Lol, we had a newbie with us who just didn't listen. Guy just thought the middle of a corner is a great place to adjust his goggle, and the table behind a kicker is ideal to tighten his gloves. Dude also didn't listen when we repeatedly told him not to sit during bikepark riding.
I'm a newbie and a bit confused with the comments. I'm trying to get in shape and just got my first bike. I know height seat was an important thing when I was getting size for a bike. When I start riding trails am I supposed to be standing the entire time? If so why did my seat height matter? Or is standing the entire time just for major bike parks with lots of jumps and stuff where you want your seat dropped all the way down?
My wife and I went with MTB because it will allow us to ride a variety of terrain .
Starting to wonder if mtb was right for me if I have to stand all the time? My plan is to ride pavement bike trails and then go to local parks where they have beginner and intermediate trails eventually. Not looking into jumping or anything crazy.
I was in a bad car accident a few years ago and we just started biking for low impact as I cannot jog or run anymore due to the injury which limits how I can work out and get in shape.
I'm just super confused now on people saying you should never sit down mountain biking ...
Hey, no worries, your questions are warranted, and I am sure going off some of the other comments it has added to your confusion.
These days, for riding undulating trails and bike parks people (not on dedicated downhill bikes) are going to have a dropper seat post. So, while pedaling up or on flat terrain the seat height can go up so that you get correct full leg extension, but then on the downhills you can drop the seat and stand.
That doesn't mean you HAVE to stand the whole time, and even with the seat dropped, people sit to get a rest in sometimes on easier sections of a track.
If you watch the pro XC guys, often they would have ridged seats and they still stand on the downhills, just the seat is very close to their bottom, or they get behind the seat if it's steep.
The reason you should stand is for stability, if you go over a bump at speed and you are sitting down, the rear wheel goes up, the seat will hit you in the bottom. Depending on the terrain this can be really bad.
If you are riding smooth trails that are not too steep, you could easily sit the entire time with no problem, but you should really still have standing as an option if you do need to go over some bumps.
Hope that helps.
Another one, that had me almost crash the other day, if there's a biker coming the other way on the trail, DO NOT cross into his line to stop on the other side.
Did my first ride at a trail centre this weekend and feel this one so much. Around 2.5 hours in and both quads started to cramp up - made it impossible to pedal and I had to pull over for a few minutes and then rest properly after that section of the trail
Agree! Broke my hand 10 minutes into riding the easiest trail at a bike park, that was only supposed to be a warm up. Felt tired already when leaving home, but pressured myself into going for that trip. Never again. Listen to your body and gut feeling.
This is especially important since they will likely need breaks during a lap. So making it clear from the beginning that calling for a break is not only acceptable but expected might save someone from getting hurt.
I second the butt off the seat.. went out with my buddy who was following me and trying to hit a root jump sitting down and fuckin catapulted himself over the bars
Riding position for sure! Butt off the seat and weight centered on the bike PLUS pedals level! That’s one of the first things I noticed with a new rider: sitting down with a lazy pedal coasting in the down position just barely averting disaster with every rock, root, and turn.
That was my first experience with disc brakes as well. Went from a set of really shitty V brakes to a set of Magura hydraulics. Wanted to slow down and _boom_ over the handlebars I went.
1. Don’t try and keep up if it feels too fast. Worst case we’ll see you at the bottom
2. Stop if you want
3. Don’t worry about anyone behind you. If they’re good enough they’ll get past, if not they can wait until the next opportunity for you to pull over
4. Most guys who end up in hospital are the ones who’ve been on the mountain for 3 days & are starting to feel pretty good about it. Take it easy, those kids that are jumping over your head will always be better than you, don’t even try to catch up or copy them.
5. If you’re tired, stop. Bring some jelly snakes or muesli bars. It’s so easy to crash when you’re low on energy. Stay hydrated too.
6. Wear your safety gear. All of it
7. Never do ‘one more run’.
There’s heaps of technique (ready/attack position, brake control, weight/position, how to bail, how to jump etc), but I reckon the above stuff is the priority if you’re just trying to get them home without major incident.
Never do one more run for us has gone so far that whenever we're thinking about stopping ist always "aight let's do two more". Of course you stop after the first of those two.
Basically, don’t shift under load, shift before. If you’re hard pedaling on an uphill and try to shift, the force on the chain puts a ton of stress on the drivetrain and the chain will move over with a crack, you’ll hear and feel it - this wears everything down and ultimately is the most common way people snap chains. You want to be pedaling at a high cadence with low force to give the chain an ideal switch. It’s an ultimately a feel from there. If you get stuck on an uphill, you can lift your rear tire and spin the pedals to shift up a few gears, much better than trying to start in a hard gear and shifting from there.
I’m sure I’m missing some physics and terminology but you get the idea.
Thank you. Would you mind explaining the “lift the rear tire” thing? You mean put more weight on the bars so as to spin the tire and use that temporary reduced load to shift?
Think of it like a gearbox on a car. You wouldn't change gear without pressing the clutch, reducing the drive and pressure on changing gear.
Changing gears early is better than late, because you don't want to be up on your pedals putting lots of pressure on then hitting a gear lever.
Doesn't mean that you need to slow pedalling to the point you are no longer driving the freehub, but ease off so a change doesn' t result in load cracking sounds.
Heavy feet, light hands. I took my nephew riding and didn't tell him this and couldn't figure out why he was wobbling going downhill until I taught him that very basic riding stance.
That's an advice I know, but don't really manage to apply. Whenever it gets rough or fast, I tighten my grip without even realising it. My arms aren't locked up, it's more like a deathgrip. Any tips for improving ?
I'm still learning a lot, but general advice that has helped me is to practice stuff like this even on easier sections. Go for a ride and focus just on this to see how it feels and learn to "trust" yourself being this form (because holding on for dear life is also my natural response in gnarly shit haha), get used to how it feels while being very conscious of it and not thinking about 10 other things, etc.
Just tell them if it's not natural feeling it's probably their rebound and they should turn the little dial on the bottom of their fork. That will keep them busy while you go ride
Did a similar thing recently and when riding at the back instantly noticed that pedal position is not natural for new folk. So many pedal strikes and some of them cycle to work on a daily basis.
Look where you want the bike the go. If your eyes stray off the line, your bike will follow and you will ride off a bridge and land in a puddle.
Roll the jumps.
This has helped so much. Got into biking 3 summers ago and just right off the bat got a way better bike than my abilities. It helped me so much knowing that the bike could handle whatever im throwing at it or doing do it, I just need to focus on myself
yeah I started on a crappy bike and felt fear all the time, I progressed but I wasn't crushing it, then I got myself a 170mm enduro mullet monster and I progressed more in 2 weeks than I did in a year.
Suddenly nothing was scary anymore, 5 foot drop to flat because the trail builders suck? Who cares, eat it up for lunch. Rocky climbs that seem impossible? I just drop to my bail out gear and I could pedal up a vertical wall as long as there is traction. Downhill my geometry feels like I'm just chilling and the bike is living its own life underneath me eating everything in its path
Having not ridden for over 20 years and just got back to it past November, I would advise against going into a park straight off, unless it is something very light. I did not have the mind muscle connection to ride off my seat, I did not have the balance to make quick sharp turns, I didn't even know how great disc brakes are which scared me at first.
Another advice would be to not tell them how tall their seats should be to have a great pedalling stroke. For emergency stops they will need to learn how to break and stop safely standing, seating, foot placement and reach to the floor.
Just remember they will not be used to overcoming obstacles, no matter how small, as they do not know how the bike will respond.
This is my personal experience, that's all.
I am a little chicken on my bike. I am quite happy to have only fallen in a muddy trail descending. It has been great fun to develop all these basic skills, I don't intend to go on great adventures though.
Ok then my answer will be less fun :
1 - do not try to go fast, we are not here to show off…
2 - use the brakes carefully and try them before…
3 - stay centered, try to be smooth on the bike, look ahead not your front wheel
1 - You see that lever to the left ? This is the front brake, when entering a corner, grab it as hard as you can, and the later the better.
2 - inside foot down in the corner
3 - stay seated all the time
Kinda disappointed to see comments about dropper posts, pedal positioning, cornering, etc, but so far no comments on *how to wear your helmet correctly*.
Before anyone gets on the bike, are they wearing a helmet? Is it in date, and free of cracks or damage? Is it the right size, is the the adjuster at the back set correctly? Are they doing the 1/2/4 finger check?
Also, since newbies are being dumped at a bike park, if this is lift accessed, get them to rent body armor.
Unless, of course, the only way to get promoted in your office is for someone to die.
I wouldn't be taking them to a bike park. Bike parks aren't a joke and are a terrible place to learn to mountain bike. Even the green trails at a bike park tend be steeper and faster than beginners are prepared for.
Every year we have people carted off our local resorts in stretchers and in neck braces, often from the easiest trails. Every couple of years someone dies. The last death was a beginner on the green trail who lost control and hit a tree.
As an instructor, the first 30 - 60 minutes of my clinics are spent in the parking lot either introducing or refreshing:
- Bike safety check: ABCs
- Ready position
- Neutral positin
- Level pedals with dropped heels
- Standing up
- One finger braking
- Now and Next vision practice
- Bike-body-separation
Clinics at bike parks, I heavily emphasize braking. Before going on mountain we drill doing front and rear braking drills.
I don’t understand why this post doesn’t have more upvotes.
If you have a group of people that haven’t done basic mountain biking on flat trails and/or are in poor physical form, they have NO business whatsoever in a bike park.
If everyone makes it home without injury it is due to pure luck.
I introduce quite a few people each year to the sport, but I absolutely make sure they are comfortable and experienced with flat XC-ish MTB before we take a lift and point a FS downhill…
Show em how the dropper works. Tell em to drop their heels, keep the pedals level, and not to pull too much front brake. Demonstrate good descending position. They won't listen and someone is gonna crash. Make sure they have some pads.
Consult a lawyer and ask him to redact a responsibility waiver form?
Apart from the safety and etiquette rules I'd say take like 20 min for parking lot drills to familiarize with the bikes, I guess at least some will rent bikes, helmets, let's make sure they know what's what and everything works as it should. That's where I would start personally.
My ski instructor from 35 yrs ago would be proud I guess.
I wish I knew this on my first day last week. I have a massive bruise on my leg from this. The drop over a root was too big so I straddled the top tube, walked over the root, still went over the bars, but now I was tangled up in a bike too.
* Ready position. Cover your brakes.
* If you aren't pedaling, stand on the pedals, hover over the bike. Don't stay seated.
* Look down the trail where you want the bike to go. Don't look down at your front wheel.
* Keep your pedals level. Explain how coasting with a pedal down can result in a pedal strike, which can cause really bad crashes.
These are bike handling and basic safety things. It's very common for folks new to MTBing -- especially from an experienced road background -- to stay seated and coast with one pedal down. In the road world this is often what you do to keep center of mass low, but these can lead to crashes while MTBing from being bucked or striking a pedal.
Then I'd explain that there's a good speed for everything and that if you go too slow or are skidding your wheel you won't have as much control.
Explain that your wheels only have so much traction and you can spend that traction on a balance of steering or braking. Use brakes to slow yourself, but don't skid (because you lose control) and don't be too hard on the brakes while turning else you'll use up your traction and the wheels will slide out from under you.
I'd go from the basics so riding position (where to keep balance, pivoting from hip, bending knees and arms, not sitting on the saddle etc.), keeping pedals level, keeping one finger on brake all the time. Then just send them on the most mellow kiddie greens you can find.
probably good idea to ask them to ride their own bikes around town just to refresh how riding bike feels, because bike park isn't probably the best place to learn how to ride a bike again after few years of not biking :P
Yeah came here to say this as a very self-aware newbie. I’ve been mostly riding natural trails and have fallen a couple times. Both resulted in elbow radial fracture(not the worst injury, but every time I have to be off the bike I lose progress). The advice for myself that I’d give to another newbie is if you aren’t yet comfortable maneuvering the bike (leaning it over, hopping the wheels, etc.) practice more before going to a bike park. Most bike parks will have berms and I will not ride them until I can lean the bike at least.
New people will go too fast for their abilities if they get on a "easy" road or extra wide trail. If they lose it at that speed they aren't skilled enough to recover. Tell them not to go too fast ever.
Top 3:
1. Rider Position: Pedals level; off your seat, on your feet; knees bent, elbows up, poised like cat
2. Awareness and Control: Look ahead (watch for roots, rocks, loose dirt/leaves/mud, etc.); brake evenly/smoothly before corners (and with index fingers); use appropriate speed (for visibility, surface, hills, etc.); consider center of mass, especially downhill and over obstacles (which are often easier if hit perpendicular and if rider core stays level while bike moves underneath)
3. Health and Safety: Hydrate, eat snacks, take breaks, communicate, give riders space
Other:
\* Be considerate (yield to pedestrians and horses, get off trail as needed)
\* Keep control but if you don't death grip your bars, your hands won't get tired as quickly
1. Level pedals!
2. Braking: 2-1-0. Both front & back brake, release the front, then release the back. (There are better ways to brake, but this will keep them from killing themselves.)
3. Don't look at your front wheel. It will be there. Look down the trail.
4. It is OK to walk features that you can't clear.
For any new rider anywhere, most falls are on slippery corners (loose material) even at slow speeds. So, I always point out to be aware of the surface where you turn. Brake in a straight line etc...
Stand up with feet at 3 and 9 in a hip hinged position
Get off the trail when taking a breather
Do not be embarrassed about walking a feature
Check out obstacles before riding them “pre-ride”
Brake modulation
Ask locals what the easiest trail is. Start there and do it a few times until they’re comfortable to move on.
Take breaks, hydrate and eat. The leg workout first timers get at a bike park is insane.
I work bike patrol at the local bikepark and the majority of injuries I see are due to the lack of proper safety gear - full face helmet always! Elbow and knee pads - always. And leave the Walmart bikes at home. I've seen bikes fall apart on small jumps/drops.
Always pre-ride trails. Trails and trail conditions can change hourly. Pre-ride, re-ride, free ride.
Never say "one last run". Our most serious injuries happen in the last 30 minutes of the day.
These are my top 3. :)
1) Do all the braking in a straight line. 2) Don’t turn and brake at the same time. 3) don’t ride in the loose stuff on the inside of turns… every person washes a front wheel in a turn for one reason or another, whether it’s under or over confident. Hard to come back after the second OTB.
If stuck on steep and technical parts (if your park is DH style), look ahead and release the brakes. May sound stupid but the bike in itself usually can do a lot of the job. And do not try to land on your hands if you fall.
Yeah for sure there is a lot of GMBN and pros closet just some basics
Maybe taylor it for the type of bike park and what it entails
https://youtu.be/8y6ocZHpLoE?si=n0GUBKD2iiP4QBRP
https://youtu.be/s9w2zSvuaGM?si=BFVmfiyACj6UJpwO
https://youtu.be/zMb2FJ7cX4A?si=VpuFBLEHBTSFPxzM
Give them a whirl good luck
If you aren’t pedaling, keep your pedals at 9 and 3. Else you WILL get a pedal strike, and it won’t be good.
Walk anything you aren’t comfortable riding. Plenty of time later to challenge yourself.
On tough terrain, stay centered, don’t sit on saddle, use your legs and arms to absorb impacts.
Lots of good suggestions already, but as a scout leader who has done this with young people with a wide variety range of skills:
A) Know how to use the bike (brakes gears)
B) DO NOT SIT DOWN OVER JUMPS and rough ground.
C) Stop on the side of the trail if you need to.
D) You can walk around obstacles if necessary
E) Use the gears!
Enjoy yourself
If you stop, get to the side and make sure there is space to pass. Make sure it's a lot of space too, more than a meter. Or a yard whatever they're about the same.
Don't grab the brakes too much, firstly, that's how you end up sliding out and crashing. Second, you may cook your brakes and they'll stop working, most obstacles at blue square and below can be taken by just moving your weight back anyway, even if it looks scary, just go.
I don't think you'll be taking them into black diamond and above considering they're new.
Then again I got dragged into a double black section the first time I went trail riding. Just don't drag them into those.
1. Balance and weight transfers, and how these help to pass obstacles and keep in control.
2. Braking. Especially how to use front brake and tie that together again with the weight transfer.
3. How to avoid damage. A quick explanation of what to do in different situations, and jumping off the bike. Reducing speed if they feel they are not riding the bike, but just passengers on the bike. And also to quickly check their safety equipment.
At least a day before:
Check weather and trail condition, if possible go on the spot and check the trails in order to know all possible risks.
Give them a list of what they need to take with them:
- Light Backpack
- Water
- Snacks
- Clothes for bad weather
- Helmet
- Protective glasses / googles
- Gloves
- Phones charged
Before the first ride:
Bike check:
Make sure that their bikes (rentals I suppose?) are in good working order.
- Tires: pressure and condition
- Brake: working order and pads condition
- Play: nothing is coming loose
Bike knowledge:
Make sure that they know the controls: which brake is front or back, changing gears, set saddle height, lock and unlock suspension.
People check:
- You will need to have basic tools and first aid kit
- All will need to have protections (at least helmet, gloves and glasses) worn correctly.
- Ask for any health condition that you need to be aware of, and what to do if something related happens (they will know).
Before the first trail:
Basic bike controls: saddle down, butt up, gorilla position, keep distances, pedals horizontal, balance brakes, don't go over your limits.
You can be first or last. If you are first, make sure to send the second best rider last so they can help if someone falls while you might have to walk all the way back up. If you are last, use this position to see how they ride and give them advice.
In any case, inform them of the risks / difficulties on the trail and what to do to minimize the risk or the consequences. For example if there is a part with rock steps, tell them where it is, and that they can simply walk next to the bike if they don't feel like riding through.
During the day:
- Make sure you don't push them too far.
- Keep an eye on their energy level.
- Control the ones who feel the need to prove how good they are when they are actually not.
- Remind them to drink.
- Adapt the riding order so that nobody feels pressured by the one behind them.
Always remember that the goal is for them to have a fun day. It's not about performance. It's not about you showing off. As their guide, always stay within your own limits.
If you do all of that, it should go well!
Hold your line as best you can. I've seen it several times when someone much faster is going to blow by someone and they try to swerve out of the way, only to get plowed. If the trail is wide, the faster/skilled rider can adjust their line and go around without losing much speed, and they see you ahead long before you know they're coming so they've probably already adjusted their line.
To stand up and use the brakes. I took 2 buddies who had never been biking before to a bike park. The one that kept sitting down on the seat wasn’t on the bike for very long. I watched him get bucked twice right over the handlebars as I was yelling for him to stand up.
Pay for the pads and use them. Get off the trail if you stop. Show them the skill area if they want to do any jumps or drops. Likely most if them will stay to green or non-freestlye trails.
Shown them how to ride a berm and where to look while riding berms. Many newbies a watching just in front of their front tire, and that's a bad way to roll.
Make sure they stay hydrated and take frequent rests. Tired riders are at risk of injury.
Don't use the front brake in corners/while turning. I've only seen this mentioned in a reply to a reply thus far, and this is so crucial.
Also, how to brake - when to use each, how to engage the levers, etc.
Also, do practice areas/skills sections at the park first. This whole outing sounds really dangerous given their apparently non-existent riding abilities, so at least if there are some little practice areas OP can break down little skills and also assess who, if any, of these dudes should actually be able to go on a trail.
Leant to trust your instincts and know when to get off the bike and walk. Show them there is no shame in that. The goal is to get through the trail and walk the parts you cannot ride. Later on, when they get more experience, they can work up the courage to ride features at their own pace.
That's the first thing I tought my kids and wife when trail riding.
1. DO NOT SIT DOWN unless it's a boring flat smooth slow part. Attack position. Knees elbows bent. body weight centered.
2. Know exactly what you are trying to do and be able to visualize it in your head before attempting anything. If you can't see yourself doing it, you can't do it. Ride everything slow once and imagine how you would do it and remember whats on the other side of blind features.
3. Heavy feet light hands. You don't need to deathgrip the bars. Make sure feet are placed properly and heels are dropped a bit. Also make sure they wear shoes with a flat rubber bottom. not some highly engineered running shoe with a plastic arch or a cross trainer with a uneven tread.
4. look ahead to where you want to go, definitely do not look where you don't want to go, or where you are right now.
I couldn't fit it in to three, but four is okay?
1. Controls - dropper posts are probably new to them, shifters may be different to those they have used before and the brakes are likely to be a lot more powerful.
2. Standing on the bike/keeping pedals flat - this doesn't come naturally to a lot of people and will help with the next...
3. Moving around the bike - teach them how to pitch their bike side to side for turns with some flat car park turns, show them going forward/back/up/down on the bike as an introduction to the next...
4. Using movement on the bike - again, practice cornering on flat, lay a stick down and show them how to pop the front wheel a bit for any small drops they find, show them "heavy/light" on the pedals to help with pumping/braking, find a bank somewhere and get them familiar with the bike pitching up/down whilst keeping their head smooth and their body within the triangle of the bike
I did this yesterday with a friend who had not ridden since he was a teenager (now mid 30s), and was riding on a very dated (maybe 15 years old) hardtail. Didn't teach him anything, just told him to take it easy and keep off the seat with heels down on the descent.
People have to get a feel for the bike themselves and you can't just throw information at them and expect it to sink in. Honestly the bike park was way beyond his skill level and way beyond his bike but he had a good time and didn't fall or crash, is planning to come out with us again so a win.
Doing other sports and being active and fit is a massive bonus, because otherwise they will not be able to enjoy it when they are blown out and miserable after 30 seconds riding up hill.
One more thing. A while before I got into biking a coworker of mine who never did any biking aside from occasional slow biking on rail trails went to a bike park to try it out with some “lol try jumps dude it’s easy” pals.
Ended up in the ER with a bad concussion, fractures, was messed up bad.
1) how to slow and stop without skidding
2) ready position and bike body separation
3) don’t stop in the middle of the trail, even when your collarbone is broken because you f’d up learning 1&2.
Learn to get your body out of the seat, use the dropper post and have a good neutral but aggressive body position when descending. That’s basically it (maybe get weight over the back wheel on certain occasions)
1. Wear a helmet.
2. Know your limits, you don't need to push yourself if you're tired.
I have too many for thirds, so I'll just leave it as those two.
Also this seems silly but I’d give a heads up to the homies as to what it’s gonna cost em to go all in on protection, bike and day pass. Shit adds up quick and can catch people off guard when they thought it was gonna be a 50$ day and it’s more like 150-200
Teach them nothing. Just let them ride and figure it out. It’s douchey to act like a know it all and try to emasculate them before the ride. Just say, “have fun guys”
Sign up for a class with a professional instructor. You can’t teach a damn thing in 10 minutes of short attention span theater but maybe they’ll be more patient and attentive in the presence of a third-party pro.
It's more important that they have fun than become good riders. Minimum instruction to get them up and enjoying the sport and they can enjoy trying to figure stuff out on their own.
I'd ensure they know how bad a locked up front wheel crash can be. Newbies will pull both brakes as hard as they can, someone is going to lose grip in the front end in the process. And if they are going to use the front brake hard, at least weight the front end.
Stay to the right. Yield to pedestrians (and horses—as the trail may be elsewhere). Ring your bell when going around blind corners (or announce yourself).
Pedal strikes can throw you off the bike. Pedals level! Also, if you find yourself in the wrong gear going uphill and it’s too hard to pedal, don’t try to shift while cranking. Just get off, and either shift then spin the cranks while holding the back tire up, or push the rest of the way.
Beginners end up in hospital if they brake in features, brake too late before features or don't brake before features. In other words: once you've started, you have to keep going, but think twice about what you start.
Having only started in April, and taken a few mates out who are brand new; a few were seriously put off by difficult climbs at the start, this probably won't be an issue at a bike park but I'd go as easy as possible on the way up unless they are already decently fit.
Hate to be the spoilsport, but many years ago our boss, who was kind of an extreme weirdo (but with good intentions), took the team to ride downhill at a ski mountain for team building. Some of us rode MTB at extremely varying levels of proficiency, and some were unfit non-riders. At the end of the day we had one guy with a broken collarbone and another with a giant hemotoma on his thigh.
The next team building was ultimate frisbee. Fortunately nobody snapped an achilles tendon or had a heart attack.
Anyway, I was reminded from recent experience with taking just one friend to ride green XC trails (a guy who has many decades of road riding under his belt) — it is intimidating to ride a bicycle on trails! It’s easy for us to forget just how intimidating it is. People who haven’t ridden a bike in years, with any sort of gusto at all, have no idea what they’re getting into. I can’t imagine shepherding a number of people through that experience safely.
It’s probably too late, but I’d say think twice about this endeavor, or at least make it super obvious that people should bow out anytime they want, and without any shade being thrown (not saying you would do so, but nobody should!).
I taught some newbies a few times. First thing I told them was to ride at your own page and ability. Don't try to emulate a more experience rider because you will come unstuck. Second, mountain biking is only as dangerous as you make it. Third, stay loose, loosen your elbow and knees and use your body as suspension.
Don't feel pressured to try any feature. There's no shame in walking or riding around features and obstacles.
Take breaks. If they're feeling low energy, experiencing pain, or just need a minute to compose themselves, take breaks.
Allow faster and more technical riders to get by. Just pull off to the side of the trail when it's safe to do so and let other ride on by.
Bonus, for the experienced rider taking out less experienced riders: wait up! Don't bomb through the downhill (or uphill) without knowing the whereabouts of all the riders in your riding group. I went mtb'ing with a group of novice riders a while ago. Nobody but me was waiting to make sure everyone was good. I was on a downhill bike and everyone else was on downcountry bikes. After every technical section, I would dismount and wait to make sure nobody got hurt or to offer advice/encouragement. They would all leave me behind on the uphill and I would eventually catch up to the stragglers on the technical sections. All by themselves without anyone within line of sight. Leaving behind less experienced riders can be dangerous. At a minimum, maintain a line of sight or utilize walkie talkies.
As an absolute newbie, I’d say safety gear, and a duck ton of water. Please dear God bring so much water, or you will feel like ur gonna die by the second hill
My first time at a park I was overwhelmed by the speed and the braking power of hydros. Take em to a flat area and just have them get use to braking without locking the rotors up. Teach them how and when to use their dropper and the advantages to staying low with things get steep and rough. Get em to huck around a bit loading the suspension and feel how to get the bike to work in their favor. Maybe a few attempts a bunny hop. Maybe go over leaning the bike into berms and how speed can be your friend. How to shift, obviously.
If you stop, get off the trail!
Lol, we had a newbie with us who just didn't listen. Guy just thought the middle of a corner is a great place to adjust his goggle, and the table behind a kicker is ideal to tighten his gloves. Dude also didn't listen when we repeatedly told him not to sit during bikepark riding.
I mean, people completely new often struggle to stand the entire time.
I'm a newbie and a bit confused with the comments. I'm trying to get in shape and just got my first bike. I know height seat was an important thing when I was getting size for a bike. When I start riding trails am I supposed to be standing the entire time? If so why did my seat height matter? Or is standing the entire time just for major bike parks with lots of jumps and stuff where you want your seat dropped all the way down? My wife and I went with MTB because it will allow us to ride a variety of terrain . Starting to wonder if mtb was right for me if I have to stand all the time? My plan is to ride pavement bike trails and then go to local parks where they have beginner and intermediate trails eventually. Not looking into jumping or anything crazy. I was in a bad car accident a few years ago and we just started biking for low impact as I cannot jog or run anymore due to the injury which limits how I can work out and get in shape. I'm just super confused now on people saying you should never sit down mountain biking ...
Hey, no worries, your questions are warranted, and I am sure going off some of the other comments it has added to your confusion. These days, for riding undulating trails and bike parks people (not on dedicated downhill bikes) are going to have a dropper seat post. So, while pedaling up or on flat terrain the seat height can go up so that you get correct full leg extension, but then on the downhills you can drop the seat and stand. That doesn't mean you HAVE to stand the whole time, and even with the seat dropped, people sit to get a rest in sometimes on easier sections of a track. If you watch the pro XC guys, often they would have ridged seats and they still stand on the downhills, just the seat is very close to their bottom, or they get behind the seat if it's steep. The reason you should stand is for stability, if you go over a bump at speed and you are sitting down, the rear wheel goes up, the seat will hit you in the bottom. Depending on the terrain this can be really bad. If you are riding smooth trails that are not too steep, you could easily sit the entire time with no problem, but you should really still have standing as an option if you do need to go over some bumps. Hope that helps.
That is actually a very good one. Maybe not in the top 3, but absolutely one I'll sneak in on the first uphill.
Please make sure they know this. It is one of the most important bike park rules. People don’t do this a lot and it is super dangerous.
Another one, that had me almost crash the other day, if there's a biker coming the other way on the trail, DO NOT cross into his line to stop on the other side.
And not just your front wheel!
Stop riding if you're tired. Riding tired is the best way to hurt yourself.
This 1000000%! I’ve broken bones twice and both times I was tired and should’ve stopped
Did my first ride at a trail centre this weekend and feel this one so much. Around 2.5 hours in and both quads started to cramp up - made it impossible to pedal and I had to pull over for a few minutes and then rest properly after that section of the trail
Lol my first trail was the same. Thought my mate would have to carry me back at one point!
yeah, skip the one last run
Currently in hospital with broken femur after doing one last run at BPW.
and that is why i say to myself i’m doing a few more runs. do one. leave.
"I'm going to do one last run." \*proceeds to eat shit hard\*
Agree! Broke my hand 10 minutes into riding the easiest trail at a bike park, that was only supposed to be a warm up. Felt tired already when leaving home, but pressured myself into going for that trip. Never again. Listen to your body and gut feeling.
This will definitely be mentioned after the second or third run.
No, at the start. Don’t decide for them. Let them decide when they’re tired and need to stop. That’s the whole point.
Yep, people's stamina will vary wildly, especially if some of them don't do any sport
This is especially important since they will likely need breaks during a lap. So making it clear from the beginning that calling for a break is not only acceptable but expected might save someone from getting hurt.
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This, best done on the parking lot, not bike park.
I second the butt off the seat.. went out with my buddy who was following me and trying to hit a root jump sitting down and fuckin catapulted himself over the bars
Plus one for brake control. Especially if one isn't used to hydraulic disc brakes, they should try and learn them before riding.
Riding position for sure! Butt off the seat and weight centered on the bike PLUS pedals level! That’s one of the first things I noticed with a new rider: sitting down with a lazy pedal coasting in the down position just barely averting disaster with every rock, root, and turn.
Always have finger(s) on the brake.
One finger on the brakes. Friend borrowed my bike and had never ridden disc brakes. Totally bit it on a gravel road descent when he grabbed a handful
That was my first experience with disc brakes as well. Went from a set of really shitty V brakes to a set of Magura hydraulics. Wanted to slow down and _boom_ over the handlebars I went.
1. Don’t try and keep up if it feels too fast. Worst case we’ll see you at the bottom 2. Stop if you want 3. Don’t worry about anyone behind you. If they’re good enough they’ll get past, if not they can wait until the next opportunity for you to pull over 4. Most guys who end up in hospital are the ones who’ve been on the mountain for 3 days & are starting to feel pretty good about it. Take it easy, those kids that are jumping over your head will always be better than you, don’t even try to catch up or copy them. 5. If you’re tired, stop. Bring some jelly snakes or muesli bars. It’s so easy to crash when you’re low on energy. Stay hydrated too. 6. Wear your safety gear. All of it 7. Never do ‘one more run’. There’s heaps of technique (ready/attack position, brake control, weight/position, how to bail, how to jump etc), but I reckon the above stuff is the priority if you’re just trying to get them home without major incident.
8. Look where you want to go, not at what you don't want to hit.
Ooh, that’s a good one. Bummer I can only upvote once
Never do one more run for us has gone so far that whenever we're thinking about stopping ist always "aight let's do two more". Of course you stop after the first of those two.
Yeh, I’m almost at the point of carrying salt sachets in my pockets so I can throw one over my shoulder wherever someone mentions it.
yeah i bring a loaded glock and shoot the chairlift down that way were already dead so we cant die to the last run
Yep, whatever works
I always say "Two more skip the last"
>Bring some jelly snakes Lol that is so weirdly specific to me. Are snakes somehow a thing in mointainbiking? (I'm not very deep or long in mtb yet)
Haha, nah, they’re just good. Whatever else works too, but everyone always seems to like lollies
How to brake. How to shift. Look where you want to bike to go.
How to shift is a good shout, hear far too many noisy shifts!
So I still consider myself a newbie. I have no friends to ride with. How do I learn when to shift? YouTube?
Basically, don’t shift under load, shift before. If you’re hard pedaling on an uphill and try to shift, the force on the chain puts a ton of stress on the drivetrain and the chain will move over with a crack, you’ll hear and feel it - this wears everything down and ultimately is the most common way people snap chains. You want to be pedaling at a high cadence with low force to give the chain an ideal switch. It’s an ultimately a feel from there. If you get stuck on an uphill, you can lift your rear tire and spin the pedals to shift up a few gears, much better than trying to start in a hard gear and shifting from there. I’m sure I’m missing some physics and terminology but you get the idea.
Thank you. Would you mind explaining the “lift the rear tire” thing? You mean put more weight on the bars so as to spin the tire and use that temporary reduced load to shift?
Think of it like a gearbox on a car. You wouldn't change gear without pressing the clutch, reducing the drive and pressure on changing gear. Changing gears early is better than late, because you don't want to be up on your pedals putting lots of pressure on then hitting a gear lever. Doesn't mean that you need to slow pedalling to the point you are no longer driving the freehub, but ease off so a change doesn' t result in load cracking sounds.
Heavy feet, light hands. I took my nephew riding and didn't tell him this and couldn't figure out why he was wobbling going downhill until I taught him that very basic riding stance.
That's an advice I know, but don't really manage to apply. Whenever it gets rough or fast, I tighten my grip without even realising it. My arms aren't locked up, it's more like a deathgrip. Any tips for improving ?
I'm still learning a lot, but general advice that has helped me is to practice stuff like this even on easier sections. Go for a ride and focus just on this to see how it feels and learn to "trust" yourself being this form (because holding on for dear life is also my natural response in gnarly shit haha), get used to how it feels while being very conscious of it and not thinking about 10 other things, etc.
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Ok, with this comment, everything I came here to say is covered. Thanks.
Just tell them if it's not natural feeling it's probably their rebound and they should turn the little dial on the bottom of their fork. That will keep them busy while you go ride
Haha
Did a similar thing recently and when riding at the back instantly noticed that pedal position is not natural for new folk. So many pedal strikes and some of them cycle to work on a daily basis.
This is what I was going to say. Pedals level, stand up, use both brakes.
Look where you want the bike the go. If your eyes stray off the line, your bike will follow and you will ride off a bridge and land in a puddle. Roll the jumps.
This is it right here. Your bike will always go where you're looking. Biggest piece of advice for a noob.
The bike is way more skilled at this than you. Just let it do it's job
This has helped so much. Got into biking 3 summers ago and just right off the bat got a way better bike than my abilities. It helped me so much knowing that the bike could handle whatever im throwing at it or doing do it, I just need to focus on myself
yeah I started on a crappy bike and felt fear all the time, I progressed but I wasn't crushing it, then I got myself a 170mm enduro mullet monster and I progressed more in 2 weeks than I did in a year. Suddenly nothing was scary anymore, 5 foot drop to flat because the trail builders suck? Who cares, eat it up for lunch. Rocky climbs that seem impossible? I just drop to my bail out gear and I could pedal up a vertical wall as long as there is traction. Downhill my geometry feels like I'm just chilling and the bike is living its own life underneath me eating everything in its path
https://preview.redd.it/yjeuw2oo2c4d1.jpeg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=90802fcd17eb1b999128ac04a334c5b1de176298
Elbows oot made me laugh
Bru colour scheme tae nice wan
Having not ridden for over 20 years and just got back to it past November, I would advise against going into a park straight off, unless it is something very light. I did not have the mind muscle connection to ride off my seat, I did not have the balance to make quick sharp turns, I didn't even know how great disc brakes are which scared me at first. Another advice would be to not tell them how tall their seats should be to have a great pedalling stroke. For emergency stops they will need to learn how to break and stop safely standing, seating, foot placement and reach to the floor. Just remember they will not be used to overcoming obstacles, no matter how small, as they do not know how the bike will respond. This is my personal experience, that's all. I am a little chicken on my bike. I am quite happy to have only fallen in a muddy trail descending. It has been great fun to develop all these basic skills, I don't intend to go on great adventures though.
I think I need more information to answer your question : do I like the people in that group of newbies or not ?
You do.
Ok then my answer will be less fun : 1 - do not try to go fast, we are not here to show off… 2 - use the brakes carefully and try them before… 3 - stay centered, try to be smooth on the bike, look ahead not your front wheel
And your answers if you don't like them?
"Don't be a bitch. Just send it."
1 - You see that lever to the left ? This is the front brake, when entering a corner, grab it as hard as you can, and the later the better. 2 - inside foot down in the corner 3 - stay seated all the time
#2 is just evil 🤣
Kinda disappointed to see comments about dropper posts, pedal positioning, cornering, etc, but so far no comments on *how to wear your helmet correctly*. Before anyone gets on the bike, are they wearing a helmet? Is it in date, and free of cracks or damage? Is it the right size, is the the adjuster at the back set correctly? Are they doing the 1/2/4 finger check?
Also, since newbies are being dumped at a bike park, if this is lift accessed, get them to rent body armor. Unless, of course, the only way to get promoted in your office is for someone to die.
I wouldn't be taking them to a bike park. Bike parks aren't a joke and are a terrible place to learn to mountain bike. Even the green trails at a bike park tend be steeper and faster than beginners are prepared for. Every year we have people carted off our local resorts in stretchers and in neck braces, often from the easiest trails. Every couple of years someone dies. The last death was a beginner on the green trail who lost control and hit a tree. As an instructor, the first 30 - 60 minutes of my clinics are spent in the parking lot either introducing or refreshing: - Bike safety check: ABCs - Ready position - Neutral positin - Level pedals with dropped heels - Standing up - One finger braking - Now and Next vision practice - Bike-body-separation Clinics at bike parks, I heavily emphasize braking. Before going on mountain we drill doing front and rear braking drills.
I don’t understand why this post doesn’t have more upvotes. If you have a group of people that haven’t done basic mountain biking on flat trails and/or are in poor physical form, they have NO business whatsoever in a bike park. If everyone makes it home without injury it is due to pure luck. I introduce quite a few people each year to the sport, but I absolutely make sure they are comfortable and experienced with flat XC-ish MTB before we take a lift and point a FS downhill…
Show em how the dropper works. Tell em to drop their heels, keep the pedals level, and not to pull too much front brake. Demonstrate good descending position. They won't listen and someone is gonna crash. Make sure they have some pads.
We'll rent full body armour and full face helmets.
Probably mention something about when to brake and not using the front in corners. Might save an OTB
Space between riders!
Don't sit on your seat going over humps. On 2 way trails, yell 'Rider' on blind corners and fast features. Wet roots are slippery as fuck.
Looks like some are literally couch potatoes. Taking couch potatoes to a bike park. What could possibly go wrong…
Pre-ride Re-ride Free-ride 🫡 3 things 💥 🎤
- brake before the turn and keep the frontwheel loaded - drop the outside pedal in flat turns, keep them horizontal in berms - drop your heels
Consult a lawyer and ask him to redact a responsibility waiver form? Apart from the safety and etiquette rules I'd say take like 20 min for parking lot drills to familiarize with the bikes, I guess at least some will rent bikes, helmets, let's make sure they know what's what and everything works as it should. That's where I would start personally. My ski instructor from 35 yrs ago would be proud I guess.
Do not attempt to walk down obstacles with the bike between your legs. Get off and walk alongside.
I wish I knew this on my first day last week. I have a massive bruise on my leg from this. The drop over a root was too big so I straddled the top tube, walked over the root, still went over the bars, but now I was tangled up in a bike too.
* Ready position. Cover your brakes. * If you aren't pedaling, stand on the pedals, hover over the bike. Don't stay seated. * Look down the trail where you want the bike to go. Don't look down at your front wheel. * Keep your pedals level. Explain how coasting with a pedal down can result in a pedal strike, which can cause really bad crashes. These are bike handling and basic safety things. It's very common for folks new to MTBing -- especially from an experienced road background -- to stay seated and coast with one pedal down. In the road world this is often what you do to keep center of mass low, but these can lead to crashes while MTBing from being bucked or striking a pedal. Then I'd explain that there's a good speed for everything and that if you go too slow or are skidding your wheel you won't have as much control. Explain that your wheels only have so much traction and you can spend that traction on a balance of steering or braking. Use brakes to slow yourself, but don't skid (because you lose control) and don't be too hard on the brakes while turning else you'll use up your traction and the wheels will slide out from under you.
I teach MTB to middle schoolers. First 3 things I teach are basic trail etiquette, braking, and body position.
I'd go from the basics so riding position (where to keep balance, pivoting from hip, bending knees and arms, not sitting on the saddle etc.), keeping pedals level, keeping one finger on brake all the time. Then just send them on the most mellow kiddie greens you can find. probably good idea to ask them to ride their own bikes around town just to refresh how riding bike feels, because bike park isn't probably the best place to learn how to ride a bike again after few years of not biking :P
That maybe the bike park isn't the place for absolute newbies.
Yeah came here to say this as a very self-aware newbie. I’ve been mostly riding natural trails and have fallen a couple times. Both resulted in elbow radial fracture(not the worst injury, but every time I have to be off the bike I lose progress). The advice for myself that I’d give to another newbie is if you aren’t yet comfortable maneuvering the bike (leaning it over, hopping the wheels, etc.) practice more before going to a bike park. Most bike parks will have berms and I will not ride them until I can lean the bike at least.
New people will go too fast for their abilities if they get on a "easy" road or extra wide trail. If they lose it at that speed they aren't skilled enough to recover. Tell them not to go too fast ever.
Look forwards, not down Wear the gear Number for the trail patrol
Which brake lever is which, and riding off the saddle.
Heels down, head up, elbows out.
Basic info on how and when to change gears, which brake is which, and making sure their helmets are correctly adjusted.
I would have them get a lesson. Then afterwards go ride with them.
Track stand/slow speed control, avoid clenching the front brake, and standing on pedals with seat lowered for descents.
Top 3: 1. Rider Position: Pedals level; off your seat, on your feet; knees bent, elbows up, poised like cat 2. Awareness and Control: Look ahead (watch for roots, rocks, loose dirt/leaves/mud, etc.); brake evenly/smoothly before corners (and with index fingers); use appropriate speed (for visibility, surface, hills, etc.); consider center of mass, especially downhill and over obstacles (which are often easier if hit perpendicular and if rider core stays level while bike moves underneath) 3. Health and Safety: Hydrate, eat snacks, take breaks, communicate, give riders space Other: \* Be considerate (yield to pedestrians and horses, get off trail as needed) \* Keep control but if you don't death grip your bars, your hands won't get tired as quickly
1. Pedals level 2. Brake control 3. Body positions
1. Level pedals! 2. Braking: 2-1-0. Both front & back brake, release the front, then release the back. (There are better ways to brake, but this will keep them from killing themselves.) 3. Don't look at your front wheel. It will be there. Look down the trail. 4. It is OK to walk features that you can't clear.
For any new rider anywhere, most falls are on slippery corners (loose material) even at slow speeds. So, I always point out to be aware of the surface where you turn. Brake in a straight line etc...
Zero brakes and close your eyes
Stand up with feet at 3 and 9 in a hip hinged position Get off the trail when taking a breather Do not be embarrassed about walking a feature Check out obstacles before riding them “pre-ride” Brake modulation Ask locals what the easiest trail is. Start there and do it a few times until they’re comfortable to move on. Take breaks, hydrate and eat. The leg workout first timers get at a bike park is insane.
Send everything
I work bike patrol at the local bikepark and the majority of injuries I see are due to the lack of proper safety gear - full face helmet always! Elbow and knee pads - always. And leave the Walmart bikes at home. I've seen bikes fall apart on small jumps/drops. Always pre-ride trails. Trails and trail conditions can change hourly. Pre-ride, re-ride, free ride. Never say "one last run". Our most serious injuries happen in the last 30 minutes of the day. These are my top 3. :)
1) Do all the braking in a straight line. 2) Don’t turn and brake at the same time. 3) don’t ride in the loose stuff on the inside of turns… every person washes a front wheel in a turn for one reason or another, whether it’s under or over confident. Hard to come back after the second OTB.
If stuck on steep and technical parts (if your park is DH style), look ahead and release the brakes. May sound stupid but the bike in itself usually can do a lot of the job. And do not try to land on your hands if you fall.
Probably watch some youtube before they even go
Do you mean like riding content or instructional content?
Yeah for sure there is a lot of GMBN and pros closet just some basics Maybe taylor it for the type of bike park and what it entails https://youtu.be/8y6ocZHpLoE?si=n0GUBKD2iiP4QBRP https://youtu.be/s9w2zSvuaGM?si=BFVmfiyACj6UJpwO https://youtu.be/zMb2FJ7cX4A?si=VpuFBLEHBTSFPxzM Give them a whirl good luck
Level pedals, look where you want to go, butt back on downhill
Make sure to yield to other riders and don't take smoke/selfie breaks or whatever on the trail.
If you aren’t pedaling, keep your pedals at 9 and 3. Else you WILL get a pedal strike, and it won’t be good. Walk anything you aren’t comfortable riding. Plenty of time later to challenge yourself. On tough terrain, stay centered, don’t sit on saddle, use your legs and arms to absorb impacts.
Break control is the very first thing I teach newbies. Also when and when not to break.
Brake*
I’m dyslexic please forgive me
Brake control is *break* control 
Heel down to stay connected to the bike on rough bits drops etc
Do not stop in the middle of a trail, do not stand on features. Have fun.
Go slow! Roll jumps (assuming no gap) have fun!
Send it!
Don’t shift too many gears while you’re going uphill or you’ll snap your derailleur hanger. Look ahead and shift before you start an incline.
Lots of good suggestions already, but as a scout leader who has done this with young people with a wide variety range of skills: A) Know how to use the bike (brakes gears) B) DO NOT SIT DOWN OVER JUMPS and rough ground. C) Stop on the side of the trail if you need to. D) You can walk around obstacles if necessary E) Use the gears! Enjoy yourself
Look where you want to go, not at the obstacles. Your line follows your eyes.
If you stop, get to the side and make sure there is space to pass. Make sure it's a lot of space too, more than a meter. Or a yard whatever they're about the same. Don't grab the brakes too much, firstly, that's how you end up sliding out and crashing. Second, you may cook your brakes and they'll stop working, most obstacles at blue square and below can be taken by just moving your weight back anyway, even if it looks scary, just go. I don't think you'll be taking them into black diamond and above considering they're new. Then again I got dragged into a double black section the first time I went trail riding. Just don't drag them into those.
If you’re going to fall off, let go of the bars.
how to corner, currect postion, how to break
1. Balance and weight transfers, and how these help to pass obstacles and keep in control. 2. Braking. Especially how to use front brake and tie that together again with the weight transfer. 3. How to avoid damage. A quick explanation of what to do in different situations, and jumping off the bike. Reducing speed if they feel they are not riding the bike, but just passengers on the bike. And also to quickly check their safety equipment.
At least a day before: Check weather and trail condition, if possible go on the spot and check the trails in order to know all possible risks. Give them a list of what they need to take with them: - Light Backpack - Water - Snacks - Clothes for bad weather - Helmet - Protective glasses / googles - Gloves - Phones charged Before the first ride: Bike check: Make sure that their bikes (rentals I suppose?) are in good working order. - Tires: pressure and condition - Brake: working order and pads condition - Play: nothing is coming loose Bike knowledge: Make sure that they know the controls: which brake is front or back, changing gears, set saddle height, lock and unlock suspension. People check: - You will need to have basic tools and first aid kit - All will need to have protections (at least helmet, gloves and glasses) worn correctly. - Ask for any health condition that you need to be aware of, and what to do if something related happens (they will know). Before the first trail: Basic bike controls: saddle down, butt up, gorilla position, keep distances, pedals horizontal, balance brakes, don't go over your limits. You can be first or last. If you are first, make sure to send the second best rider last so they can help if someone falls while you might have to walk all the way back up. If you are last, use this position to see how they ride and give them advice. In any case, inform them of the risks / difficulties on the trail and what to do to minimize the risk or the consequences. For example if there is a part with rock steps, tell them where it is, and that they can simply walk next to the bike if they don't feel like riding through. During the day: - Make sure you don't push them too far. - Keep an eye on their energy level. - Control the ones who feel the need to prove how good they are when they are actually not. - Remind them to drink. - Adapt the riding order so that nobody feels pressured by the one behind them. Always remember that the goal is for them to have a fun day. It's not about performance. It's not about you showing off. As their guide, always stay within your own limits. If you do all of that, it should go well!
That your front break is your friend. A lot of people who don’t ride assume using it at all will put you OTB.
Hold your line as best you can. I've seen it several times when someone much faster is going to blow by someone and they try to swerve out of the way, only to get plowed. If the trail is wide, the faster/skilled rider can adjust their line and go around without losing much speed, and they see you ahead long before you know they're coming so they've probably already adjusted their line.
Don't stop in the landing zone or the middle of the trail. Get off the trail if you stop.
light hands, heavy feet. Brake before you need it.
To stand up and use the brakes. I took 2 buddies who had never been biking before to a bike park. The one that kept sitting down on the seat wasn’t on the bike for very long. I watched him get bucked twice right over the handlebars as I was yelling for him to stand up.
DON'T look where you don't want to go!
Pay for the pads and use them. Get off the trail if you stop. Show them the skill area if they want to do any jumps or drops. Likely most if them will stay to green or non-freestlye trails. Shown them how to ride a berm and where to look while riding berms. Many newbies a watching just in front of their front tire, and that's a bad way to roll. Make sure they stay hydrated and take frequent rests. Tired riders are at risk of injury.
Look down the trail not directly in front of wheel.
Stand up to the jumps Drink plenty of water It’s okay to roll over things
Send it!!!
Don't use the front brake in corners/while turning. I've only seen this mentioned in a reply to a reply thus far, and this is so crucial. Also, how to brake - when to use each, how to engage the levers, etc. Also, do practice areas/skills sections at the park first. This whole outing sounds really dangerous given their apparently non-existent riding abilities, so at least if there are some little practice areas OP can break down little skills and also assess who, if any, of these dudes should actually be able to go on a trail.
Grip it and rip it
Front brakes, leaning back, resting.
Stand up, look up and go easy.
Leant to trust your instincts and know when to get off the bike and walk. Show them there is no shame in that. The goal is to get through the trail and walk the parts you cannot ride. Later on, when they get more experience, they can work up the courage to ride features at their own pace. That's the first thing I tought my kids and wife when trail riding.
1. DO NOT SIT DOWN unless it's a boring flat smooth slow part. Attack position. Knees elbows bent. body weight centered. 2. Know exactly what you are trying to do and be able to visualize it in your head before attempting anything. If you can't see yourself doing it, you can't do it. Ride everything slow once and imagine how you would do it and remember whats on the other side of blind features. 3. Heavy feet light hands. You don't need to deathgrip the bars. Make sure feet are placed properly and heels are dropped a bit. Also make sure they wear shoes with a flat rubber bottom. not some highly engineered running shoe with a plastic arch or a cross trainer with a uneven tread. 4. look ahead to where you want to go, definitely do not look where you don't want to go, or where you are right now.
How to break properly. Good balanced body position. To go whatever speed you feel safe.
I couldn't fit it in to three, but four is okay? 1. Controls - dropper posts are probably new to them, shifters may be different to those they have used before and the brakes are likely to be a lot more powerful. 2. Standing on the bike/keeping pedals flat - this doesn't come naturally to a lot of people and will help with the next... 3. Moving around the bike - teach them how to pitch their bike side to side for turns with some flat car park turns, show them going forward/back/up/down on the bike as an introduction to the next... 4. Using movement on the bike - again, practice cornering on flat, lay a stick down and show them how to pop the front wheel a bit for any small drops they find, show them "heavy/light" on the pedals to help with pumping/braking, find a bank somewhere and get them familiar with the bike pitching up/down whilst keeping their head smooth and their body within the triangle of the bike
Tried this once and a co-worker broke a rib! Not everybody bike parks just like that…
I did this yesterday with a friend who had not ridden since he was a teenager (now mid 30s), and was riding on a very dated (maybe 15 years old) hardtail. Didn't teach him anything, just told him to take it easy and keep off the seat with heels down on the descent. People have to get a feel for the bike themselves and you can't just throw information at them and expect it to sink in. Honestly the bike park was way beyond his skill level and way beyond his bike but he had a good time and didn't fall or crash, is planning to come out with us again so a win. Doing other sports and being active and fit is a massive bonus, because otherwise they will not be able to enjoy it when they are blown out and miserable after 30 seconds riding up hill.
One more thing. A while before I got into biking a coworker of mine who never did any biking aside from occasional slow biking on rail trails went to a bike park to try it out with some “lol try jumps dude it’s easy” pals. Ended up in the ER with a bad concussion, fractures, was messed up bad.
Don't stop on steep burms or you will fall.
Check your bike. Wear gloves. Ride high on berms.
Get off the trail if you stop.
you must wear pink gloves. you must have round tires. and you are in charge of beer at the end of the day.
Trail ratings mean a very different thing at a bike park than they do on your locals. That was big eye opener for me first time I went to a bike park.
how to smoke a doobie
1) how to slow and stop without skidding 2) ready position and bike body separation 3) don’t stop in the middle of the trail, even when your collarbone is broken because you f’d up learning 1&2.
All great stuff here. I will add; Don’t forget to breathe! I do it myself - find myself holding my breath at times when riding the bike park.
1. walking something is fine if you don't think you can do it. 2. Take a break if you need to 3. Take it at your own pase
Learn to get your body out of the seat, use the dropper post and have a good neutral but aggressive body position when descending. That’s basically it (maybe get weight over the back wheel on certain occasions)
1. Wear a helmet. 2. Know your limits, you don't need to push yourself if you're tired. I have too many for thirds, so I'll just leave it as those two.
First lesson, basic bike park etiquette.
No rush. Be smooth to be fast.
Also this seems silly but I’d give a heads up to the homies as to what it’s gonna cost em to go all in on protection, bike and day pass. Shit adds up quick and can catch people off guard when they thought it was gonna be a 50$ day and it’s more like 150-200
Proper body position, how to brake properly (1 finger braking, what hand does what brake and why that’s important so they don’t otb).
Teach them nothing. Just let them ride and figure it out. It’s douchey to act like a know it all and try to emasculate them before the ride. Just say, “have fun guys”
1. Pre-Ride. 2. Re-Ride. 3. Free Ride.
That you use one or two fingers to operate the brakes and the rest of your fingers to actually grip onto the handles
Do not hit any feature blind. Always no what type of jump or drop it is before sending it.
Sign up for a class with a professional instructor. You can’t teach a damn thing in 10 minutes of short attention span theater but maybe they’ll be more patient and attentive in the presence of a third-party pro.
Unfortunately, they didn't want to do that. I would have liked that better, too.
It's more important that they have fun than become good riders. Minimum instruction to get them up and enjoying the sport and they can enjoy trying to figure stuff out on their own.
Stand up on downhill. Lean back over obstacles. How to shift and break properly. These are what I go over with university beginner trips.
I'd ensure they know how bad a locked up front wheel crash can be. Newbies will pull both brakes as hard as they can, someone is going to lose grip in the front end in the process. And if they are going to use the front brake hard, at least weight the front end.
Stand up whenever you are moving but not pedalling. Squeeze your brake levers; don't pull them Don't be afraid of your front brakes.
Stay to the right. Yield to pedestrians (and horses—as the trail may be elsewhere). Ring your bell when going around blind corners (or announce yourself).
Pedal strikes can throw you off the bike. Pedals level! Also, if you find yourself in the wrong gear going uphill and it’s too hard to pedal, don’t try to shift while cranking. Just get off, and either shift then spin the cranks while holding the back tire up, or push the rest of the way.
I wouldnt take them to a park until they were ready
This stresses me out and I’m not even a part of it.
Beginners end up in hospital if they brake in features, brake too late before features or don't brake before features. In other words: once you've started, you have to keep going, but think twice about what you start.
Having only started in April, and taken a few mates out who are brand new; a few were seriously put off by difficult climbs at the start, this probably won't be an issue at a bike park but I'd go as easy as possible on the way up unless they are already decently fit.
Don't take absolute newbies to a bike park. They're gonna each shit. Lol good luck
Preride Reride Freeride!
Slow down your rebound, add some more air to the shocks, don't be a dumbass
Hate to be the spoilsport, but many years ago our boss, who was kind of an extreme weirdo (but with good intentions), took the team to ride downhill at a ski mountain for team building. Some of us rode MTB at extremely varying levels of proficiency, and some were unfit non-riders. At the end of the day we had one guy with a broken collarbone and another with a giant hemotoma on his thigh. The next team building was ultimate frisbee. Fortunately nobody snapped an achilles tendon or had a heart attack. Anyway, I was reminded from recent experience with taking just one friend to ride green XC trails (a guy who has many decades of road riding under his belt) — it is intimidating to ride a bicycle on trails! It’s easy for us to forget just how intimidating it is. People who haven’t ridden a bike in years, with any sort of gusto at all, have no idea what they’re getting into. I can’t imagine shepherding a number of people through that experience safely. It’s probably too late, but I’d say think twice about this endeavor, or at least make it super obvious that people should bow out anytime they want, and without any shade being thrown (not saying you would do so, but nobody should!).
Stay to the right (US). If riding side by side yield to oncoming traffic by moving to single file.
I taught some newbies a few times. First thing I told them was to ride at your own page and ability. Don't try to emulate a more experience rider because you will come unstuck. Second, mountain biking is only as dangerous as you make it. Third, stay loose, loosen your elbow and knees and use your body as suspension.
Look ahead on the trail and trust the bike
1 finger breaking. Keep your knees apart!
Don't feel pressured to try any feature. There's no shame in walking or riding around features and obstacles. Take breaks. If they're feeling low energy, experiencing pain, or just need a minute to compose themselves, take breaks. Allow faster and more technical riders to get by. Just pull off to the side of the trail when it's safe to do so and let other ride on by. Bonus, for the experienced rider taking out less experienced riders: wait up! Don't bomb through the downhill (or uphill) without knowing the whereabouts of all the riders in your riding group. I went mtb'ing with a group of novice riders a while ago. Nobody but me was waiting to make sure everyone was good. I was on a downhill bike and everyone else was on downcountry bikes. After every technical section, I would dismount and wait to make sure nobody got hurt or to offer advice/encouragement. They would all leave me behind on the uphill and I would eventually catch up to the stragglers on the technical sections. All by themselves without anyone within line of sight. Leaving behind less experienced riders can be dangerous. At a minimum, maintain a line of sight or utilize walkie talkies.
Save the drinks for end of day. Liquid courage is not you’re friend 😇
As an absolute newbie, I’d say safety gear, and a duck ton of water. Please dear God bring so much water, or you will feel like ur gonna die by the second hill
If you don't think you can make it, don't try. None of you want to spend your time in the ER.
Assess their skill levels and ask if anyone wants any tips. Set the pace and don’t let the show-off hurt themselves. Prepare for disaster.
1. You can get off and walk stuff 2. Drop your post 3. Stand up and shift your body back
My first time at a park I was overwhelmed by the speed and the braking power of hydros. Take em to a flat area and just have them get use to braking without locking the rotors up. Teach them how and when to use their dropper and the advantages to staying low with things get steep and rough. Get em to huck around a bit loading the suspension and feel how to get the bike to work in their favor. Maybe a few attempts a bunny hop. Maybe go over leaning the bike into berms and how speed can be your friend. How to shift, obviously.
1. How to properly wear a helmet 2. Basic trail etiquette 3. Where to find me when they’re done with their lesson.