5 things beginner mountain bike riders should know

New to mountain biking? Welcome to the fun part.

Mountain biking can look a little intimidating from the outside, but you don’t need years of experience or a long list of skills to get started. A few basic techniques can make a huge difference to how comfortable and confident you feel on the bike.

And with a mix of trails catering to different abilities, Finch Hatton MTB is a great place to start building those skills.

Before you hit the trails, here are five things every beginner mountain bike rider should know.

1. Look where you want to go

It sounds simple, but one of the best pieces of advice for any new mountain biker is to look where you want your bike to go.

Your bike has a habit of following your eyes. If you stare directly at the rock, root or edge of the trail you’re trying to avoid, there’s a good chance you’ll end up heading straight towards it.

Instead, keep your eyes up and look ahead. When you’re approaching a corner, look through the turn towards the exit. When there’s an obstacle on the trail, look past it and towards where you want your wheels to go.

The further ahead you look, the more time you’ll have to react to what’s coming next.

2. Your brakes aren’t the enemy

Good braking isn’t about grabbing a handful of brake every time things get a little quick.

Get comfortable using both your front and rear brakes, applying them smoothly and gradually to control your speed. Sudden, heavy braking can cause your wheels to lose traction, particularly on loose or uneven surfaces.

Where possible, do most of your braking before corners and technical features rather than right in the middle of them. This gives you more control and lets the bike roll more naturally through the trail.

As your confidence builds, you’ll get a much better feel for how much braking you need and when to use it.

3. Pick your line before you send it

Your “line” is simply the path you choose through a section of trail.

Rather than waiting until you’re right on top of a rock, corner or technical section to decide where to go, look ahead and choose where you want your wheels to travel.

For beginners, the smoothest and simplest line is usually the best option. Look for the path that allows you to maintain control and avoid any obstacles you’re not ready to tackle.

As your skills improve, you’ll start noticing different lines through the same section of trail. That’s part of the fun. The line you choose on your first ride might be completely different by your fifth.

4. Shift before you need to

There’s nothing worse than hitting the bottom of a climb in a hard gear and suddenly realising your legs have a lot more work to do.

Try to anticipate changes in the trail and shift into an easier gear before you need it. This is particularly important before climbs and slower technical sections.

Changing gears while you’re already pushing hard on the pedals puts extra pressure on your drivetrain and can make it difficult for the bike to shift smoothly.

See a climb coming? Change down early, keep your pedals turning and give yourself the best chance of maintaining your momentum.

You’ll appreciate it halfway up.

5. It’s OK to walk your bike

Not every section has to be sent.

If you reach a feature or section of trail that feels beyond your current skill level, there is absolutely nothing wrong with jumping off and walking your bike.

In fact, knowing when not to ride something is an important mountain biking skill in itself.

You can also stop somewhere safe, take a look at the feature and work out how you might approach it next time. As your confidence and skills improve, you can always come back and give it another go.

Mountain biking isn’t about riding everything on day one. It’s about progressing at your own pace and having a good time while you do it.

Ready to hit the trails?

The best way to improve your mountain biking is pretty simple: ride more.

Start with trails that match your ability, take your time and focus on getting comfortable on the bike before progressing to more challenging terrain.

At Finch Hatton MTB, beginner riders can build confidence on the network’s Green trails before stepping things up to Blue and eventually Black trails.

3 Finch Hatton MTB trails for beginners

If you’re new to mountain biking, these are three great trails to put on your hit list:

A fun and easy flowing trail with multiple berms and rollers

A relaxed mid-valley adventure trail. Just under 1km with plenty of ups and downs and a bit of pedalling, great for beginners.

Classed as intermediate, this trail is designed for progressive fun.

Take your time, ride within your limits and remember: everyone you see flying down the trails started as a beginner too.