Adventure

10 Pro Tips for Mountain Biking

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Ryan Creary / Getty Images

by Jen See

Uphill trails have their place in mountain biking, but shredding singletrack and speeding down descents are what we love about the sport. But it can take time and practice to feel confident screaming around corners on two wheels. And if you’re new to mountain biking, descending may in fact feel like a pretty nerve-wracking experience. Rock drop-offs, tree roots, and tight switchbacks, they all look ready to make you crash. We asked veteran pro Barry Wicks, who races for Kona Bikes, to share his bike handling secrets, so you can have more fun — and speed — on your next ride.

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Look Where You Want To Go

Sometimes, a tree or a rock catches your eye. You stare at it, thinking that you don’t want to hit it, and of course, you ride straight into it. “One of the best tips I ever got was to look where you want to go,” says Wicks. Focus on the path you want the bike to follow. It’s tempting to stare down at your front wheel, but you want to look a few bike lengths ahead to anticipate what’s coming. “You have to keep looking past what’s right in front of you and projecting yourself down the hill before you get there,” says Wicks.

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Stand Up

With a good suspension on your bike, you may want to chill on the saddle and let the fork and shock do the work. But when the going gets rough, it’s better to stand. “Your legs are better suspension than just the bike alone.” Bend your knees and elbows slightly. That way, you’re ready to react to whatever the trail throws at you. “We call it the ready position,” says Wicks. “It’s like when you’re on defense in basketball. You’re ready for anything.”

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Find Your Center of Gravity

This is a tricky one and it can take some time to get a feel for how best to distribute your weight on the bike. Generally, the steeper the descent, the farther back you want to be. On the steepest sections, you may be behind the saddle, standing over the back wheel. “Everyone’s different and your position may not be textbook,” says Wicks. Experiment with moving around on the bike until you find the positions that work best for you. With time, it will become second nature to shift your balance as the bike follows the terrain. “You want the bike to be a natural extension of you,” says Wicks. “It’s about feeling the flow of the trail and the bike.”

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Stay Loose

The best riders have a knack for staying on their bikes no matter what comes their way. It can seem like super hero stuff, but one way they do it is by keeping their bodies loose and relaxed. “The bike is going to move under you,” says Wicks. “You have to get used to that.” It’s pretty normal for your tires to slide in dusty conditions or over loose gravel and to bounce around as it hits rocks and roots in the trail. As long as you stay relaxed, it shouldn’t be a problem. “It’s like skiing in powder,” says Wicks. If you feel like you’re fighting the bike, relax and let it flow.

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Get a Bike Fit

Wicks believes dialing in your bike fit is one of the most important things you can do to improve your handling and speed. “If you’re trying to ride a bike that’s too big or too small, it’s never going to feel right.” A bike that’s too big will feel cumbersome through the corners. If it’s too small, the bike may feel hard to control, especially at higher speeds. A good bike shop can help you sort out your fit and make the necessary adjustments — such saddle and handlebar position — so that the bike works for you.

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Brake Before the Corners

Your mountain bike tires aren’t especially good at multi-tasking. They can turn or they can brake. Trying to do both at the same time while at speed rarely ends well. “Your tires only have so much traction, so try to brake while the bike is going straight and then go through the corner either coasting or accelerating,” says Wicks. Generally, it’s better to brake too much before the corner than too little. “If you go in too fast, you’re just going to crash anyway,” says Wicks.

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Drop Your Tire Pressure

Tire pressure has a surprisingly significant influence over how your bike rides. When your tire pressure is too high, the bike feels like its bouncing off obstacles or sliding out from under you. Running a lower tire pressure gives you more traction and since traction is the magic ingredient for both cornering and braking, this small change could make your next ride faster and the descents easier. Try dropping your pressure by 5-10psi before your next ride.

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Tune Your Suspension

Having your front fork — and if you have one, rear shock — dialed in can make the difference between floating over obstacles and bouncing off them. Setting up your suspension typically means determining the ideal air pressure for your fork and rear shock and setting the rebound speed. “You want your suspension tuned for your weight and riding style,” says Wicks. “It’s a little bit intimidating, but it’s not that hard.” A good bike shop can teach you the basics in short order or failing that, there are plenty of resources online. “These days, no one makes a bad bike, if you have it set up correctly,” says Wicks. Taking the time to learn what suspension setup works for you can make a big difference in how your bike performs and how you feel out on the trails.

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Lower Your Saddle for Descents

Even if you have your bike fit dialed, it helps to lower your saddle for the descents. A lower saddle brings down your center of gravity, which typically makes the bike feel more stable. It also allows you to shift your weight farther back over the rear wheel on steeper sections. “It really does make the bike more comfortable,” says Wicks. Start by dropping your saddle an inch and see how it works. “You don’t want to go all the way down,” says Wicks. “You want some saddle height to be able to grab it with your legs and steady the bike.” Some newer bikes come equipped with dropper posts, which allow you to adjust your saddle height on the fly. If you live in an area with steep descents, consider adding one to your bike.

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Don't Think About Crashing

If you spend your whole ride worried about crashing, you’re not going to have much fun. Besides, it’s an inevitable part of riding mountain bikes. “It’s not a big deal, dirt’s not that hard,” he says. You might also try wearing pads to protect your knees and elbows. “The thing about mountain biking is, it’s okay to put on pads,” says Wicks. The top downhill racers wear full armor to protect against injury and there’s nothing that says you can’t follow their example.

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