Practice Balancing on a Mountain Bike

This article describes some exercises for improving balance on your mountain bike. They apply to bikes of all sizes and hardtails as well as full suspension bikes.

Steps

  1. Slow riding. Put you bike in a gear that would usually be good for riding at 6 mph (10 km/h). Ride along a straight line at 2 mph (3 km/h).
  2. Very slow riding. Do the same as above, but even slower.
  3. Stop-starts. Ride the bike slowly, then clamp down on both brakes. Re-start as soon as you need to. After some practice, you'll be surprised how long you can stay still. Don't worry if you are wobbling around.
  4. Figure 8s. Ride around in a figure 8. Then, either (i) slow down, or (ii) make the figure 8 smaller, or (iii) both.
  5. Board riding. Get some old timber. Say 5 in x 1 in and {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} long (12.7 cm x 12.5 cm x 2.4 m). Make sure it is clear of nails and tin. Put it on the ground and try to ride along it. Once you master a 5" (12.7 cm) board, try 4" (10.2 cm) then 3" (7.6 cm). Make a low ramp (a few inches off the ground) for extra pressure.
  6. Have fun.

Warnings

  • Always wear a helmet.
  • Always practice on grass.
  • Start easy, work up to difficult tricks.
  • Expect some minor falls.
  • Wear soft, safe clothes.
  • Practice where someone can see you if you get in trouble.

Related Articles

Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Practice_Balancing_on_a_Mountain_Bike&oldid=275590"