single track for a few reasons, fun being one of them.

I'm almost 48 now so I don't have as much fearlessness as I did when I was a teenager, but I am finding a sense of achievement if I can negotiate some of the simple obstacles on the trails (at Mt. Gladstone in Cooma) better/faster/smoother.

What's the one tip you would give a newbie to help them become a better/faster MTB rider?
 
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johnny

I'll tells ya!
Staff member
Learn to (flat) corner:

Get behind the seat, point hips in the direction you want to go, drop outside heal and push forward on the pedal to keep some weight on the front wheel. Lean the bike, not the body, let the side lugs of your tyre do their job. Allow your inside arm to straighten out and your outside elbow to bend a fair bit. Start wide, look around the corner, get off the brakes and pedal out - pull a mono for style points.
 

The Dude

Wasn't asking to be banned
Know what is coming so you can be ready for it

Look up / ahead. Don't let your focus drop to just in front of the front wheel - even in tech sections
 

Dozer

Heavy machinery.
Staff member
Ride to enjoy it, even if it's a training ride, still make it fun.

Don't get smothered and caught up in the virtual racing that goes on with Strava and the like. It is good to map your ride and know what and where you're riding but damn, people get so caught up in that stuff that it actually spoils the ride. I've ridden with groups who are so obsessed with it that they totally wreck it for everyone else.

Times are changing and there's some discussion about the size of your wheels. Don't buy into it, ride what you can afford and what you reckon looks good. They all do the same thing. ;)

Respect the trails you're riding and respect the effort the dedicated trail builders put in. Offer to help out if you feel the need but never change a trail to suit your ability, always leave that to the experts.
 

moorey

call me Mia
I've already got SPD stuff from my commuter bike, what's the benefit in flats, just so I have less chance of eating it if I run out of talent?
You'll learn better all round techniques...and hopefully avoid eating it. I only ever ride flats, and aren't saying clipless don't have their place...but I can usually tell riders on the trial who have only ever ridden clickless.... your average hacks at least ....
 

rowdyflat

chez le médecin
Flats nah no big deal.
Main tip for 48 yo is dont sit down too much ie stand up in corners , rough stuff and let the bike move under you.
 

Mr Crudley

Glock in your sock
Ride to enjoy it, even if it's a training ride, still make it fun.

Don't buy into it, ride what you can afford and what you reckon looks good. They all do the same thing. ;)

Respect the trails you're riding and respect the effort the dedicated trail builders put in. Offer to help out if you feel the need but never change a trail to suit your ability, always leave that to the experts.
This sums it all up. Nice post Dozer :thumb:

Just enjoy it and don't sweat what you don't have. It doesn't make that much difference in the end. If you enjoy MTB'ing enough then nothing wrong with being a perpetual upgrading gear whore but keep it in perspective.

Don't downshift under load, don't lean too far forward tempting the OTB gods, take a bit more water than you need especially on hot days, stuff will go wrong when you are in a hurry and short on time, never say 'Watch this guys', friends are not friends when you crash face first and they have to take photo's in your moments of pain. :faint2:
 

The Reverend

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Maintain your bike.
Spend time cleaning it, understanding how it works and how to set things up on it. Don't rely upon a LBS (local bike shop) to fix everything.
Some things are best looked after by specialists but you'll grow as a rider knowing how to set your bike up properly and keep it running smoothly.

Oh, and it's not a race so don't get too hung up on max speed everywhere, you end up taking risks you don't need to. this leads to crashes and injuries which means no riding and being slower once you get back on the bike. You're going to crash at some point but no reason to hasten its arrival.
 

spikenet

Likes Dirt
Yep Agree about the flat pedals.. stay on them don't get swayed by all the lemmings about being clipped in. You will learn proper bike handling skills and less likely injury..

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
 
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