Over the past few years, the number of people buying a new mountain bike has exploded. More and more of us are exploring our local trails with friends and family at the weekend and enjoying the freedom and access to nature that mountain biking gives us.
However, most people buy and start riding their new mountain bikes without knowing how to get the most from the bike or the skills to make the most of their riding experience.
In this video series, we have asked ex-professional downhill racer and mountain bike commentator, Andrew Neethling, to share tips and advice for new mountain bikers to ensure that they build good habits from day one and have the skills and confidence to take their mountain biking as far as your heart desires.
Episode 2: How to tackle a steep climb on your mountain bike
One of the main attractions of mountain biking is the freedom it gives us to go off-the-beaten paths and explore new places. As you become more confident and adventurous in your riding, the trails you ride will likely include some steep climbing sections, which require a particular technique to conquer.
In this episode, Andrew explains how to break down the technique for tackling steep climbs, starting with a positive mindset. This is the key to succeeding in your goal of making it to the top. From there, things to focus on include: anticipating what’s coming, body position, weight distribution, gear selection, and smooth pedaling. Andrew describes how to break the climb into segments rather than look at it as one long climb so that you can approach it tactically.
Having mastered steep climbs, you can now step up a gear to tackle more difficult trail features.
In the next episode, Andrew will focus on riding very tight corners, known as switchbacks. Tune in to hear how it’s done.