The best riding advice?

What is the best riding advice you have ever gotten? Or, do you have any good advice to pass on?

Just wondering...

 

Keep your weight back.

 

ride MORE and harder!!:bang: no joke foo real.:wave:

 

Does having a big butt count??

 

"Your seat is way too low for climbing."

 

I've thought that every time I rode Noble on a dh bike#-o

 

this was one of the mayor ones for me!!:bang::lol:

 

Always ride with people faster than you.

 

Make sure you look at LEAST two bike lengths in front of you!

and

ONE FINGER BRAKE!

Learn to do both of those all the time and your riding will greatly improve.

The first helps me out a LOT, and it's something I find myself not always doing on techy descents... and guess what? You look right in front of you and come to a stop. Case in point:



See where my eyes are looking? Not two bike lengths ahead. Guess what happened. Yup. I did NOT clear that section.

Now look at this:



I'm looking way ahead, and no longer focusing on the rock ledge, so I made it away with no problems.

Check the two finger braking:



I didn't feel super comfortable there at all.



Now:









Much greater control on the bar, and better for braking overall. It really did make me a better rider, just about overnight.

 

Don't

shave your legs...that is for roadies

 

--Saddle time is the best way to get better.

--Speed is your friend. Most of the time you crash it's because you were going to slow.

--You'd be surprised what a mountain bike can roll over. Don't be afraid to let it do its job.


These were told to me by a friend of my dad's who has been riding for over 20 years. I have caught myself giving beginners this same advice.

 

1. Don't give up.

2. Pain doesn't get any worse at a point. It just becomes a matter of how you deal and manage it.

3. Push yourself a llitte more each ride.

4. If you don't clean something today.....there is always tomorrow.

5. THere ain't no shame in walking.

 

Great advice Two finger braking makes me feel weird...I once saw a guy riding with (am not joking) 4 finger braking!

 

I am just beginning to understand this..

 

Awesome awesome awesome post. Using the pics to illustrate your point was genius!!

Very good advice.:clap:

 

even though you feel like you can't keep pedalling, just try and you might surprise yourself.

 

You say that like it's difficult or I even have a choice

 

Silly little one, but given to me 20+ years ago when I started riding, and something I pass on to every new rider I ride with (and still remind myself!):

Look where you want to go, not where you don't. Your bike WILL go where you look, even over a cliff.

 

Always ride with a purpose, pick a skill to work on, don't just ride to ride (per Gene Hamilton).

Do all your braking before you enter the corner and then exit with speed.

 

The second one is good advice, but doesn't the first take the fun out of it?? Some of the best rides I've ever been on were more social in nature. ALWAYS riding to work on a skill would make it seem more like work.:?: