10 Tips to Instantly Improve Your Mountain Biking
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10 Tips to Instantly Improve Your Mountain Biking

Date:9/08/2021

Mountain biking, getting your technique right can take some hard work and determination. You’ll need endurance, core strength, and balance. If you’re wondering how to improve your mountain biking, and take your skills to the next level, this guide is for you.


Here we’ll explore 10 ways to improve your mountain biking. Let’s pedal straight into it.


1. Train with People Who Are More Experienced Than You


Sometimes, the best way to learn is through watching other people. If you can, start to train in a group. You’ll be able to push each other harder and develop the confidence needed to tackle difficult routes. Additionally, you’ll be able to observe advanced technique and form, enabling you to learn a thing or two.

You could join a mountain biking club or even join a local Facebook group!


2. Learn to Spin


Spinning (known as cadence) is very important when it comes to developing mountain biking. For those who don’t know, spinning is the motion of turning your cranks (or pedals), and you must understand the correct technique.


Developing strong cadence can take a long time to master and many professional cyclists spend years perfecting it. Concentrate on producing smooth circles with your cranks and changing gear at the right time.

The real challenge is maintaining the correct RPM for the gear you’re in. If you’re in a gear that’s too high, you’ll have little power. On the other hand, with the bike in a gear too low, the wheels can just spin, and you’ll likely lose control. This takes a long time to master, so keep practising!


3. Get Down that Cornering


Corning is a huge aspect of mountain biking. Essentially, cornering is where speed and skill happens. When you’re travelling downhill at speed, you’ll need to move with your handlebars to prevent you from falling. There is a popular saying in MBT which states “jumps for show, corners for dough”.


Bikers may notice they’ll be better at cornering one way. Some people can corner better to the right, and others to the left. If so, try practising corner linking. This is where you practise a section of a course that has a left and right turn linked together (one after the other). This allows you to develop balance and positioning. Plus, this kind of activity is incredibly fun. Give it a go!


4. Get Good at the Technical Trails


The technical sections of a course are where most riders will struggle. Even the most experienced riders will make mistakes and not land the perfect line every time. This is why walking and understanding the terrain is key when you’re looking to improve your mountain biking.


5. Master Braking


Braking and learning when to brake is another technical part of mountain biking. This knowledge is key to decreasing your times. Sometimes fear can hold you back. Once you gain more confidence in yourself and start to trust the bike- you’ll be flying.


The main method you need to learn is known as feathering- lightly and quickly shifting pressure and release of your brakes. It helps to maintain control of the bike without compromising speed or power and makes sure your brakes don’t lock.


Whilst biking, you’ll need to use both the back and front brakes. Don’t be tempted to rely solely on your back brakes, the front has good stopping power too. Spend some time on your bike to understand them, they can be adjusted and modified to suit your personal preference.


6. Strength Training is Key


We shouldn’t have to tell you mountain biking is a strenuous sport. Making sure you’re training off the hills is just as important as training on them. It’s a full-body exercise! Having a solid strength-building routine in the gym can improve your biking control, power, and endurance on tougher routes.


7. Learn How to Transition in and out of the Saddle


By now, you will have noticed a lot of your time is spent outside the saddle. Whether you’re sprinting, climbing, or cornering, standing directly on the peddle is usually the position you’ll stay in. Here, concentrate on your transitions. By practising your on and off technique, you can improve your balance and speed during the tougher parts of a course.


A lot of saddle work combines cadence training, so be sure to pair the two up on training days for maximum efficiency.


8. Pump it


If you’ve ever engaged in extreme sports, you’ll know pumping is crucial. Pumping is the art of pushing your weight and momentum into a hill. This helps to maintain speed (and even increase it) without excess peddling.


A lot of mountain bikers think this technique is reserved for the BMXers. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Next time you’re speeding around the hills, try pumping into a hill by lifting your front wheel slightly. Similarly, when going downhill, throw your weight just as you’re about to level out.


9. Practise Your Climbing


Climbs are one of the toughest parts of an MTB course. They’re exhausting and truly burn out your legs. With the invention of e-bikes, it’s become clear many need to work on their climbing abilities. Especially if you’re looking to improve your track time.


The key to a climb is the right gear and your positioning. You want to stay centred on the bike and be in low gear. Also, test yourself on turns. A good way to practise uphill climbing is with an e-bike. The motor-assisted bike will allow you to focus on your technique and reduce fatigue.


10. Keep Practising!


Want the best tip of all? Practice makes perfect. I know many of you have probably heard this before, however, it is true! The more you practise the sooner you’ll develop your mountain biking technique.


You have to be willing to make mistakes and even risk hurting yourself. That’s just the nature of the sport. Of course, wearing the right protective gear can also help, which is why we specialise in performance clothing to suit every mountain biker's needs.


Need more help and advice? Get in touch with us today!