e-Book lesson 1a is now online.   Part 1 of the Basics gives you a solid foundation with three techniques you’ll need for good balance and anticipation:  Neutral Position, Bike/body Separation and Pressure Control.   Spring is here.  Time to polish the Basics.

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Browse our new website.  New design.  New content. We squashed the bugs, eliminated the glitches and tuned-up the works.    Subscribe to the RSS feed or check back as we add content frequently including a new eBook lesson every month.

 

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Check out a PDF that list all of the available lessons here.

Get a free sample download “The West Coast Bail” here. Take it for a spin on your iPod.

 

Digital Video Downloads & eBooks to learn Mountain Biking

As you may or may not know, we’ve started to put out the West Coast Style DVD’s as digital downloads. We think it’s an cool and practical way to learn and practice your skills. Download a skill you’re interested in learning…throwing it on your iPod…go out and practice the skill. Reference it anytime you want to on your iPod. Don’t have an iPod, no worries, it will play on any computer with QuickTime installed.

To get an idea of what kinds of skills there are to learn, check out our “Dictionary Of Skills” eBook. It’s the first of a series of books that we’ll be releasing over the next year. The eBooks allow you to really dig in and get specific information that’s not always obvious in a video format. Here’s the link…

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Keep checking back, we’ll be posting more cool stuff as the year goes on!

As a developing rider, get your basics dialed. If you can get these three basics to feel like second nature, you will develop your riding prowess quickly.

• Feel solid with maintaining your Neutral Position - placing equal weight over both the front and rear wheels, over all sorts of varying terrain, starting slowly and building up.
• Practice keeping your index finger on your brake lever at all times - you never know when you need your brakes.
• Look ahead to where you want to go.

      

Return To Skill Tips

When negotiating the rough stuff, here is another fundamental element will take you to the next level. As the bike gets bumped around side to side it wants to throw you off balance laterally.

• Open up those knees, and keep them away from the frame, almost “cowboy” style - This allows the bike to move laterally between the legs while keeping the upper body and head stable over the bike. There is an old wives tale that squeezing your knees together and holding the seat will stabilize you, but in fact, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

 

• The arms will also play a role by leaning the bike side to side as necessary (by extending one arm and bending the other).

 

• Remember to keep the front wheel steady and traveling in a moderately straight line (refrain from steering).

 

• The shoulders remain level and centered as the movement comes mostly from the arms.

     

 

If you want to ride with one finger braking, which is
recommended, brake set-up is very important. Below are three
adjustments that will make your one finger braking work for you.

 

• Move the brake lever inboard on the handlebars - This
  means sliding the brake lever on the handlebar towards the stem until
  your index finger rests on the outer part of the lever, just before the
  notch at the end. The outer edge of your hand should be at the end of
  the handlebar. This is the place where you will get the best power for
  minimum effort.
• The next adjustment is called “reach adjustment” and the
  placement of these reach adjusters may differ from brake to brake -
  The typical adjustment is a 1.5 or 2mm allen key slot that sits between
  the brake lever and where the brake attaches to the handlebar. (photo
  insert of shimano brake). By turning the adjuster one way or the other,
  you will notice your brake lever will move closer or further away from
  the handlebar. The best position for your lever is when your index
  finger is resting on the lever and your last knuckle sits directly over
  the lever. Upon pulling the lever, it will initiate braking ­ optimal
  point of threshold is when the index finger is flexed around 90
  degrees.
• The last adjustment is the angle of the brake lever, or up / down
  angle - You want the angle to be approximately 45 degrees to begin
  with and experiment slightly from there. It’s important to have a
  neutral wrist for most of your riding - if it is cocked either way, you
  are increasing your risk of injury. This is why lever angle is so important.