| Beginner Mountain Bike Skills Mountain biking is an | | | | at different speeds until it becomes second |
| exciting sport that can be enjoyed by anyone | | | | nature. Once you practice these techniques and |
| who knows how to ride a bike. Compared to the | | | | get the hang of them, you'll be able to hit the |
| average bike ride, it does present some danger. | | | | trails feeling comfortable on your mountain bike. |
| Therefore, you should master these basic skills | | | | Even though it may take some getting used to, |
| before you hit the trails or the dirt. You can | | | | it'll become second nature before you know it. |
| practice these beginning skills at a local park, | | | | Cross Country Mountain Biking Cross country |
| school, bike path, or simply around your house. If | | | | mountain biking is cross country at its finest. |
| you can, try to find a location with a steep hill. | | | | Where free riders and downhill bikers use four |
| Get a feel for your pedals Practice moving your | | | | wheel bikes and ski lifts to get them to their |
| foot away from the pedal, first while sitting on | | | | destination, cross country bikers get to the top of |
| your bike with one foot on the ground. Next, | | | | the mountain by the ride. Though free riding is |
| move on to releasing and replacing your foot | | | | very popular, the life vein of the sport has always |
| while pedaling around for a bit. Those with toe clip | | | | been cross country biking. Just as cross country |
| and clipless type foot pedals will want to spend a | | | | riders are a different breed, the bikes they ride |
| bit more time practicing. Sit and spin for position | | | | are as well. The cross country bike is completely |
| Simply sit on your bike and pedal around. You | | | | different in many ways from other types of |
| should keep your arms slightly bent. You should | | | | mountain riding bikes. The premise for cross |
| also adjust your seat height so your leg is 70 to | | | | country riders is speed. Everything about their |
| 90 percent extended at the bottom of every | | | | bikes revolve with the idea of making the bikes |
| stroke on the pedal. Keep your body relaxed, as | | | | faster and faster. Bikes used in cross country |
| there will never be a position where you should | | | | mountain biking can be fully rigid frame, hardtails, |
| have either your knees or your elbows locked. | | | | or even full suspension frames. Through the |
| Shifting gears Get a feel for shifting gears with | | | | years, the cross over to full suspension has |
| your bike. The higher gears are harder to pedal | | | | become very popular. The weight difference |
| and will go faster while the lower gears are easier | | | | between free ride bikes and cross country bikes |
| to pedal and will help you ascend hills. As you get | | | | are considerable. You'll be extremely hard pressed |
| to steeper hills, its best to shift before you get to | | | | to find a bike that weighs more than 24 pounds, |
| the hill rather than while your on it. Coasting You | | | | and even that weight can be heavy. Free ride |
| should spend a bit of time coasting while standing | | | | bkes weigh close to 40 pounds, which makes the |
| on your pedals, without actually sitting on the | | | | difference in weight pretty close. If you've never |
| seat. Keep your arms bent but don't lock your | | | | tried cross country mountain biking, you'll probably |
| knees. Now, try experimenting with shifting your | | | | find it to be a break from the ordinary. Even |
| body towards the rear end of the bike. Pedal | | | | though this type of biking involves trails, it's |
| while standing You should get as comfortable as | | | | normally the type of terrain that beginners |
| you can with pedaling while standing on your bike. | | | | wouldn't want to ride. Involving hills and rough |
| Try lifting yourself off the seat while standing on | | | | terrain, cross country biking offers quite the rush. |
| the pedals, then crank them around. You should | | | | For mountain bikers everywhere, cross country is |
| try this in higher gears on flat ground then again in | | | | the way to go. It offers you a new assortment |
| lower gears while on a hill. Dropping down a curb | | | | of bikes, new areas to bike, and a new twist to |
| Try finding a curb where you can easily get to | | | | mountain biking as you know it. If you've been |
| the upper portion of it. Practice at a moderate | | | | looking for a mountain biking rush, cross country |
| speed, standing and coasting right off the curb | | | | mountain biking is what you need to be |
| from the upper level to the lower level. Try this | | | | experiencing. |