Mountain Biking Cross-Country Tips You Need (B)

Posted by tan xiao yan on

When you are taking a mountain biking cross-country game, instead of just "riding" the bike, you want to interact with it. Change your centre of gravity and get the best results by moving your arms, shoulders, and hips. Through these actions, you can maintain balance and get the best grip. The more technical the ride is, the more you need to move your body. Your body movement is limited when sitting on the saddle, so when your hips leave the saddle, you can move your body by a wider margin and absorb impact through your thighs.

Although your feet and hands are fixed, your body can do pyramid-like activities taking the saddle as the centre. When you stand up, you can move your centre of gravity to your feet and get a larger movement, which will give you more space to change the centre of gravity, allowing the front and rear wheels to get the maximum grip when braking, climbing and turning. And it's easier to pull the wheels over the obstacles. These techniques can start with the ready posture. That is, bend your arm a little, and your hips get slightly away from the saddle, stepping your pedals flatly, bending your knees and arms to absorb shocks while your hands grasping the handlebar but not fixed, the whole posture is like a cat is about to land.

Last time we have talked about the mountain biking cross-country tips on the off-chamber paths, the rocky area and when entering hairpin turns. Today, we will continue to talk about things needing pay attention to when cycling on other terrains.

1. When on the sandy land.

The sand will deprive the leg of the power and disrupt the control of the bike, and every of your step will cause the rear wheel to sink deeper. For some mountain riders, especially in Florida and Arizona, sandy land is a part of their cycling career. Of course, the wider tyre with small grain tread will help a lot. Even with narrower tires, some professional cyclists can still pass a long sandy land, which, of course, needs some luck and good techniques.

First of all, the easiest trick is to follow the track of other mountain riders and let your tires ride into the flat-already path to cross the sandy land. When you keep the tires on the former track, step as smoothly as you can, and grip the handlebars gently. Keep the whole control of your bike along the track and remember to stay balanced and you will be able to easily pass it.

What if there's no former track? That will require some rafting skills. When your hips gently sit on the saddle, remember to maintain the body's centre of gravity between the two tires, and your eyes directly look at the end of the sandy land. Use a low-speed gear to move forward, but use the medium front fluted disc, which will allow you have a longer period to step vigorously.

Next, every time you step the pedal, keep straight down, take advantage of the dead centre of the stampede when step vigorously, and bounce your body up to help the tire raise up and improve the smoothness of sandy land.

What is more, use your body's movements to avoid excessive steering of your handlebars as it will cause your front wheel to sink into the sand.

Finally, hold on to it and take as an obstacle-surmounting game. Do not give up before you fall, and never let the other cyclists overtake you in the sandy land.

2. When on the steep slope.

First of all, when approaching the slope, use a small front fluted disc, and a rear gear two-level higher than the one you want to complete the slope. In the first stage of climbing, when your energy is about to run out, to drop the gear some time in advance, and do not frustrate yourself because of the missing shift.

Secondly, choose the way forward. Most of the steep slopes have grooves or ruts, which need to be crossed when climbing. Once the uphill route is planned, stick to this plan.

Thirdly, stay seated, and when you reach the steepest surface, move your hips forward to the front end of the saddle and tilt your upper body forward, allowing the front wheel to grip the ground and having the right controls and don't stand up. Do not tilt overly forward as it will cause the rear wheel to slip.

The final stage will cause some pain because sitting in the nose of the saddle will cause improper stretching, which will result in the overuse of quadriceps muscles. But hang on there, keep this position, because it will give enough grip to your rear wheel.

And if the rear wheel is slipping, don't stop, but simply tilt your upper body slightly off the slope to your rear wheel and continue to step.

Finally, when reaching the top, most of the cyclists will cause the rear wheel to slip when they cross the upper edge because their bodies lean forward. When you reach the top, you will be a hero as long as you lean back slightly and keep the rear wheel gripping the ground at the final stage.

3. When stuck in a groove or rut.

Firstly, if there is any chance, practice by deliberately riding into a small and parallel groove or rut. It is very important because you have to get used to the sense of balance of the bike riding in this weird place.

Secondly, try to stretch out a foot before rolling over the big groove. If the groove curve is on your right, extend the right foot, and vice versa. Keep seated and slightly backwards. Use the rear brake more than usual because if you overuse the front brake, you will not be able to manipulate the bike in the messy grooves.

Then, keep the front wheel in a rolling state, and avoid the groove in front of you at the first place. Focus your eyes on the front place and relax the body, when the wheel suddenly stuck into the groove or rut, move to the side.

Finally, if you lose your balance, don't forget to stretch your foot to prop up. Just make sure one of your feet is kept on the pedal and you will go through the bumpy road safe and sound.