Skills

• Skills, tricks and fun
• Basic types of equipment:
• Mountain biking skills tips
• Stunts

Skills, tricks and fun

Make your own obstacle course
If you want to be really cool on your bike or just be able to get up and over roots, rocks, round tight corners and down slopes then you need to get out there on your bike and play!

If you havent got mountain bike tracks nearby then you can build your own wicked skills course in the park, school playing field (might be a good idea to check with the teachers), or just in the local paddock!  You just need some basic stuff;

Basic types of equipment:

• Bricks / concrete blocks/
• Branches
• String
• Plastic tubing
• Planks of wood
• 2 litre plastic bottles filled with water (obstacles) or cones
• Nails, hammer

Then you can make up your own course, here's some random ideas;
Suggested obstacle course (PDF)

If you are really keen get your Dad, Uncle, older bro, (you could try your Mum if shes into handyman stuff) to knock together some real obstacles - just download these simple plans. Plans for making your own obstacles (PDF)

Mountain biking skills tips

Riding a bike off road requires a much greater range of skills than on road. Each type of terrain and track surface needs a new technique.

For heaps of information on mountain biking look no further than the Ground Effect web site.  Ground Effect are an NZ company who make awesome MTB gear which you can buy online,(sorry no kids gear).

 

Pedal On - essential information for getting the most from your new mountain bike Anatomy of a Bike A Perfect Match - You and Your Bike On-the-Trail Kit Tools of the Trade Eat, Drink, Go Fast Maintenance Emergency Repair Tell Me More Mountain Bikers' Off-Road Code Technique As Easy as Riding a Bike - winter riding Stand up and be counted - rough riding The Hills are Alive - climbing Jack and Jill - traversing Going down on your bike - downhilling Brakes maketh the Mountain Biker Other Stuff First Aid for your Bike Bike Grooming A Rookie's Guide to Life as an Urban Warrior - commuting basics The Art of Food and Bikes Flying High - travel with your bike Single-speed all the way Dirty Laundry

Riding Skills - foundation techniques for handling your stead Lesson One: You And Your Bike Lesson Two: Braking And Descending Lesson Three: Around The Bend Lesson Four: Climb Like A Billy Goat Lesson Five: Lifting The Front Wheel Lesson Six: The Flashy Stuff ... lifting the back wheel and bunny hopping Equipment Cycle Tips for Women Seeing the Light Weight Watchers Equipment Guide - clothing/food for 2-3 day trips Be Prepared - tools and skills for exploring the backcountry Buying Your First Mountain Bikee NZ New, One Careful Owner - buying a second-hand mountain bike Dual Suspension On the Road - Cycle Touring Kit Disco Inferno - Getting excited about Disc Brakes No tubes - no idea No-tubes, no-idea

Stunts

Because there is lots of potential to hurt yourself when doing stunts it is worth wearing a bit of body armour as well as helmet and gloves. Lots of riders wear elbow, shin and knee pads.
Before you race off...

To make sure you have a good ride there are a few things you should check before leaving home.

Pre-ride checklist
Contact person
Bike Check

"A good cyclist does not need a road." - Sherlock Holmes.