Newbie needs help with singletrack!!!

[Dirt Girl]

As V said, falling is pretty much a given in mountain biking. It's a matter of when, not if. For me, it's a two steps forward, one step back thing. I build my confidence, I fall, I lose a portion of my confidence, I ride, I build up the confidence, I fall...in an endless cycle. My falls usually teach me about something I need to learn or remember and I try not to make that mistake again. Your first fall! Welcome to the sisterhood! I'm glad you were able to get back up and ride back. There is a huge mental component to mountain biking. Doing exactly what you did--toughing it out and doing what you had to do--will make it easier to try again the next time. The old phrase "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is so very true on the mtb.

Keep doing some easier rides as they will help to maintain and boost your confidence, but also ride that singletrack again and again. When you reach a section you are not ready for, walk. Some of the most important things someone taught me as a newbie were that it is okay to walk anything you are not comfortable with. Push yourself a bit, but listen to your gut and know when it's time to try something new or more difficult and when you just need to get off the bike and walk it. Respecting your limits helps you from getting hurt. As you ride the more difficult trails over and over, they will become more familiar and you'll gradually find yourself ready to try more and more. Remember, the bike is designed to go over all that stuff. Trust it in and you will be amazed at what it will do for you. I remember the first time I rode a narrow, rocky, exposed trail. I repeated over and over to myself: The bike will go over the rocks. Momentum is my friend.

Same thing is true for roots. Try to hit the roots with your tire perpendicular to them especially if they are wet. A little bit of mementum will help you. Just give yourself some time to acquire the skills you need, and you'll be amazed at how you'll be riding something that once seemed impossible. Ride with and watch as many different riders as possible and don't be afraid to ask for advice from them.

I usually say to myself that I will ride as well as I possibly can for that day. Some days I surprise myself. Other days I'd rather forget. But if you try your best each time that is all you can ask of yourself. The thrills come when you're riding along one day and you just finished a section of trail and think to yourself, "Where's the hard part?" It does gradually become easier and as your confidence builds so does your enjoyment. Think positively. Embrace the mental challenge. Give yourself time. Ride, ride, ride. Most importantly, have fun!

[Trekhawk]

Welcome to the Newbie crashing club Emily.
I havent been lying in my past posts when I said I seemed to spend more time off my mountain bike than on it. Keep riding and watch your experienced mountain biking friends ride any parts you find difficult. I did this when I went mountain biking with SadieKate and it was amazing I didnt fall off once. It really helped having someone more experienced give tips. Riding sections of the trail over and over can help nail the harder parts.

Sending staying upright wishes your way.

Trek - Vertically Challenged mountain biker - hawk

PS I think mountain biking is a combination of terror and exhilaration.

[mtbdarby]

Emily, I hearby welcome you to Club Dirt. I sometimes feel I didn't try hard enough if I didn't crash!

I know the feeling well because I still consider myself a newbie. Learning to relax on new terrain is tough because Trekhawk is right - it's a combination of terror and exhiloration. Try not to keep a death grip on your bike. Let yourself become "one" with the bike and don't fight it (kind of like I always thought riding a horse would feel like). If there's a bike club that does rides that's a great way to find some extra expertise on the trails.

You don't have to bite it all off at once. Practise certain skills each time. Logs and rocks one night, steep descents another. Remember to breath and have fun!

Keep us posted on your progress - look at how much progress you've made already!

[SalsaMTB]

Keep heading out there! So much of it is mental. I'm willing to bet if you head out again, prepared for the chellenging trail but really motivated to ride it, you'll ride a ton better. I can ride a trail one day and have an awful ride where I'm riding all skittish and scared, then the next day get my head together and just plow through everything. I find it good to start off slow, warm up the legs, get into the mental zone of focusing about 10 feet ahead and then just flowing with the bike. It's important to not look at the root you want to avoid. Trust me, the more you look at the scary stuff, the harder it is to go over or avoid. I still catch myself occasionally looking at the things I want to avoid (especially on new trails) and it always leads to a rough ride.

Look ahead, pick a good line, and keep looking ahead. Your bike can definitely handle everything, you just need to build confidence in it.

For the uphills, try to pick a line around the roots if possible. Also, if you see an uphill coming, get some speed going into it, shift and try to maintain it. I find it helps sometimes to get out of the saddle and just mash the pedals over the roots on a quick, steep, rooty climb.

For the downhills, I recently found that thinking to get my weight back isn't enough, I need to remind myself to bend the elbows and get my torso down. Previously, I would just push my butt back and go down, and feel like I would go over. Now, I think butt back, elbows bent and my torso low and it's much more stable on the downhills. Give it a try! It definitely helped me a lot!

Good luck!

[chickwhorips]

all i want to tell you emily is don't give up. the girls are right about try, and try again. you can do it. just remember that.

what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.

[Crankin]

Thanks, Emily, for saying what i feel when i try more advanced trails. My problem is that i don't mtb enough to get good at it! I'm a cautious road rider to begin with, but road riding feels pretty effortless to me at this point. I think one of the problems is that besides being scared to death half the time I am on a trail (:eek) ,it just takes so much concentration (look this way, get back on the saddle, hold your line, etc) that I end up sticking to the same easier trails where I enjoy being out in the woods and i don't feel so stressed. But secretly, i want to conquer this. It's mostly fear, but I am not really great with balance or technical skills in anything, so it takes me a long time to "get it." I would love to go to a camp next summer. There is one in Vermont; all the rest seem to be out west. I don't mind falling or getting dirty, but I have a lot of trouble with steep climbs, with curves, that are sandy. I am a good climber on the road, so strength isn't a problem. Well, I guess I will keep trying. I tend to mtb more in the fall, so I am looking forward to that.

[fatbottomedgurl]

Who doesn't have problems with steep climbs, with curves, that are sandy?