Mountain Biking is a fantastic sport accessible to anyone who can ride a bike. Becoming a proficient mountain bike cyclist however can offer additional challenges but following the basic skills guide below will ensure you are facing those challenges sooner rather than later.

Equipment
Number one of your shopping list should be a comfortable and well constructed bike helmet. I recommend the Giro Hex as I have found these to offer the best value for money but with no compromise on style or fit. If money is more of an issue the Bell Slant is perfectly adequate. Falls and spills are inevitable mountain biking but ensuring you have a good helmet will keep that most valuable of assets, your head, well protected.

Additionally I also recommend good quality knee and elbow pads. Clothing isn’t such an issue provided you have the basic protective equipment so long sleeve tops and jeans are cool. If you intend to be an all-weather cyclist I would also recommend and good pair of cycling gloves.

Find Your Position
Get onto your bike. Adjust your seat so that your legs are about 90 percent extended at the bottom of your pedal rotation. Your arms should also be slightly bent when gripping the handle bars. In both cases neither your knees nor your elbows should be locked out.

Coasting
In order to practice costing you will need to spend time standing on your pedals at 3 and 9 o’clock. Remember not to lock your arms or your elbows. In order to navigate obstacles and rough terrain you will want to shift your weight and position to the back of the bike so that the seat is between your legs.

Curbs
Practice cycling down curbs by coasting (see above) over them so that your arms and legs absorb the shock. Keep practicing at various speeds until you are comfortable.

Going up a curb requires a little more practice but quickly becomes intuitive if you think how your mountain bike has been built. As you approach a curb in a standing position place your weight over the front fork, pushing the suspension down, then as you hit the curb move your weight back and lift the handle bars up. Once the front wheel is over, move your weight forward and allow the rear wheel to come up.

Practice Shifting Gears
Find somewhere local that perhaps has a small hill you can practice riding up and down. Higher gears will make you go faster but are harder to pedal and require more energy. Lower gears will help you get up hills as they are easier to pedal. With steeper hills shift into gear before you hit the slope.

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