If you’re new to mountain biking and eager to hit the trails, this beginner’s guide will help you get started.
From finding a mentor to mastering the fundamentals, here are the essential steps to start becoming a confident mountain biker.
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Find a Friend or Mentor
As with any other hobby or skill, one of the best ways to jumpstart your mountain biking journey is to find a mentor who knows what they’re doing.
Just like Luke Skywalker needed Yoda to teach him the ways of the Jedi, having an experienced rider by your side can accelerate your learning process. A mentor can help you avoid common pitfalls while giving you feedback to help you learn faster.
If you don’t have any friends in mountain biking, many communities have clubs or trail maintenance groups you could join to meet new people. Ask around at your local bike shops or check on Facebook to find groups like this.
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Research
Before embarking on your mountain biking adventure, take some time to research the sport.
Familiarize yourself with the different types of bikes available. Learn about the various components and understand how they contribute to the bike’s performance. Explore different trail systems in your area and identify the ones suitable for beginners. The more knowledge you have, the better prepared you’ll be for your first ride.
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Get a Bike & Safety Gear
To begin mountain biking, you’ll need a suitable bike and safety gear. There are a few approaches you can take to acquire your first bike. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
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Buy Your Ideal Bike
If you’re serious about the sport and you have the money you may wish to bite the bullet and buy your ideal bike right from the start. People buy higher-end bikes because they do have better performance and features like good full suspension and quality components can make the learning process easier.
Just be prepared to spend a couple of thousand dollars on the bike and make sure you get the one you want.
>>Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Mountain Bike
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Buy a Starter Bike
Not everyone can afford a high-end, carbon-framed, full-suspension bike and you may not be confident enough yet that you’ll stick with mountain biking. Buying a lower-end bike at first is a great way to get into the sport and you’ll still have just as much fun.
Many riders start out with a hardtail mountain bike for example. Hardtails are cheaper and you can get a good hardtail for less than a good full suspension. As an added bonus many riders say that learning on a hardtail will make you better since the bikes are less forgiving and more responsive.
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Buy a Used Bike
This can be a good middle ground for those that want a nicer bike but don’t have the money yet to get one. There are great deals to be had online, just be careful to check the bike over when you go to see it. Ideally, have your mentor come check it out with you. Also, avoid stolen bikes and report the seller if you know it’s stolen.
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Buy a direct-to-consumer site
If you’re looking for an inexpensive bike you can also sometimes get deals online from companies that will ship a bike to you. These can be great deals, but know that you’ll likely need to put the bike together yourself and the bikes can often be a few years behind in geometry. Polygon and Bikes Direct are more inexpensive bikes that can still give you good performance with the cons above.
Visiting your local bike shop to get expert advice on choosing the right bike size and type for your riding style is a good idea no matter which way you end up going. Most shops will allow you to ride their bikes around the shop as well which is a good way to get an idea of what you like.
Additionally, invest in essential safety gear such as a helmet and gloves to protect yourself while on the trails. You’ll also need some way to carry water for your ride. You can choose either a bottle and cage that you attach to your bike or a water pack like the ones Camelbak makes. Eventually, you may want both options for different riding, but for now, just pick one.
*Important: We don’t recommend buying a Walmart or other department store bike. They are almost always low quality and will be a waste of your money if you’re trying to do real mountain biking.
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Go for a Ride Around Your Neighborhood
After getting your new bike but before tackling the challenging mountain trails, I recommend taking some easy rides around your neighborhood.
This will allow you to get comfortable on the bike and practice basic skills. Use this time to familiarize yourself with the bike’s controls and adjust the seat height and handlebars to ensure a comfortable riding position. While you’re out, try riding up and down the curbs or other small obstacles.
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Practice the Fundamentals
To become a proficient mountain biker, you need to master some fundamental skills. Here are a few key areas to focus on:
- Turning: Practice making smooth turns by leaning your body and bike into the corner. Turning on a mountain bike actually has a lot more to do with leaning your body than actually turning the handlebars. Start with wide turns and gradually practice sharper turns.
- Shifting: Learn how to shift gears efficiently to maintain consistent pedaling on different slopes. Learn to shift gears before a change in slope so that you don’t put too much pressure on the drivetrain when shifting.
- Riding Downhill: Develop proper body position and weight distribution when descending steep sections. Keep your weight closer to the back of the bike and use your brakes to maintain control.
- Overcoming Obstacles: Practice navigating over small rocks, roots, and other trail obstacles. Learn how to shift your weight to allow the wheels to climb over the objects.
- Climbing: Master the art of climbing by maintaining a steady pedaling rhythm, shifting to lower gears when needed, and using your body weight to keep traction on the rear wheel.
For some good visual tips on basic skills Skills with Phil on Youtube has a great playlist.
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Find Some Local Green Trails
Once you’ve gained a little confidence and basic skills, it’s time to explore the local green trails. Green trails are beginner-friendly routes that offer a gentle introduction to off-road riding. They usually have fewer obstacles and less steep grades, allowing you to practice your skills. Talk to local riders or check out an online map like Trail Forks to get a good idea.
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Go On Your First Mountain Bike Ride
Time to go on your first mountain biking ride. Start with a trail that matches your skill level and have fun. If you are able to go to a trail system with multiple routes you could always try the green trail and if that’s too easy or you finish early you can try out a more difficult trail.
Remember to pace yourself, enjoy the scenery, and take breaks when needed. If you haven’t been cycling a lot you’ll likely be saddle-sore after riding for a while. Don’t let that discourage you, after a few rides, you won’t get as sore.
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Go Riding with Someone
Ideally, you’ll always have someone out riding with you. If you don’t have friends or a mentor to go with you, there are often riding groups you can join in the community (see point 1). This is often more fun, but it’s also important for safety and for improving.
Look for opportunities to ride with more advanced riders than yourself. Pushing yourself to keep up with someone is one of the best ways to improve fast. Even if they’re not mentoring you or giving lots of tips, just trying to keep up is a great exercise.
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Don’t Be Afraid of Crashing
You will crash at some point, and that’s okay. Don’t be discouraged by falls or minor mishaps. Learn from your mistakes, dust yourself off, and get back on the bike. Over time, you’ll develop better bike handling skills, and crashes will become less frequent.
Crashing may be part of the learning process, but there are some things you can do to improve your situation when crashing. Try watching a couple of Youtube videos about how to bail from your mountain bike and maybe consider practicing it. Here’s a great video to start with:
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Keep Practicing
Lastly, remember that mountain biking is a skill that improves with practice. Keep exploring new trails, challenging yourself, and refining your skills. The more time you spend on the bike, the bigger challenges you’ll be able to tackle and the more fun you’ll have.
Once you’ve mastered the fundamental skills above move on to learning more advanced skills. I’d encourage starting with the bunny hop and manualing since these skills are the foundation for getting over obstacles, jumping, and dropping.
This list is a general order you could follow, but it’s not a strict one. The sooner you can get out riding your bike the faster you’ll develop your skills. You’ll learn the most out on your bike on the trails.
Mountain biking is an exciting and rewarding sport that offers endless opportunities for adventure that you can enjoy your whole life. I’ve met riders in their 60s that are still mountain biking in retirement and having a blast. Just remember to be safe, have fun, and keep pushing yourself.
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