07/10/2021
As many of you know I’m a huge bike enthusiast. That’s the kind of bike you pedal!
I came across a great article about making the change from road cycling to mountain biking and I thought I’d pass on the tips provided.....
1. Begin on easy trails. (Seems like a good first tip!) Resist the urge to dive in and let well-intentioned friends take you on their favourite non-beginner trail! Begin on a relatively easy one and increase difficulty as you improve in skill. If you do find yourself in a sticky situation, swallow your pride and be willing to walk your bike across the scary, cliff-to-the-left sections.
2. Look ahead and trust the bike. Decide where you want to go and keep looking ahead on the trail. If you’re focused on what’s under your front wheel, there’s no way you can be ready for the next section of trail. Once you’ve decided where you want to go, trust your bike. Mountain bikes, unlike road bikes, are designed to go over rough terrain. Know that your frame, tires, fork, and shock can happily handle the rough treatment.
3. Over the rock may be your best choice 😱! This tip is completely counterintuitive for roadies. On a road bike, we all try our best to avoid obstacles — including rocks. But in mountain biking, sometimes aiming right for the rock and riding over it is the best line.
4. Use a bigger gear to climb. On the road, most riders use a relatively low gear so they can “spin up” a climb. While mountain biking, a bigger gear often allows you to get over obstacles and prevents spinning out. Be willing to try a bigger gear on some sections that give you trouble and see if it helps.
5. Get off the saddle and move around. Standing up allows you to move yourself and the bike to a position that can help you better ride a particular section. This can be true going uphill, during a power move, and downhill where your position is often more over the rear wheel. Remember that your body position is much more dynamic on a mountain bike than a road bike.
6. Pedal, pedal, pedal. It is tempting to stop pedalling right before an obstacle. Your inner voice is telling you that the obstacle looks scary and you need to take a second or third look at the thing. Assuming you are riding a trail that is appropriate for beginners, much of the time just keeping the pedals moving with some force will get you over or around the technical section. Also, steady, even power is the best way to ride a loose section of trail. Coach yourself by saying, “Pedal, pedal, pedal!”
7. Equipment selection and set up make a big difference. After you find a bike that fits correctly, get your local shop to help you set up the fork and shock pressures. If your suspension system is set up correctly, you’ll be capable of riding much more of the mountain — and you’ll do it more comfortably. Some riders have to change their suspension settings during the season as their fitness evolves. In addition to suspension, tire selection and tire pressure have a big influence on your ability to ride different types of trails. If you feel exposed and less confident on technical descents, a dropper post will help. It is a seat post that lowers at the press of a button. Lowering your body position and being able to easily move back — possibly behind the saddle — can help you navigate descents with confidence. It’s all about optimizing performance and making it easier to ride the terrain that makes you smile.
