You're hooked on Mountain Biking
Single-track unfolding beneath a canopy of trees, a hardpack fire road dropping into the river valley blow, a twisting staircase of roots and rocks: They all lure you in with the promise of challenge and beauty.
Your style of riding can be heavily influenced by the landscape where you ride. The North of Thailand is known for its 'technical' riding with its rocky soil, lush vegetation, and gnarled roots. Riding smoothly requires the ability to hop over logs and fallen branches as well as finesse your tires though fallen leaves and over slippery rocks. Drier climates, such as you can find on the Korat plateau, demand the ability to negotiate between hardpack and loose, granular soil.
Ride Loose
All essential bike handling skills stem from the ability to shift your weight rapidly and smoothly. When you're climbing, spread your weight over the front wheel to keep it firmly on the ground. Try to pedal in smooth circles for sustained power. During a descent, you'll want to get off the saddle and move your weight back, sometimes to the point where you stomach is over the seat, and keep your arms slightly bent for shock absorption. To cut sharp turns, ride with you inside pedal high and move your weight onto the outside pedal. Learn how to loosen your mind as well as your body. Ride smoothly, instead of quickly, and you'll naturally gain speed.
Some of the Mountain Biking Essentials
The bunny hop is an invaluable tool when a root or rock is in your path and you'd much rather sail over it than stop and dismount. Practice with a soda can and work your way up to larger obstacles.
- Make sure you're riding with enough speed to carry your bike over the soda can. For maximum smoothness, stop pedaling when you're two bike lengths from the can.
- Rise up out of the seat with your legs slightly bent at the knee and center your weight over the bike.
- When you're one bike length from the can, compress your weight on the bike, pushing it into the ground. You should end the movement with arms and legs fully bent and your upper body close to the bike. Think of a cat ready to pounce.
- Spring straight up rising up using your legs without jerking your arms. Both tires should come off the ground at the same time. As soon as they do, pull you legs up (this is easier with toe clips or clipless pedals), allowing the bike to rise higher.
- Keep your front wheel straight as you come in for a landing.
Clearing an obstacle
Say there's a log in your way and it's too big to bunny hop. This move uses elements of the bunny hop but involves lifting the front and rear wheel separately.
- Asses your speed. You want to go slower than when you bunny hop but fast enough to keep your momentum.
- When you're on wheel length away, move your weight forward and compress your weight, then pull up on the front wheel while you slide your weight back. Simultaneously, push down on your pedals to give you lift, then pause your pedaling.
- When your front wheel goes over the log, throw the bike forward, extending your arms. You should be out of the seat when your rear wheel hits the log. Pedal to keep your momentum.
- Keep the front wheel straight and your arms extended but slightly bent. When the front wheel hits the ground on the other side, your rear wheel should be on top of the log or dropping off the other side. Your weight is back, and you're looking good.
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