Long days, higher stakes
Summer gives you light until late, dry ground and the motivation to try new things. It also brings heat, crowded skate areas and a tendency to ride too long. Tiredness and dehydration make mistakes more likely, and falls on hard, dry ground are not forgiving.
Each trick below is risky to some degree. Wear a helmet and protective gear that suits the trick, practise in small steps and learn on forgiving, traffic-free ground. Some of these moves, especially drops, jumps and wheelies, are best learned with a qualified instructor. Nothing here guarantees you will land them.
Heat, water and sun
Protective gear can get warm, which tempts riders to take it off. Try lighter, ventilated options rather than going without. Drink regularly in small amounts, take shaded breaks and stop if you feel dizzy, headachy or unusually tired. General advice on hot weather riding covers comfort in more detail, and anyone with a medical condition should check with a doctor.
Sunscreen and sunglasses help, and a helmet with a peak or a cap under it can reduce glare. Shade is useful for rests, not just for comfort. Hot tarmac also softens tyres slightly and can raise air pressure, so check them before and during long sessions.
Busy park manners
Summer parks fill quickly. A few habits keep everyone safer. Watch before you go, and make sure the line is clear. Take turns, do not hover at the top or bottom of a feature and move away after a run. Call out your intention when it is not obvious. If you fall, get out of the way as soon as you can. Skills park etiquette goes into the unwritten rules, and each park may post its own written ones, which you should follow.
If a feature feels beyond you, try walking a feature before riding it, or skip it. Nobody is helped by a rushed attempt in front of a crowd.
Ten tricks and skills for summer
1. Rolling in on a small bank
Rolling in is the controlled start of a run down a gentle slope or small ramp. Begin with the lowest, most gradual one available. Keep your weight centred, hands and feet level, and brakes covered. A quiet moment at the top matters; do not drop in if someone is below.
2. Carving a berm
A berm is a banked turn. Enter slowly, look through the corner, keep your outside foot down and let the bank guide the bike. Faster comes later. Berm technique at a bike park covers the details.
3. Pump track laps
Pump tracks are loops of rollers and banked turns designed to be ridden by pumping rather than pedalling. Start slowly and focus on rhythm. Smooth, repeated laps are friendlier than speed. A pump track is a good place to build energy-efficient skills while sharing space.
4. A small jump
Pick a tiny, well-built jump at a park, with a smooth takeoff and an obvious landing. Roll over it first at low speed to feel the shape. Beginners often benefit from lessons here. Understand jump landing before trying any height, because the landing is where a mistake is felt most.
5. A small drop
A drop is a step down to a lower surface. Start with a curb-height drop onto smooth ground, with a clear run-out. Walk it first. Keep your arms soft and let the bike absorb the landing. Bigger drops need experience and are for riders who are comfortable with the physics of drop-offs.
6. A better bunny hop
If you know the basic hop, work on timing: front end up, then pull the rear to level. Clear a low object, and aim for control rather than height. Keep a finger over the brake and land with both wheels as close together as you can.
7. A longer manual
Balancing on the rear wheel is a skill of tiny corrections. Use the rear brake to catch the front wheel if it rises too high. Build slowly, in a flat open space, because falling backwards is a common way to hurt wrists and tailbones. Lessons can be especially helpful here.
8. A hop 180
A 180 is a half turn in the air or on the spot. Start on flat ground with a small bunny hop and a slight turn of the hips, then increase gradually. It needs careful judgement of space, and rotation in general becomes dangerous quickly. Do not try spins on ramps or at speed without instruction.
9. Riding backwards
Roll backwards slowly down a very gentle slope or push your feet back on flat ground, on a quiet area free of obstacles. Look behind you, and use your weight to steer. Treat riding backwards as slow technical practice rather than a rolling stunt.
10. A short wheelie
A wheelie is lifting the front wheel while pedalling and holding it up on the rear. Risk of a backward fall is real. Start on soft grass with a low gear and keep a finger on the rear brake. If you find the balance point hard to feel, leave it alone and ask for coaching.
Cooling down
At the end of a session, ride gently for a few minutes, drink water and check your bike. Look for loose bolts, a bent part or a flat tyre. Many parks are crowded in late afternoon, so earlier or later hours may give you more space and cooler temperatures. Stop earlier than you think you need to, especially on the hottest days.