Why fundamentals come before tricks
Mountain biking rewards riders who are relaxed, balanced and in control at modest speed. Almost every trail skill, from rolling over roots to hopping a small log, is built from the same handful of basics. The mountain bike fundamentals covered here are the ready position, braking, cornering and lifting the wheels. Practise them in that order and the more exciting skills become far easier to learn.
A note on risk before anything else. Off-road riding involves falls, and some of the skills below, especially lifting the wheels and any kind of jump or drop, can cause real injuries. Nothing in this article can promise that you will learn a skill or avoid a crash. Wear a helmet and protection that suits the terrain, start on flat, open, traffic-free ground, and move up in small steps. This is general information, not coaching, so consider a lesson from a qualified instructor.
Set the bike up and check it first
A bike that fits you and works properly makes every skill easier. Brakes that grab unevenly or a loose handlebar will undermine your confidence quickly. A short pre-ride bike check before each outing, covering brakes, tyres, wheels and anything that rattles, takes only a few minutes. For repairs or anything you are unsure about, see a bike shop and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Lever position matters too. Most riders brake with one or two fingers, so the levers should be set where your fingers can reach them while your hands stay wrapped around the grips. Many riders also find that wide, slightly rolled-back grips feel more secure than they sound. Small adjustments are worth trying one at a time, in a car park, before you head for the trail.
The ready position
The ready position is the stance you return to between every other skill. Stand on the pedals with the cranks level, so neither foot is ahead of the other. Keep your knees and elbows softly bent, your weight over the middle of the bike, and your head up looking ahead. Your hands rest on the grips with your index fingers near the brake levers.
The point is to let the bike move beneath you. Your arms and legs act as suspension, so bumps are absorbed by bending rather than by bouncing you off the bike. Gripping too tightly, locking your elbows and sitting stiffly are the usual mistakes. A relaxed neutral riding position also leaves you ready to shift your weight forwards or backwards when the ground changes.
Practise on a gentle, smooth slope. Roll along in the stance, then try shifting your hips back a little and forward again. If it feels awkward at first, that is normal.
Braking
Braking is a skill, not just a lever squeeze. Both brakes are useful, and the front brake does a lot of the work, but grabbing it hard on loose or steep ground can be risky. Smooth, progressive pressure is the aim. The details of front and rear brake use are worth reading in their own right, but a few principles help straight away:
- Slow down before a corner or obstacle, not in the middle of it.
- Use one or two fingers and keep the rest of your hand on the grip.
- Keep your weight back and your heels gently down on steeper ground, so you are not pitched forwards.
- On loose or wet ground, brake earlier and more gently, because tyres lose grip sooner.
Try a simple drill: ride at walking pace down a mild grassy slope, and stop at a marked spot using both brakes smoothly. Repeat until you can stop where you meant to without skidding.
Looking where you want to go
Your bike tends to follow your eyes. If you stare at a rock, you are more likely to hit it. Look ahead to where you want to go, and glance at the problem rather than fixating on it. This habit sits behind good trail line reading, which is simply noticing the smoothest, safest path a little way ahead and committing to it. Beginners usually look too close to the front wheel. Lifting your gaze helps you feel calmer and gives you more time to react.
Cornering
Corners are where many new riders lose confidence. In general, slow down before the turn, look through it, keep your outside foot down and your pedals level, and lean the bike more than your upper body. Dropping your outside foot and pressing it into the pedal helps the tyres grip. The same ideas show up in mountain bike cornering on berms and flat turns, though those take practice at a bike park or trail centre.
Start with wide, flat, grassy turns at low speed. Gradually tighten the turn only when the wide one feels comfortable. If the tyres slide, you are going too fast for the surface, and that is useful information rather than a failure.
Lifting the front wheel
Once the first three skills feel natural, you can begin to learn to lift the wheels. This helps with rolling over small obstacles such as roots, kerbs and low logs. Treat it as optional and take your time.
A basic front wheel lift is a smooth shift of weight, not a yank on the bars. From the ready position, bend your arms slightly, then push your hips back and straighten your arms so the front wheel rises a little. Then bring your weight forward again to roll the wheel down. Aim for a few centimetres off the ground at most. Beginners should practise over a painted line or a rolled-up towel on grass, with the bike moving slowly.
Lifting both wheels
A bunny hop combines a front lift with a push through the legs and a pull of the pedals to bring the rear wheel up as well. Done badly, it can cause the rear wheel to catch, or you to slip off the pedals. Start with the front-wheel lift above, then learn the bunny hop technique in small stages, over a flat line on the ground first. If your feet slip, check your shoes and pedals before anything else.
Wheelies, manuals and jumps are further along the path, and some of them are better learned with instruction. Take your time; there is no reward for rushing.
Choosing where to practise
Pick somewhere flat and quiet, ideally grass or smooth dirt away from traffic and other people. Parks, empty car parks and gentle trails are good options. Keep sessions short; tiredness is when mistakes creep in. Solo skills practice has benefits, but tell someone where you are going, and consider riding with a friend or a club.
Local bike parks often have beginner areas and signposted trails graded by difficulty. If you are curious, bike park basics are a useful next read, and a skills lesson can quickly correct habits that are hard to spot yourself.
Protective gear and falling
A helmet suited to mountain biking is the starting point. Many riders add gloves, glasses and knee or elbow protection as terrain becomes more challenging; choosing protective gear is mostly a matter of matching it to what you will be doing. Protection can reduce injuries but cannot prevent them. If you do fall, try to stay relaxed and let go of the bike rather than stiffening your arms. Stop and check yourself and the bike before riding on.
A simple progression
- Check the bike and wear a helmet and suitable protection.
- Practise the ready position on a smooth, gentle slope.
- Practise smooth braking and stopping at a marked spot.
- Ride wide flat turns, then gradually tighter ones.
- Look ahead and follow a chosen line across easy ground.
- Try small front-wheel lifts, then perhaps both wheels, at low speed.
- Visit a bike park or trail centre and take a lesson if you can.
Progress may be quick or slow, and both are fine. Stop when you are tired, walk anything that feels beyond you, and enjoy riding the skills you already have.