| Mountain biking is a fun sport but it is also | | | | sport, and you should always wear a helmet, |
| dangerous. However, participants can lesson | | | | and knee and elbow pads. And when you're |
| their chances of injury by taking a few | | | | practicing going over curbs - the same should |
| precautions. First off, of course, they | | | | apply. You want to practice going up and |
| should have the necessary skills before even | | | | over curbs to get the feel of doing it on a |
| getting on the mountain. Practically anyone | | | | hill. You know your own bike best - exactly |
| can get on a bike and ride around their | | | | how high can an obstruction be before you |
| neighborhood, go across flat countryside or | | | | can't go over it with your bike? Probably |
| ride up and down hills, but when it comes to | | | | about six inches. Going off a curb is another |
| mountain biking, the rider should have | | | | thing entirely. As long as you have good |
| certain skills before giving it a try. | | | | balance and strong hands to keep your front |
| Depending on how long you've ridden your | | | | tire straight, you can get quite a bit of |
| bike, it's quite possible that you do have | | | | "air" before hitting the ground again - but |
| these skills - so let's just run through | | | | you need to know the ground you'll be landing |
| them. 1) Feel the pedals Are you used to | | | | on to ensure that there's no obstructions |
| keeping your feet on your pedals at all | | | | that will get in your way. So always ride a |
| times? Of course you are. But when you're | | | | downhill trail relatively slowly the first |
| mountain biking (or doing stunts), feet come | | | | time, before you go full out. But back to |
| off the pedals... and have to be able to find | | | | practicing. Check out the curbs in your |
| them again without hesitation. So practice | | | | neighborhood, and - while wearing your safety |
| taking your feet off the pedals and replacing | | | | gear and making sure there's no traffic in |
| them...this will instill "muscle memory" so | | | | the area - practice going over them at |
| your feet always will know where the pedals | | | | different speeds. If all the curbs are of the |
| should be at any given time. 2) Shift the | | | | same height, you'll have to increase them |
| gears If you live in a flat area, you | | | | using man-made objects such as ramps. |
| probably don't do a lot of gear shifting. | | | | However... you learned to crawl before you |
| This will change when you get on the slopes, | | | | could walk, and by the same token, become |
| so find yourself a hill near your home and | | | | very comfortable on those short curbs before |
| practicing shifting as you go both up and | | | | you try to increase the height and air of |
| down. Also, if you get tired just biking up a | | | | your jumps, and always wear your safety gear |
| regular-sized hill, you'll want to do some | | | | while you do it. There's no need to be |
| wind sprints up that same hill for a couple | | | | impatient. Work on your skills first, then |
| of weeks before you decide to take on a | | | | tackle a beginners mountain biking trail or |
| mountain. 3) Stand up for yourself Most | | | | two to perfect your skills even more. Once |
| people sit on their bikes while they ride, | | | | you've got the skills, mountain biking will |
| but again, on a mountain bike you don't have | | | | be a breeze! |
| that luxury. You'll be off your seat more | | | | |
| often than not. So practice coasting along | | | | Alastair Hamilton is the author of more |
| while standing, and then pedaling while | | | | resources published at . You can find more |
| standing....and don't do it for just a few | | | | information and resources on mountain bike |
| yards and then stop. 4) Before you go | | | | reviews at his website. |
| hurtling down Mountain biking is a dangerous | | | | |