| Compared to usual biking, mountain biking is far more | | | | Coasting Your Bike |
| exciting. It has more dangerous though, that is why you | | | | Coast while you stand on your pedals - avoid sitting as |
| should master some of the basic skills before you | | | | you do this. Bend your arms slightly but never lock |
| maneuver your bike on the trail or dirt. | | | | your knees as you do this. You can experiment with |
| Anyone who knows how to ride a bike can ride a | | | | this by shifting your body towards the bike's rear end. |
| mountain bike. The main difference with mountain biking | | | | Stand While Pedaling |
| is that you are biking uphill or downhill and other difficult | | | | Get comfortable with pedaling on your bike. While |
| types of terrains. This article will enumerate some | | | | riding, lift your body from the seat and stand on the |
| basic skills you need to acquire to have an enjoyable | | | | pedals, then start pedaling. Do this in high gears if |
| and safe mountain bike ride. | | | | you're in flat land, and lower gears whole on a hill. |
| Being Comfortable With the Pedal | | | | Working Your Way on a Curb |
| Sit on your bike with one foot on the ground, practice | | | | Begin by practicing at normal speed. Then, stand and |
| moving your foot far from the pedal. Then, move to | | | | coast right off the curb, starting from the upper level to |
| release and replace your foot while pedaling slightly. | | | | the lower level. Try this at different speed rates until |
| Those bikes with toe clip and clipless type foot pedals | | | | you are able to master your controls of the mountain |
| are a little harder to get familiar with. | | | | bike. |
| Finding the Right Position | | | | Once you practice and master these techniques, you |
| Bend your arms slightly. Adjust your seat in such a | | | | can easily maneuver your mountain bike on trails and |
| way that your leg is 70 to 90 percent extended at the | | | | feel comfortable with riding in it. |
| bottom for every corresponding stroke on the pedal. | | | | Once you practice these techniques and be able to |
| Make sure your entire body is relaxed. There will be no | | | | master them, you'll be able to hit the trails feeling |
| position that your elbows or knees will be locked as | | | | comfortable on your mountain bike. Even though it may |
| you ride the bike. | | | | take some before you can get used to it, it'll become |
| Shifting Gears | | | | second nature to you somehow with consistent |
| Familiarize yourself with the gears of your mountain | | | | practice. Though some may be hard to perform, once |
| bike. Higher gears will make you go faster but it makes | | | | you become familiar with it, it will be almost natural for |
| pedaling more difficult. On the other hand, lower gears | | | | your body to perform various shifts while on trail. |
| however are easier to pedal, perfect for uphill biking. | | | | Try practicing these basic skills at a local park, school, |
| Remember that it is better to change gears as you | | | | bike path or simply around you lawn. If you can find |
| approach steeper hills, than shifting gears while already | | | | steep hills, it would be better to practice there. |
| on it. | | | | |