Due to the terrain to overcome, such as trails, open or rocky ground, and obstacles to negotiate, whether narrowly spaced trees or mud, mountain biking differs from other forms of cycling as it’s more difficult to control, especially for beginners. It’s fun and exciting, yet simultaneously disagreeable and terrifying. Despite the name, you can mountain bike if you live close to the mountains or not, and routes can vary from mellow trails in the woods to sandy routes in the desert. If you’re happy with your riding, you should keep on doing what you’re doing, but if you want to ride better, safer, and faster, you must acquire new skills to unlock success.
To be a successful mountain biker, having speed and fitness isn’t enough. It’s never too late to brush up on the basics, so there’s no reason to be embarrassed.
Find Your Perfect Off-Road Ride
A big asset for many, a mountain bike is sturdy, which means it’s designed to perform over all kinds of terrain, so it’s perfect for a fast and efficient commute within your city, but the real benefits come through when you hit the dirt. Buying one can be exciting but intimidating. An electric bike is an excellent option, allowing you to go much further and faster, so you won’t be socially or physically excluded. When cycling with non-e-bikers, you’re not allowed to hurt their feelings, so swipe bikes with others if they’re too tired to go on. If you want a high-quality bike that will last (almost) forever while sticking to a tight budget, a used electric bike may work for you.
Roughly 30-40% of the price of the bike is in the frame, and it typically hinges on what it’s made of (e.g., steel is cheap, but it’s very heavy) and how and where it’s made – a hand-welded frame from the US is more likely to be expensive (and is the best of its kind). Manufacturers use different dimensions for the frame size, and at the end of the day, the choice depends on what feels right for you and the riding you’re doing. As far as the cockpit length is concerned, it’s of secondary importance. To a certain degree, it can be adjusted by exchanging parts and making adjustments to the components, that is, the brakes, drivetrain, forks, and rear shock.
Let Your Bike Do Its Job, Which Means Keeping Your Body Loose
Body position is undoubtedly the biggest key to mountain biking success. You ride on off-road trails such as fire roads, back-country roads, and wider bike park trails, to name a few, that require a combination of physical and mental strength, not to mention technical skills and endurance. The correct posture ensures a happy, pain-free ride, but if you get it wrong, you’ll be uncomfortable on the electric mountain bike, and at worst, you run the risk of crashing. Keep your body loose so the bike can move beneath you, rolling along efficiently and agreeably.
When the trail becomes steeper and rockier, it’s recommended to move into the attack position, which will reward you with a more controlled ride. It prepares you for the technical section of the path. Stand up, lower your chest, and use your arms and legs like suspension – look down the trail where you want to go. The attack position guarantees the centrality of the bike, which means you’ll be able to face obstacles and perform temporary unbalancing movements, during which the load moves forward or backward. It’s more than a mere posture. It’s the interface between you and the bike.
Jumps Are For Show, But Corners Are For Dough
Letting the bike rip between turns isn’t as complicated as it seems, but you can improve your technique, irrespective of how talented you might be. Being able to corner makes all the difference, as you can catch your opponents in a high-speed chase or who records the fastest time. Turning on a mountain bike requires more pressure on the outside foot, but unlike skiing, where you keep your feet underneath the hips, you have one foot forward and one foot back. Put more pressure on your right foot to turn left and more on your left foot to turn right. Reviewing photos or videos will highlight common faults.
Go Easy On The Brakes
The mountain bike’s braking system is one of its most vital components because it allows you to manage the bike’s speed on descents and stop the bike immediately in unforeseen situations. Braking is a dynamic process that requires skill and precision. Push back on the bars to put the additional load on the front wheel, which is responsible for the actual stopping. Grabbing both brakes and pulling them to the bars with all you’ve got is a mistake because mountain bikes are so powerful that you only need one or two fingers to balance speed.
Attention must be paid to the fact that fearless, pro-level mountain bikers aren’t made overnight, meaning it takes time and practice to master the forces at play when braking, like deciding what position to adopt or figuring out how much force is needed. You should always maintain a stable speed before corners or rock gardens. Still, if you find yourself going too fast, stay off the front brake because it will send you over the bars and onto the ground. The friction is directly proportional to the pressure applied by the wheels to the road.
Wrapping It Up
Mountain biking is an increasingly popular outdoor activity on the extreme continuum, but the hazards can be mediated through a process of building competence and skill via experience. You can still experience fear as you test your abilities in challenging situations, but it’s just a sign of breaking through boundaries. Thrill-seeking is part of the motivation for mountain biking, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re an adrenaline junkie. It’s worth looking after your electric bike to ensure it performs well and is safe to ride all year round. Carry out basic maintenance prior to riding your bike.
