Get ready for Spring riding
Posted on 11th February 2025 at 19:52
Spring is just around the corner, which means itโs time to shake off the winter weather and get your riding dialled in.
Whether youโre a beginner looking to gain confidence or you want to work on honing your technique, now is the perfect time to get ready for sunnier days and drier trails.
1. Master the Fundamentals - simple things to try
No matter your experience level, fundamental skills are the foundation of great riding. Focusing on the basics now will give you even more chance to have fun on the bike when the sun appears.
Some simple things to try:
๐น Body Position & Balance โ The way you position your body on the bike affects your control, speed, and confidence. Practice a neutral stance and try out moving your weight on the bike to see how it affects your control on descents and climbs.
๐น Cornering โ Set up a simple cone course in a parking lot or open space and practice leaning your bike into turns while keeping your upper body relaxed. This will help you flow through the turns more smoothly.
๐น Braking Technique โ Rather than grabbing a handful of brakes at the last second, try out a bit of brake modulation on the front and back brake and see what effect it has. This will give you more control on steep descents and technical sections.
2. Dial in Your Bike Setup
Your bike is your most important tool, and a well-maintained, properly adjusted bike can make all the difference to how much fun you can have on the bike. Before spring hits, take time to make sure your bike is ready.
Basic things to look out for:
๐ง Tyre Pressures โ Simple one - experiment with your tyre pressures to find what works for you in terms of grip and rolling resistance.
๐ง Brakes & Gears โ Ensure your brakes are properly bled, and your gears shift easily. There are plenty of great bike shops who can help you and there are some great YouTube tutorials if you are handy with the tools yourself.
๐ง Suspension Setup โ If you are fancy trying to check your suspension settings yourself then do some fact finding first before changing your set up - there is plenty of info out there. If not, head to someone like Sprung Suspension in the FOD who will get it dialled for you easily.
3. Improve Your Line Choice & Trail Awareness
One of the biggest skills that separates good riders from great riders is the ability to read the trail and pick the best line through technical features. Even if youโre not riding much right now, you can still train your brain for better decision-making.
How to Improve Your Line Choice:
๐ Watch Pro Riders โ Check out some of the pros and see how experienced riders position themselves and choose their lines. Slow-motion videos can be really useful for this.
๐ Review Past Rides โ If you have footage of your rides, watch them and pick out a few areas where you could ride more smoothly or in a better position.
๐ฎ If you like gaming then play games like Descenders - believe it or not it can help improve your reaction time and line-spotting skills. Some of the best racers use gaming as a training tool.
4. Get Back on the Bike with a Coaching Session
Why Coaching Works:
โ Break Bad Habits โ Lots of us develop bad habits over time. A coach can identify these really quickly and help correct them before they become ingrained.
โ Boosts Confidence โ Whether you struggle with drops, jumps, or technical descents, having a coach guide you through new techniques can help you push past mental barriers.
โ Quick Progress โ Instead of spending months figuring things out on your own, a single session can give you instant improvements that make a huge difference.
๐ดโโ๏ธ Follow us on Instagram for tips, course updates, and some riding inspo.
๐ฌ What are you working on this season? Drop a comment below >>>
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