To maintain one’s balance is most vital skill in mountain biking. A scrupulous sense of balance is imperative to head anywhere in Trails. There are various different types of terrains in trails; you have to be able to uphold your balance in all terrains. Each of your moves in a trail depends on your ability to preserve your balance. Luckily, you can practice balancing anywhere and anytime. All you need is certain exercises that are specifically aimed at improving your balance.
Here are a few such exercises…
* Start at a very slight slope, point your bike downwards and move as slowly as possible.
* Make a figure ‘8’, progressing in a constantly tauter and slower formation.
* Paint an enormously long line on a flat surface and slowly roll over it.
A regular practice of the above mentioned exercises would give would perk up your balance to a great deal bestowing you a confidence, which would be a great help when learning to maintain balance in trails.
Here are a few tips to help you with balancing while mountain biking…
1. The Platform: Maintaining your feet level, i.e., at 3 and 9 o'clock position is your platform position. You are well balanced in platform position and it is the best position while biking unless you have to traverse a tight corner. So try to be in the position as long as plausible.
2. Once you’re in a platform position, the position of the rest of your body parts relevant to balancing should be: hands gripping the handlebars (but not very tightly), your back should be bent at an angle of 45 degrees, your elbows bent at an angle of 90 degrees, while your knees at 30-50 degrees. Your head should be straight, eyes looking ahead and your chin parallel to top tube.
3. The foot that you leave in the frontward position while descend a steep hill or while coasting is your ‘good foot.’ While balancing, either maintain a platform position or keep your ‘good foot’ ahead.
4. Turning your foot away from the side you have your forward foot is called ‘Trackstanding.’ For instance, in case you have your left foot forward, turn your wheel clockwise. Once you have acquired this position, with your weight centered over the bike, tilt slightly and make pedal adjustments. Doing so would maintain your center of gravity and you will be a balanced position. This technique is useful in flat surfaces.
5. If you are to balance on uneven surfaces, ‘Rocking’ can help you. This is done by weight shifts and/or raising the front and back wheels in a series, making some alterations to maintain your bike balanced; all alterations that you do have to be subtle.
6. Be seated unless you are coursing a rough terrain.
7. Do not grip the handlebar very tight, especially when clearing obstacles, climbing or descending. You should be able to drum your fingers.
8. While climbing, have your weight rearwards, and to maintain the traction of front wheel, lean to shift some weight to your front wheel (this aspect is explained in details in chapter 12).
9. Just focus on where you have to go, not anywhere, you do not have to go.
10. Restore your balance soon. In case you wait long, probably you will not be able to do it afterward and possibly end up falling.
About the Author
This article is an excert from a new downloadable ebook. For more information see http://www.terrainskills.com/
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