| Beginner Mountain Bike Skills | | | | theupper level to the lower level. Try |
| Mountain biking is an exciting sport | | | | this atdifferent speeds until it becomes |
| that can beenjoyed by anyone who knows | | | | second nature. |
| how to ride a bike. | | | | Once you practice these techniques and |
| Compared to the average bike ride, it | | | | get thehang of them, you'll be able to |
| does presentsome danger. Therefore, you | | | | hit the trails feelingcomfortable on |
| should master thesebasic skills before | | | | your mountain bike. Even though itmay |
| you hit the trails or thedirt. | | | | take some getting used to, it'll become |
| You can practice these beginning skills | | | | secondnature before you know it. |
| at a localpark, school, bike path, or | | | | Cross Country Mountain Biking |
| simply around yourhouse. If you can, try | | | | Cross country mountain biking is cross |
| to find a location witha steep hill. | | | | country atits finest. Where free riders |
| Get a feel for your pedals | | | | and downhill bikersuse four wheel bikes |
| Practice moving your foot away from the | | | | and ski lifts to get them totheir |
| pedal,first while sitting on your bike | | | | destination, cross country bikers get |
| with one foot onthe ground. Next, move | | | | tothe top of the mountain by the ride. |
| on to releasing andreplacing your foot | | | | Though freeriding is very popular, the |
| while pedaling around for abit. Those | | | | life vein of the sporthas always been |
| with toe clip and clipless type | | | | cross country biking. |
| footpedals will want to spend a bit more | | | | Just as cross country riders are a |
| timepracticing. | | | | different breed,the bikes they ride are |
| Sit and spin for position | | | | as well. The cross countrybike is |
| Simply sit on your bike and pedal | | | | completely different in many ways from |
| around. Youshould keep your arms | | | | othertypes of mountain riding bikes. |
| slightly bent. You shouldalso adjust | | | | The premise forcross country riders is |
| your seat height so your leg is 70 to | | | | speed. Everything abouttheir bikes |
| 90 percent extended at the bottom of | | | | revolve with the idea of making thebikes |
| every strokeon the pedal. Keep your | | | | faster and faster. |
| body relaxed, as therewill never be a | | | | Bikes used in cross country mountain |
| position where you should haveeither | | | | biking canbe fully rigid frame, |
| your knees or your elbows locked. | | | | hardtails, or even fullsuspension |
| Shifting gears | | | | frames. Through the years, the |
| Get a feel for shifting gears with your | | | | crossover to full suspension has become |
| bike. Thehigher gears are harder to | | | | very popular. |
| pedal and will gofaster while the lower | | | | The weight difference between free ride |
| gears are easier to pedaland will help | | | | bikes andcross country bikes are |
| you ascend hills. As you get tosteeper | | | | considerable. You'll beextremely hard |
| hills, its best to shift before you | | | | pressed to find a bike that weighsmore |
| getto the hill rather than while your on | | | | than 24 pounds, and even that weight can |
| it. | | | | beheavy. Free ride bkes weigh close to |
| Coasting | | | | 40 pounds,which makes the difference in |
| You should spend a bit of time coasting | | | | weight pretty close. |
| whilestanding on your pedals, without | | | | If you've never tried cross country |
| actually sittingon the seat. Keep your | | | | mountain biking,you'll probably find it |
| arms bent but don't lockyour knees. | | | | to be a break from theordinary. Even |
| Now, try experimenting with shiftingyour | | | | though this type of biking |
| body towards the rear end of the bike. | | | | involvestrails, it's normally the type |
| Pedal while standing | | | | of terrain thatbeginners wouldn't want |
| You should get as comfortable as you can | | | | to ride. Involving hillsand rough |
| withpedaling while standing on your | | | | terrain, cross country biking |
| bike. Try liftingyourself off the seat | | | | offersquite the rush. |
| while standing on the pedals,then crank | | | | For mountain bikers everywhere, cross |
| them around. You should try this | | | | country isthe way to go. It offers you |
| inhigher gears on flat ground then again | | | | a new assortment ofbikes, new areas to |
| in lowergears while on a hill. | | | | bike, and a new twist tomountain biking |
| Dropping down a curb | | | | as you know it. If you've beenlooking |
| Try finding a curb where you can easily | | | | for a mountain biking rush, cross |
| get to theupper portion of it. Practice | | | | countrymountain biking is what you need |
| at a moderate speed,standing and | | | | to be experiencing. |
| coasting right off the curb from | | | | |