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MTB Obstacle Riding Tips

When riding on mountain bike trails there are usually some obstacles or structures. Always ensure you ride within your limits and ensure you practice skills and techniques in a controlled situation before applying them on a ride.

Obstacles can vary from roots, rocks, man made structures, to challenging terrain such as sand. Once you know the technique and feel confident in applying them, conquering the obstacle can be very rewarding.

Walk through
If you come up to a new obstacle or in doubt,stop and walk through it first. Have a look at the line you will take, and any areas you will need to avoid.

Line
Once you identify the hazards pick your line. Keep focus on where you want the bike to go, many times if you keep staring at the obstacle you inadvertently end up hitting it.

Conditions
Some obstacles change characteristic when the conditions alter. Rain can usually makes obstacles slipperier and extra precautions need to be taken, on the other hand if the trail is sand based, extreme heat can dry parts of it out making the sand lighter and more difficult to navigate.

Approach
Ensure the line you pick if rising is at 90 degrees to the obstacle such as roots, because the back tyre has a tendency to slide. Keeping your approach at 90 degrees reduces the chance of sliding.

Eyes Up
Try to keep your eyes up and scanning ahead. There is a tendency to keep your eye on your front tyre. This gives you less time to plan ahead and thus more likely to pick a harder line. Also it slows your momentum down and cause you to put too much weight on the front tyre, causing it to dig or catch on the obstacle.

Pedals
Keep your legs even, to help clearance & reducing the likely hood of your peddle catching as you go over the obstacle.

Arms
Keep your arms bent and loose with a firm grip on the handle bars. If your arms are rigid, you will put all the pressure on your front suspension. Keeping them bent allows you to absorb a greater amount of terrain change and bumps, while keeping control.

Legs
Bending your legs helps in shock control and lowers your center of gravity.

Torso
Keep it low and relaxed, lowering your center of gravity and helping you adjust your weight quickly and smoothly.

Body Position
Practice moving your body forwards, backwards and from side to side. In some situations placing more weight on the front tyre is required and moving your body forwards helps this, while in other like drop offs, keeping low and to the back is required.

Gearing
Shift up gears before reaching to obstacle. This provides helps keeping your bike moving steadily and reduces the likely hood of your tyre slipping. Also you can overcome any inclines in the obstacle easier than if you are in a low gear.