So you learned all about WHERE to go as a beginner mountain bike rider, but maybe you aren’t even sure what you need or how to do it! I’m going to help you out with a little bit of that!
What You Need
- A bike. It’s helpful. 😉 There are a variety of bikes to choose from: hard tail mountain bike (front suspension only), full suspension mountain bike (front and rear suspension), or fat tire bike. All of these options will give you wider tires with good traction for the grip you want during mountain biking. Your local bike shop can help get you properly sized and fitted and on the correct bike for your needs. I started out on a $100 Walmart mountain bike! Learned on that and beat it up until I was ready to upgrade. You don’t need anything fancy. Figure out if you like the sport first (which I don’t know how you couldn’t!), and when you fall in love and improve your skills, move up to a nicer bike. At that point you’ll really know what type of bike and riding suit you as well!
- A helmet!! Don’t even think about going out on the trails without one. You just never know what could happen, so protect your most important asset! You can buy yourself a standard mountain bike helmet, or if you’d prefer more protection, go for a full-faced helmet. Many are making the switch to full-face, especially downhill mountain bike riders. No one will criticize you for protecting yourself during a potentially dangerous sport.
- Glasses. Sunglasses or clear lenses, whatever you prefer. It’s wise to have some eye protection from dirt, pebbles, and branches. Quite dangerous if something were to suddenly impact your sight as you’re cruising down the trail!
- Clothing. No, you don’t need to wear spandex. 😉 Wear comfortable clothing that is easy to move in. Nothing too baggy that could catch on your bike or branches. You may want some padded bike shorts for extra comfort. Chamois cream can also help down-there comfort.
- Shoes. Wear some good, grippy tennis shoes that have a pretty stiff sole. And make sure your laces don’t get caught up in the bike!! I’m a fan of Five Ten mountain bike shoes, but there are a variety of brands out there if you’d like sport-specific shoes. They’re stylish, easy to walk around in, and super grippy to hold onto your pedals while you fly down the trails! Stock pedals are okay to start, but if you’re thinking you’ll stick with it, it’s worth upgrading. Personally, I use RaceFace Chester mountain bike pedals, but be warned the traction treads can scrape you up pretty good if you do slip off the pedal. Plus, they come in a variety of colors to personalize your bike! For me, the combination of these shoes and pedals give me confidence that I’m not going to lose my grip when going over obstacles or jumps. And when I say jumps, I keep it pretty mellow. 😉
- Gloves. These are not a necessity, but they can be very helpful for a few reasons! If your hands get sweaty, gloves will help you keep your grip. They can also protect your hands when (yes, when, not if) you wipe out, as well as shield from branches and bushes alongside the trail. I wear full fingered gloves for this reason. Mountain bike gloves with padding at the base of the hand can reduce any hand tingling or numbness. If you are getting this a lot, check how much pressure you are putting through your hands or how hard you are gripping. Learn to relax your hands and engage your core so you don’t lean on your arms so much.
- Seat bag with tire kit. It’s important to at least have a few basic tools with you. There are a ton of kit and bag options out there, so I’ll give you the basics of what you should carry. A saddle bag that fits under your seat is convenient, but there are frame and water bottle cage options as well. Or if you’d prefer to carry a small pack, that works great, too! Here’s what to carry: multi-tool, tire levers, patch kit or extra tube (I’d recommend the extra tube), hand pump or CO2 cartridges and inflator. The size of tube you need is printed on the side of your bike tire.
- Water bottle. Don’t forget to bring water! If you’re doing a short ride, an hour or less, plain water is usually just fine. If you are planning a longer ride, make sure you add some electrolytes of your choosing to your water, especially if it’s hot outside! I don’t enjoy my water warm, so I opt for insulated water bottles. 🙂 My bottle of choice is the Camelbak Podium Insulated water bottle. Fun colors, two different sizes, no cap to open/close – just squeeze, and keeps my water cold!
What To Do
Now that you’ve got all your gear, let’s roll! I’m no mountain bike expert or coach, but I’ll give you a few basic tips to get you started. For more help, check out your local mountain bike trail, community events, or local bike shop for any clinics or camps if you want some coaching to get you started!
- Don’t over-inflate your tires. You will likely want less pressure in your tires than is printed on them. This will give you better grip on the trails. It’s something that is very personalized to each rider, so it will take some trial and error to figure out where you like your tires inflated to.
- Pedals even or moving! If you are in the habit of having one pedal down and the other up when coasting, you are going to want to break that immediately for mountain biking! There are many rocks, roots, and other obstacles that will catch your pedals if you ride like this. So either have one pedal forward and one back so they are even or just keep pedaling. This will help you from dashing your pedals and/or feet against a rock that is unlikely to budge for you!
- Butt down going up and butt up going down. When you are climbing, it may be natural to stand up to get more force in order to pedal. However, by lifting your butt off the seat, you’ve lost traction though the rear tire. Keep your butt on the seat so you keep pressure and traction through the rear tire and conquer that hill no problem! When you are going downhill, particularly over rough terrain, get your butt up! Trust me, it’ll feel a lot better. 😉
- Use your gears! You’ll likely stay within a few gears when mountain biking, but it’s going to be a much more enjoyable ride if you learn to shift and use those gears. When you are keeping your butt down for that hill, shift to an easier gear. Try to shift just before you need it. If you are mid-hill and need to shift easier, try not to be mashing down on your pedals when you shift. Let up ever-so-slightly to have a smoother shift. If your pedals are spinning with no resistance, shift to a harder gear.
- Eyes on the trail. You’re going to go where you are looking. If you’re looking at that big tree, guess what, you’re probably gonna hit it. Freaking out about that drop off on the side of the trail? Don’t look at it, cause you and your bike are going to follow! LOOK where you WANT to go. Look into turns and also lean into turns. Use your body to help you navigate, not just steering with your handlebars.
- Check out a bike park. If you’re not feeling ready for a trail, find a bike park first! They usually have a variety of trails and obstacles that make it very easy to try what you are comfortable with. Just keep riding the park until you feel ready to hit the trail!
- Etiquette. Be courteous on the trail. If a faster rider comes up behind you, when it is safe, pull over to the side to let them pass. If you are coming up on someone, announce with “bike back” or something similar. I typically add “when you get a chance” to let them know it’s no rush and to do so safely. Say hi and thanks, and encourage the little ones out there rocking it. They’ll probably be passing you in a few years! 🙂 Don’t ride wet or closed trails. Leave no trace – pack in, pack out.
I hope you found this helpful to get going on your new mountain bike adventure! You will learn more as you go, and don’t be afraid to ask fellow riders! Most of us out there are happy to help or give advice! We were all beginners at one point, and how else did we learn, but from others helping us out! Feel free to ask questions in the comments, or if you are an experienced mountain biker, please add any advice or tips that you’ve found helpful!