Some mountian biking tips I've got from over the years

[Flowrider]

I was talking to some guys on our last ride, and the mountain biking tips I've got over the years were pretty much the same as what they'd found and used.

1. Pick your line early
2. Speed is mostly your friend
3. Downhill: where you place your butt is key. (Mostly behind your saddle) Dropper posts are fantastic for this
4. Use only one or a maximum of two fingers for breaking
5. Leave around 4 bike lengths between you and the biker in front of you.
6. When you get off your bike and say there's a slope on your right, get off on the left and do the same when you're getting on it
7. I wear orange-shaded sunglasses, which help stop the flashes of sunlight as I'm riding through forestry and improve my vision. Not all riders agree to this one

More later.

It would be awesome if you could share mountain biking tips you've picked up over the years!

[Mr. Beanz]

#1.......DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT RIDING FAST DESCENTS ON HARDPACKED RED CLAY WITHOUT A HELMET. The ONE time I thought about riding without a helmet was the ONE time I crashed thinking I was on an easy day and didn't really need a helmet.

Flipped at 25 MPH after hitting a rut, over the bars and onto the back including the back of the helmet. Thankfully the helmet cracked like and egg, not my head.

   

#2............Adjust the air pressure in the front fork a little softer and slower rebound so it keeps the front wheel tracking the surface a little better. That was my experience with my front fork.

[Flowrider]

Wow! Thankfully, you survived that one! I mountain bike heaps, so I know I will wipe out every now and again, so yeah, protection is huge!

[Tina Lim]

(08-05-2026, 03:43 PM)Mr. Beanz Wrote:  #1.......DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT RIDING FAST DESCENTS ON HARDPACKED RED CLAY WITHOUT A HELMET. The ONE time I thought about riding without a helmet was the ONE time I crashed thinking I was on an easy day and didn't really need a helmet.

Flipped at 25 MPH after hitting a rut, over the bars and onto the back including the back of the helmet. Thankfully the helmet cracked like and egg, not my head.



#2............Adjust the air pressure in the front fork a little softer and slower rebound so it keeps the front wheel tracking the surface a little better. That was my experience with my front fork.

That sounds really scary, thankfully no more serious injuries occurred. Sometimes a small oversight while cycling can lead to significant risks. How are your helmet and body recovering now? Did you continue cycling afterward, or did you take a break for a while?

[VinceCyclist]

Great list. “Look where you want to go, not where you don’t want to go” was probably the biggest lesson for me.

Funny how many MTB mistakes come down to looking too late or braking too much. Still learning every ride.

[Sidewinder]

I had 2-finger Haro brake levers on my Powerlite Cruiser, lol... good for experienced BMXers and trail riders, and good for subtle applications of the brakes. As in the world of motorcycles, much of the stopping power for pedal bikes comes from the front brake. I remember an interview with some SuperCross racer, when asked about his rear brake he said, "I never touch it." Granted, that was on a motorcycle, but the "dynamics" of braking are similar on pedal bikes. Too much rear brake application often leads to getting sideways, lol.

If you break it down even further with physics---maybe I should say "brake it down"---timing is important as well. For instance, if I'm on a steep downhill run and there's a curve ahead, I prefer to brake BEFORE entering the curve, but not while TAKING the curve, if that's possible. Too many riders rocket into sharp curves, then crash & burn while hitting the brakes, lol. For me, it's no different from MX: brake before entering the curve, hit the throttle on the way out... some prior downshifting might be helpful on the motorcycle, due to its weight, momentum, etc.

[Flowrider]

@Sidewinder . Perfect, exactly how I and those in our group ride!

" I prefer to brake BEFORE entering the curve, but not while TAKING the curve, if that's possible. Too many riders rocket into sharp curves, then crash & burn while hitting the brakes"

[SPINMAN]

- Gain momentum on the decent and hammer it going up the next climb for as long as possible.
- Watch out for wet leaves on a switch back - from experience - wiped out!

[Sidewinder]

Yeah, I hear ya, Spinman! Same goes for wind-blown drift sand in the high desert, that stuff is dangerous on curves! I remember hitting some drift sand in Anza-Borrego on a rice rocket in the twisties, both tires cut loose but then grabbed clean pavement, it was a dicey moment, lol.