How to improve your riding

20 Nov

Mountain biking is the ultimate nature meets mindfulness and adventure activity. Improving your riding helps you experience flow, presence and keeps you riding more- less crashes, less money spent on Physio and bike repairs!

There are a few things I have noticed that have the greatest impact on how fast someone progresses in their mountain biking:

1. Time on the bike

Short rides, long rides, riding to the shops, riding with kids. The more you are on your bike, the more you get to feel how it moves, how your body moves in relation to your bike. You also add small amounts of incidental exercise which in turn improves overall fitness and condition.

2. Doing a skills clinic

For beginners, this is often the difference between really enjoying the sport and dropping out. Even for seasoned riders, it can always help to have an experienced instructor tweak your technique and give you tips to improve your efficiency. Improved efficiency= less energy expended= greater enjoyment

3. Having friends to ride with.

This is one thing that all of our participants at past events and clinics have spoken about the most. If you have friends that ride, get regular! Set a ride day/time and commit to it as if it’s a fitness class that you’ve paid for. If you don’t know anyone who rides, there are plenty of groups on FB that organise rides- and coming soon is our Dirt Maidens Membership option (perfect for those who live in Canberra or surrounds).

4. Riding with people that are more skilled. Watching experienced riders allows you to see which lines they are choosing, look at their body position, and often pushes you to try new things.

I’d love to hear what has helped you improve your riding the most?

Check out our upcoming Beginner and Refresher Skills Clinics, based at Stromlo Forest Park, Canberra.

Claire McDonnell

How to improve your riding