no skills

[crazycanuck]

I say get back out there & give it another shot.Dirt is more fun than roadie riding .


Mountain biking isn't about "if" you're going to fall but WHEN!!!
A few ideas:
Core strength helps heaps in mtn biking-uphill & down.
You need to switch your brain on when doing dirt.(I switch off my brain when i road ride..) Go and ride the trail again & again until you remember what's coming & how you need to position yourself etc. You'll eventually notice how you pick the right line and how to get over x or y.

Mountain biking is hard but it's sooooo much fun!!!

[ny biker]

Try this video:

http://www.wildflowermtb.com/

If you have any problems ordering it, let me know and I can try to track down the woman who made it. I'm one of the newbie riders in it and I know my LBS still sells it.

FWIW, I will always be a newbie when it comes to mountain biking. I enjoy it but I'm not very skilled at it. And yes, even the best riders fall, in fact I think they fall more than new riders do.

[MartianDestiny]

I have two suggestions I think might help.

1) look for (beginner) skills clinics in your area, maybe ask around at the local shops. You may even be able to find a women's only one if that's your cup of tea and will make you more comfortable. These clinics go over things like: getting over logs, shifting your weight, navigating switchbacks, precision steering, etc.

REI does these from time to time if you have one nearby, along with a lot of independent coaches and shops.

2) talk to your group riding buddies. To them falling may be part of the game (it is, more or less, something that happens when you ride technical single-track often) and they may not have even thought you wanted advice (people fall even when they know what they should have done or what they did wrong). It's also possible that they were hesitant to give advice. A lot of times people, myself included, react negatively to advice given right after they've fallen/not quite succeeded at something. If you communicate clearly to them that tips, both before and after crashes, will be greatly appreciated you may find a few of them start piping up, hanging back so you can try something again, etc.

That they stayed with you and kept you with the bunch at all indicates to me they really are a good group of people to ride with if you give them another try or two.

Otherwise watch and emulate, and don't be afraid to get off and walk sections you aren't ready for. There's no shame in that. Everyone does it from time to time.

[Crankin]

I haven't been on my mountain bike in 2 years because of this stuff. I love being on the trails and I actually don't mind falling. But, I do mind the thought of serious injury. At one point, I got pretty good going downhill, but unless you practice all of the time, it doesn't stick. And I actually don't see how I could ever get my bike over a log.
The most humiliating cycling experience of my life was when I went on a group mountain bike ride. And this was when I was doing it regularly. I just remember a bunch of people yelling at me to "hold my line," and I didn't know what the hell they meant.

[SheFly]

And I actually don't see how I could ever get my bike over a log.

I could teach you this in one outing.

NEMBA hosts skills clinics, as does the Luna Chix group, locally. You should check these out - they are REALLY good, and will ensure that you learn these types of skills.

SheFly

[Crankin]

I may take you up on that, SheFly...

[Cato]

What jerks! When I started mountain biking I read everything I could about skills and rode as much as I could. Rode over my head often, crashed ALOT, and learned something new every time. One great book that really helped me is Ned Overend's "Mountain Bike Like a Champion", and he has a video as well. I'd read one chapter a week and work on that one skill on the weekend.

It would be great if you can find a more skilled rider who's willing to take you out and show you how it's done. With patience, of course!

[nerdgirl]

OMG! I can't believe that group treated you that way! So not cool! What jerks!

First and foremost, stop riding with that group. When I started riding, I had one good riding partner, who was more advanced than me and very patient, to show me the ropes and set me on my way. He was so great that within 4 months I was riding intermediate trails at Mammoth! There is no way I could have progressed that quickly had I gone with a group.

What also helped was Brian Lopes' book, Mastering Mountain Bike Skills http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Moun.../dp/0736083715 . I learn well from books, so it worked great for me. It's readable, humorous, and has lots of diagrams. (In case you don't know who Brian Lopes is, he's a pro downhill racer who has been competing for over 20 years, and still kicks the arses of guys half his age!).

I've also learned quite a bit from this site:
http://www.bikeskills.com/blog/?page_id=422
I used it for help with learning how to jump, the advantages of pumping, and improving my switchback skills (which I still struggle with).

Don't give up! You just need better riding partners