Skills / Techniques
Beginners and novice riders often fall because they do not posses the skills needed for Mountain biking. I know that quite a few people must think 'I know how to ride a bike', purchase a Mtb and head off on the trail. At first, they may roll the trail with no problems, then they pick up speed and crash on a turn due to poor technique and skills. If they continue with the sport without adding the correct skills, they will continue to fall. (And get cuts, bruises, scraps, lacerations or even a broken bone. The trip to the emergency room is one that you'll want to forget).
Do you see a difference between the two tires below?
If your riding a trial with no major obstacles, I would say that the majority of the falls are will be on the turns. Most beginner and novice Mtb'ers do not add enough weight on the front tire which is VERY important in this sport. Another technique is staying over you bike to add weight over the tires. (Not leaning into the turn)
A typical scenario would be like this:
Your heading downhill and there is a left hand turn coming up, you apply the brakes and if you have a front shock, it compresses due to the weight transfer to the front of the bike due to braking. You naturally and instinctively counter the movement forward and shift your weight to the rear of the bike as you head into the turn. Now your front tire starts the slide to the right (hopefully there is no ledge), you panic and hit the brakes hard and both tires may start locking up. (Your front tire will slide when there is NOT enough of YOUR weight applied to it) It's too late at this point as your bike has slid out from under you and your down...
Ouch!
So what is the correct way to corner on a Mtb? Well it takes judgment, technique and experience.
Judgment - Takes into consideration a safe speed to rail the turn based on the conditions. Your looking ahead and take into consideration the type of turn, banked, flat, sharp, un-uniform, leaves, gravel, sand, wet, damp, etc... Based on what you see, you scrub off enough speed before you initiate the turn.
Technique - Heading into the turn, you set up wide, hit the inside (apex) and end wide. Your in the attack position and ready to load the front tire with additional weight if necessary. You will place your outside leg down based on the speed that your carrying through the turn. This is usually done on faster turns, but can be applied to most turns. You body weight is over both tires and not leaning into the turn. If it is a left handed turn, you don't want to lean to the left unless you have a bank to work with.
Experience - You have prior experience dealing with certain situations on the trail and apply the correct and necessary techniques before, during and after the turn. Weight shift, balance, steering, weight over your tires.
Obstacles
Other areas where beginners and novice riders fall are obstacles, the usual suspects are rocks, roots, logs and ruts. The type of bike that you have will also enable you to 'float' the objects. Downhill bikes will be able to roll over (float) most obstacles on the trail as they have a long travel (160mm+) double crown fork up front and up to 8 inch travel spring in the back.
Santa Cruz V10
With obstacles like rocks, you will want to choose your line through them for the smoothest path. There are a lot of variables to consider when descending like size, spacing and quantity (rock garden?). Look to the sides of the trail when it is filled with rocks as there may be a smoother path.
Logs - If they are small, you can just roll over them. Make a habit of attacking them at 90*, do not attempt to roll over them at an angle as your tire can easily slip on them. If the log is as high as your bottom bracket, a bash guard helps. You will want to lift up on the handlebars and wheelie over the log and allow your rear tire to follow. Sit back and behind your seat before your front tire hits the ground.
Roots - You will want to attack them at 90* if possible to avoid your tire from slipping while rolling over them.
Ruts - There are so many variables, size, width, length, depths, quantity. In general, you'll want to avoid getting your tire in them as it will force you to steer within them. Take the line around them or jump (bunnyhop) them when possible.
Riding too fast for your skill level:
Many new riders will just ride a trail with too much speed. (When learning something new, you don't know what you don't know). Maybe to keep up with a friend that is faster, or maybe just for that adrenaline rush. If they hit an obstacle the wrong way, it can send you flying at 35mph. With so many trees/rocks on the trail, you'll be lucky to miss one.
Bike Setup
Is your bike setup for the trail that your riding? Did you check your front/back tire pressure? Shock pressure and settings (rebound, compression)? What type of tires are you running? Are they optimal for the trails/conditions in your area? Width of your tires F/B? Seat height on the descent?
If your bike is not setup optimally for the trails that you are riding, it just adds another small factor to the crash equation. When you are in a specific situation on the trail and add up the minor mistakes made, it could end up in a crash. If you have your bike setup optimally, you may be able to get yourself out of that precarious situation as your equipment may save you.
Have fun
There are a lot of things to consider when riding on the trails. If your new to the sport and really enjoy it, you may want to get yourself of protective armor for your knees and elbows. If your not racing or getting paid for riding, you don't need to set new speed records so just go out and have fun. It's OK to walk a section of the trail that is steep with obstacles. You may want to do it because other have and in time, you may be able to do it as well.
Equipment starts to become a factor when the terrain start getting rough, even for experienced riders. That $200 department store Mtb may have real trouble getting down some technical trails...
Focus on a certain technique when your out on the trails next time. Be aggressive on the trails. Some of the best riders on a Mtb are the down-hillers, look at photo's of them and you will see that they are always in a aggressive attack position. If you want to become a good rider, you'll need to add aggression on the trails. Most of all, enjoy the outdoors, scenery and get yourself a great workout at the same time!
Flume trail Lake Tahoe, CA
