Riding tips for riders that are just starting out and that have been riding for years.
As you can see, there are serious side affects to not properly hydrating before, during and after your ride. This is why I see hydrating as the most important thing to keep in mind while on the trail. Most times, when you feel like you are dehydrated, your body is telling you that you are already behind the eight ball.
I know…it sounds funny, but who better to tell you how to wreck a mountain bike other than 198? If you have clicked the “About MTB by198” link above, you already know that I am very qualified to explain how to wreck, but more importantly, how NOT TO WRECK.
Many people think of one thing when it comes to cycling, those tight spandex shorts, wondering “do I have to wear those shorts if I want to get serious about cycling?” Well people you are in luck. Bike clothing manufacturers are making baggy bike shorts for those of us that want to be comfortable on the trails and not self conscious.
I was reminded yesterday how important it really is to pace yourself. Luckily, nothing bad happened, at least to me, and I got through the ride clean. When you don’t pace yourself over the course of the ride, there are several things that are bound to happen.
In the day and age of $4.00+ per gallon gas, I think all of us fall into the category of being a “Biker On a Budget”. I mean getting started in biking can be expensive, or you can cut corners in the right places to get the enjoyment you want without the large out-pouring of money.
Unless you are in a very technical section, the best strategy is to focus on the trail farther ahead of you instead of what is right in front of your tire. When you only focus on the section of trail that you are about to hit, you end up making unnecessary corrections that throw the bike off line. The result is slower, harsher riding.
Last year I changed my pedals to clipless and I have never looked back. I enjoy the control and extra power that I get from being clipped in to my pedals. I have a friend of mine that changed just this year to clipless and is also finding the new pedals to be a big improvement over her standard bike pedal. She was asking for some pointers and to keep her in mind as she started off on this new endeavor.
The time periods vary depending on the rider, but in generally the first 30 days on the bike are the most critical. During this time period, you are going to notice the fastest improvements in endurance and bike handling. I have talked with riders on this subject before, and most of us agree that new riders are much like the graph shown above, you see great improvements at the beginning.
Balance can be one of the most important skills to improve on your bike. Have you ever seen a rider on the road or trail come to a complete stop without getting off the bike? While this may look like a cool trick, it is actually a very useful tool on the trail, and it is a great way to hone your balancing skills on the bike.
One of the things that greatly improves my riding is to constantly remind myself to stay like on the bike. The general premise of staying light is remembering that you are supposed to be working with the bike on the trail…not against it.
