1001 Mountain Bike Tips

Well done for picking up 1001 Mountain Biking Tips. This special edition is packed with expert MTB advice. Inside, you’ll find page after page of riding techniques, from beginner right through to advanced. We show you how to improve your bike fitness which will allow you to ride at your best, how to maintain and upgrade your mountain bike, plus a whole lot more. If it’s technical MTB knowledge you’re after, then look no futher than our features on suspension, frame geometry and wheel size, they breakdown everything you need to know. We’ve worked with MBUK, the UK’s best selling mountain bike mag, to bring you the best and most up to date advice around, along with plenty of input from a host of pro riders and top coaches. Our aim is…

It’s fantastic to see the world of mountain biking growing at the rate it is, with people of all abilities and ages getting involved. The amazing thing about our sport is that you can buy a bike and immediately start riding off-road – with no training, you can just pedal off into the woods to have fun. However, there are some basic pointers that’ll help improve your experience (and make riding a little safer) if you’re new to mountain biking. I’ve broken these down into Key Skills, which is what you need to do on the bike, and Key Controls, explaining how to set up your brakes, gears and dropper seatpost. 01 STAND UP One of the first things any mountain biker must learn is how to comfortably stand up on a…

Passion and drive are important behaviours in sport – they motivate us to give it our all. But this passion and enthusiasm to go fast can sometimes get in the way of proper technique, especially when you’re new to something. At the opposite end of the scale is the fear of a potential crash – and fear is another behaviour that really affects our riding. It doesn’t matter which trail centre I go to, most of the beginner mistakes I see come from either one or both of these things. Thinking about your technique and riding smart can help you to manage these trails, and will take you a long way in mountain biking. These photos illustrate five common bad habits, which are easy to kick if you follow my…

CHECK YOUR BIKE I’ve coached people who tell me their bike is fine, but I’ll check their tyre pressures later and find they’ve only got 10psi in them. Basic checks before a ride can reduce the chances of a mechanical. It’s worth running through a mental checklist: Tyres pumped up (25-30psi is a good base) and gears shifting smoothly, suspension at the correct sag, saddle at the right height and bolts torqued. Pay attention to pivots, as they can work loose. PACK CORRECTLY Next, think about what you need to take with you. You shouldn’t weigh yourself down with too much stuff, but it’s important to take the essentials for the conditions you’ll be riding in. Think, “Can I fix my bike? Tools. Do I have spares? Inner tube. Can I stay warm…

There are two main aspects of learning to ride well. One is technical – how you move your body to make the bike work properly for you. The other is how you read the trail. Being able to pick a good line and look, brake and accelerate in the right places will make you faster without even feeling like you’re going quicker. Reading the trail can be tough to master, but once you do, everything seems easier and you find more flow. It’s all about looking and thinking ahead. Whether you’re familiar with the trail or not, there are four key considerations that’ll help you plan how to tackle it and react in time, improving your riding no end – and upping the fun factor, too! 01 SELECTING LINES Choosing the correct…

What can I say? Riding in muddy, soggy conditions is one of my most enjoyable times on the bike, and if you live in the UK it’s a frequent occurrence. With the winter now set in properly, there’s no better time to embrace the mud and slime. Bike set-up (covered on this page) is very important, and there are a few upgrades that can make a massive difference to the amount of fun you’ll have when it’s wet and rowdy. It’s important to think about your riding technique too, and to wear appropriate kit (see overleaf for more on that). Now get out there and have some fun! BIKE set-up It’s all about the bike… NON-STICK COATING This tip may be more something for the racers, but spraying your frame with silicone lube can…