Read the trail!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most importantly, you need to look carefully at what is ahead of you so you can anticipate it. This allows you to quickly identify changes or obstacles in the trail. You do this by not looking directly in front of your wheel but rather far ahead, and if you are riding corners look carefully through the turn. Remember, the bike goes where you look!<\/p>\n\n\n\n On a mountain bike, you have two positions, not only the sitting position but also the standing position. Actually, you want to attack every obstacle in the trail, for this you use the so-called attack position. This is crucial for controlling your bike properly on technical terrain. This position is characterised by coming out of the saddle, bending the knees and elbows slightly and positioning your weight between the front and rear wheel. This gives you room to move around the bike and accommodate bumps or holes in the trail. In short, it allows you to react quickly to changes in terrain. this position is also the basis for the skills that follow. To know more: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=S7_Ob-gYlYM<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, once you have seen all those obstacles on the track, and are in the right position on the bike, you need to be able to handle them. For this, it is very important that you learn to balance your weight on and around the bike, this will give you the confidence to easily manoeuvre your bike through and over all kinds of obstacles. A good exercise for this is the track stand where you stay in place for a while, and by bringing your hips all the way to your rear wheel, handlebars and left and right of your saddle while riding slowly or standing still. It is also a fun challenge to put your water bottle down on the ground and pick it up again as you ride by. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you have mastered all this, it is time to work on cornering. Most people fall in corners so that is a good reason to work on this. You can also carry a lot more speed if you can turn well which in turn means you use less energy on the trail or simply go faster. GMBN has a good guide on how to steer on a mountain bike: <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/image-6.jpg\")
The attack stance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Balance sheet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Curving<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"starting](\"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/image-7-1024x576.jpg\")