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