Over the past few years the number of people buying a new mountain bike has exploded. More and more of us are getting out to explore our local trails with friends and family at the weekend and really enjoying the freedom and access to nature that mountain biking gives us.
However, most people buy and start riding their new mountain bikes without the knowledge of how to get the most from the bike, or the skills to make the most of their riding experience.
In this video series we have asked ex-professional downhill racer and mountain bike commentator, Andrew Neethling, to share tips and advice for new mountain bikers, to ensure that you build good habits from day one, and have the skills and confidence to take your mountain biking as far as your heart desires.
As you build up your toolbox of mountain bike skills you will find you are able to explore farther and take on more technically challenging trails. You will always encounter twists and turns in your trails, but some corners are more difficult than others, and the tightest corners are called switchbacks.
If your trails include switchbacks you will often find that they come in quick succession, rather than one at a time, and in this episode Andrew walks us through how to ride a series of switchbacks successfully. Key areas to focus on include: speed and braking; line of sight; head position; and different lines to try.
This is a technique that requires a lot of practice, but you can definitely have fun experimenting.
The next episode of our MTB skills and tips video series looks at one of the most exciting aspect of mountain biking: descending. As an ex-professional downhill racer, this is something Andrew knows a lot about, so tune in next time to gain some of his expertise.
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