So this is only my fourth ride since picking up mountain biking this year. I'm definitely a beginner, and I'm definitely on trails that I probably shouldn't be. I know I just picked a shitty line, but is there any other advice to avoid crashes like this in the future? Thanks for any help!
by taz5963
7 Comments
HOLD THE LINE /s
A classic advice is to ride the trail slowly until you know the trail. Once you know where the lines, drops, etc are, then pick up the speed.
Also, not a bad idea to wear gloves and pads.
Go faster
Hard to say from the vid, but appears you may have just been sitting down and hanging on for dear life. Not much control that way. Get out of the saddle, attack position, and you can absorb the hits as well as maneuver better.
Good for you for going out and doing something new. Keep learning and take advice from strangers on the internet and/or consider joining a course/group or whatever to get better. Also there are lots of good YouTube channels to get you going.
I think for the super basics:
1. good posture on the bike
2. learn where to look – not too far and for sure not too near
3. get in shape, not struggling makes it some much more fun
4. grip – how to hold the handlebar, how stiff or relaxed you should be
5. always wear head protection
As for the video – that 30 seconds of boring-ish trail almost made me write a rude commend, but I’ll just say you could’ve dropped at least 25 seconds of that footage.
Gloves man. Buy some gloves they won’t stop impression bruising but it will keep you from bloody palms. If you do get into a rut like that stay straight and ride out the groove with more power or it looks like you tried to stop or slow down or turn out of it. without putting your feet down to stabilize.
Also one of the rules that is often counter intuitive but you will learn….momentum is your friend and gets you up and over or through stuff.
Also, a camera gives you bigger balls and you are often showing off for the camera and not concentrating on the terrain. Skills will develop. You just learned what not to do and if there was no blood it was a pretty cheap lesson especially for a rocky gravel desert like that without gloves. You have a helmet right?
Step 1: wear gloves
Step 2: commit