Mistakes to avoid while mountain biking

When you first start mountain biking, there's a lot to learn, and it's easy to get into negative habits, just like in any activity. But don't worry: we've put up a list of five common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Toes on the pedals' ends:- The location of your foot on the pedals, whether on flats or clipped in, can have a significant influence on your riding abilities. Balance on your toes or with the ball of your foot directly over the pedal axle may appear natural, but it might impose undue strain on your leg muscles. Try shifting your forefoot forward and placing the ball of your foot just ahead of the pedal axle. You can now easily look for the best mountain bikes under 200 pounds.

2. Pedaling through tricky portions: If your pace is slow, you may need to cycle through challenging sections such as rocky gardens or narrow rooty pathways when you first start out. This obviously increases the likelihood of a pedal stroke, and while it can't always be prevented, you can reduce the danger by selecting the appropriate gear. Although a lighter gear with a greater cadence may seem natural, before moving on to the difficult phase, consider switching down to a little tougher gear than you're used to. Although this puts greater pressure on your muscles, it also lowers your cadence and reduces the chance of pedal strikes.

3. Not looking far enough down the path: Mountain biking is all about anticipation, yet it's all too easy for novices to fall into the trap of gazing down at the trail just ahead of the front tyre. This might cause issues since you won't be able to foresee the next obstacle on the path in time - everything becomes a surprise. So, the next time you're on a familiar stretch of trail, think of a mantra to remind you to look ahead, so you can anticipate the next feature and change your line choice/speed appropriately.

4. Sitting down too much: Sitting down on that beautiful comfortable seat may seem like a safe bet if the terrain becomes difficult, but you'll be missing out on the finest shock absorbers on the world, your legs. Your legs will not only help you absorb all those lumps and bumps, but they will also help you distance yourself from your bike. This allows you to lean and transfer your weight more easily, allowing you to be a quicker and more confident mountain rider.

5. Death grip — riding with too much tension: Many riders experience painful hands, arms, and shoulders when they first begin riding, and this is frequently due to what we call "death grip," or hanging on too tightly. It may seem more secure to grab those bars with a vice-like grip, but it will just tighten you up and make it more difficult to move around on the bike fluidly.