Blimey....ok.....first REAL mtb'ing

thebluefox

Just got back from Cannock, and I know a lot of people on here will say how easy it is to ride etc etc, but please don't post that in here!!

I went today with, as i now realise, no real idea of how to ride some of the terrain that was there. And was completely, and embarrassingly, defeated by the boards.

Does anyone have any tips on how to improve confidence, and my balance??

Also think doing it on a Zero suss bike didn't help, but would this have a massive effect?

Either way, I really enjoyed it, and have the cuts and bruises to prove!

stumpyjon

Practice unfortunately is the only way any of us get better (or book yourself onto a skills course ). There's some techinical trails a couple of miles from me that I'm still trying to master, nearly cleaned the red route with the exception of one tiny bit (managed to clean a section that I'd not been able to do before on Sunday), was pants at the black section so will be going back and getting it right bit by bit.

I think you're right, suspension isn't the be all and end all but it sure does help. Main thing is that's it's addictive and makes you want to have another go.

Almost as important as technique is confidence, which is something I'm still trying to build up :oops: .

maximus69

yeah just keep doing it. my balance was shite when i first started. might be better sitting down instead of standing up on northshore. i read that somewhere, just till you get better. try to look ahead all the time also

thebluefox

Thanks for the replies guys

Yeah, trying to get my confidence up is the hardest thing, I'll get confident and quicker, then have a near miss and be back to the start again, lol. The chainslapper at Cannock was my favourite stage, long sweeping banked corners the bumps were hard to take though.

Any more tips? Even reading other people are having the same issues, or used to but got better will help, lol!

Thanks

Shorty12

Front sus will help dont go to full sus until you really good on a hardtail pratice makes perfect

a17vts

I've just got back into riding again and I am so much worse and less confident when I was only a few years ago. But in only the 3 times I've been out since I got my bike I can tell the difference, but there is still along way to go to get back to a basic level IMO.

dave_hill

Having some basic protective gear can give you a confidence boost! Assuming that you have a helmet and some decent gloves, why not have a look at some budget knee-and-shin guards? If you're not thinking about barking your shins you can concentrate on balancing!

Suspension will definitely help - but don't fall into the trap of thinking that it's there to cover up your mistakes! It's there to help you and make life a touch more comfortable and controlled!

When you're riding, look well ahead at where you're going - don't fixate on a point 3 feet in front of your front wheel. And look where you want to go, not where you don't want to go!

And practice, practice, practice! No substitute for getting out and riding!

thebluefox

thanks for those tips Dave, will definitely try those next time, cheers guys

MarvintheAndroid

Suggest you try to team up with a local riding club, and ride with a mixed ability group - there are bound to be others who enjoy riding but are not downhill speed demons.

http://www.chasetrails.co.uk

Marv

trailpimp72

Hey bluefox,
I have been riding off road for ni on 15 years and have a bit of experience and knowledge that i hope may help.
First off don't get too hung up on what your bike is or in't, a rigid bike is good, it will help teach you to be smooth in your riding style and how to choose the best "lines" on a trail.
This will make you a better rider apposed to those who just jump onto the nearest full sus and abuse it round their local trail center!
I have found ballance is a skill that can be learnt by practice like when you first rode a bike without stablisers, you wobbled but got better!
The idea is to keep your center of gravity (cog) above the contact point of your tyres on the ground, you can do this by tilting the bike to either side and keeping your body over the cog or if the bike is allready at an angle (uneven ground) shift your body weight to find the cog and finetune this with your arms and legs by sticking them out.
One good way to practice ballance is to find a very awkward, rooty and rough section of trail and ride it over and back slowly, i say slowly as this will take away the gyroscopic force of the wheels and force you to rely on your own balance. Another is to go to your local supermarket carpark and put your self into situations where you have to use your ballance i.e. slowly following a line or slowly bumping up and down curbs.
Confidence will come with ballance and the knowledge that you "can" ride a trail feature. Over time you will develop to a point that as your now sharper and instinctive ballance takes you over one trail feature your brain and eyes will be looking ahead and working out the line on the next.
Most importantly just keep riding, the more you do the more you learn and the more you will ENJOY the challenges on the trail rather than worrying about them!
Hope this is of use to you and happy trails.

thebluefox

trailpimp72, that's some excellent advice thank you. I'm itching to get back out on the trails, just can't get around at the minute though

richlong28

yeh i have to say, no suspension would have been a nightmare, i remember when i was cycling my dads bike that has no suspension and there was the tiniest mole hill and thought i know i'll get some air, ended up on the handle bars somehow and had to check the president was still intact...

i'd def get front sus, rear sus is good until you come to an upwards gradient