Cornering, saddle height, body shifting - mountain biking is much more than just "get on and go". If you've mastered the technique, you'll have far more fun riding downhill and you'll also be able to master steeper climbs effortlessly without the front wheel shooting up. Cycorld has summarized a few tips for you, with which the next ride is guaranteed to succeed even better!

THE BODYWORK

Despite full suspension and all the other technical gadgets, it is still necessary to actively use your own body when driving. This gives you more control and allows you to react more quickly in borderline situations.

Therefore: Get out of the saddle! Arms and legs are important "natural" damping elements here!

RIDING WITH FORESIGHT

Concentration is required in different ways on most routes. Phases of tension are usually followed by phases of relaxation. It is advisable to swing your gaze between two meters in front of the wheel and as far ahead as possible. This allows you to react to obstacles in good time.

BRAKING - THE MOST IMPORTANT RIDING TECHNIQUE

Often misunderstood, but elementary for a good and safe mountain biker - the skillful and well-dosed use of front and rear brakes. The front brake is used primarily for deceleration and is primarily selected. Shift the weight so that the front brake has the optimum grip, but the rear wheel does not lift off. If the rear wheel starts to float, then brake the rear with feeling and the bike calms down again. It is also important that you get the right braking time, if you brake with the front brake only when you are already in the curve, it can be that your front wheel and driver slide.

By the way, it is neither cool nor professional if you just hang in the back and let the rear wheel drag. Thus, you do not decelerate hard enough and you grind out the trail - that is, you destroy the surface for the bikers who come after you and hurt the worst-case root system.

BRAKE READINESS

Always have one finger on the brake! This is the best way to control the brakes and act more quickly in tricky situations. By the way: If you move the lever about two centimeters toward the center of the handlebar, you often achieve more efficient power transmission.

CURVING TECHNIQUES

Curves should always be negotiated with the greatest possible radius. So start on the very outside, then pull to the inner apex and then let it carry you back to the outside. The pedal on the inside of the curve is always in the 12 o'clock position and the pedal on the outside of the curve is always in the 6 o'clock position to prevent the wheel from touching down. Finally, as the wheel is pushed into the turn, the weight remains on the outside pedal and the body is kept as upright as possible.

Turnback

Keeping your balance is especially important here. To get a feel for what the minimum radius of the bike is, you can simply ride tight circles in the parking lot or other flat surface. Again, make sure the pedal inside the turn is up.

For normal riding posture, the saddle height should be adjusted so that the heels rest on the pedal with the legs slightly bent. The more demanding the route becomes, the lower the saddle should also be set to achieve improved freedom of movement. Here, a good Vario Seatpost, which can be adjusted in height at the touch of a button, is definitely a good investment.

TREE ROOTS AND SMALLER OBSTACLES

In general, you should always ride over obstacles at a 90-degree angle, because that way the wheel has no chance of slipping away. By shifting your weight, you can also take the weight off the wheel, which makes it easier to roll over the obstacle.

Downhill

The general posture for downhill riding is as follows: Feet parallel, legs slightly bent. Arms are bent and hands are loose on the handlebars - not too cramped! In this way, the arms and legs help to cushion the ride. The body's center of gravity should always be above the saddle. The question is, where on the body is the body's center of gravity? It is said to be somewhere between the navel and the (imaginary) belt buckle.

In general, you must remember to always put a good load on the front wheel, because this determines the direction of travel. So don't hang too far back with your butt.

Uphill

Yes, here too there are some technical finesses to watch out for. Anyone who has ever wanted to ride a steep climb and suddenly found themselves confronted with a front-wheel lifting off the ground will be able to confirm this. Because the steeper it gets, the more weight you have to put on the front wheel to keep it on the ground. However, you should stay seated so that the rear wheel does not spin for its part. If it gets really steep, you can still slide forward a few centimeters on the saddle. A little sensitivity is required here.

And now: Have a good ride! I hope that my tips will help you. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment. And if you are still looking for the right clothes, equipment, or the right bike, you are guaranteed to find something in the store. Have fun in the terrain!