| Mountain biking is an exhilarating sport that can be | | | | more difficult to pedal although your speed increases, |
| enjoyed by anyone who has learnt to ride a bike. | | | | while the lower the gear the easier you will find |
| Compared to a normal bike riding it can be | | | | pedaling and getting up steep paths. As you approach |
| dangerous, so you should make sure you learn | | | | anywhere steep, its better to change gears before |
| thebasic skills below before you begin. | | | | you get there rather than while you are actually on it. |
| You can practice these skills practically anywhere - on | | | | Learn to coast |
| a bike path, at your local park, or simply around your | | | | Practice coasting with your feet on the pedals |
| garden. If at all possible, try and find somewhere with | | | | without sitting down. Keep your arms bent but make |
| a hill. | | | | sure your knees are not locked. |
| Get to know your pedals. | | | | Learn to stand and pedal |
| Learn to move your feet away from the pedals. Try | | | | One thing you will definitely need to master is |
| this while you are sitting on your bike with the other | | | | pedaling while standing on your bike, so you will need |
| foot on the floor. Once you have mastered that you | | | | to practice this often until you get it right. Try |
| can have a go at moving your foot on and off the | | | | standing up slowly once you've been pedaling sitting |
| pedal while pedaling around for a while. You might | | | | down for a while and then increase your speed once |
| need to spend some extra timepracticing if you have | | | | your confidence develops. You can practice this in |
| either clip less or toe clip type pedals. | | | | low gears when on hills and in high gears when on |
| Practice spinning | | | | level ground. |
| For this one you need to do is sit on your bike and | | | | Dropping down curbs |
| keep pedaling. Bend your arms slightly and adjust the | | | | Look for a curb where you can get to the upper |
| height of your seat so your legs are 70-90% | | | | portion of it with ease. Practice at a reasonable |
| extended at the bottom of every stroke on the | | | | speed, standing and coasting off the curb from the |
| pedal. Make sure you relax, as there is never a | | | | upper to the lower level. Practice this atdifferent |
| situation where your elbows or your knees are | | | | speeds until it is a piece of cake. |
| locked. | | | | Once you have practiced these skills and got the |
| Changing gears | | | | hang of them, you will be able to start on the trails |
| Get acquainted with changing the gears on your bike. | | | | feeling full of confidence. Even though it may take |
| If you are in a high gears you may notice that it is | | | | some getting used to at first, you'll soon be a pro! |