Where can I find MTB help?

[trigurl]

I just bought a nicer one than the old Free Style I had and rode it Sunday all over the mtn. and I have a few questions re: weight and hills, etc. is there a place somewhere I can read about that stuff???

[bcipam]

Look for "Serious Mountain Biking" . Good book to get you started. Also check to see if there are any groups in your area that run clinics. One good MTB clinic is extremely helpful. And find someone good to ride with. Just watching what they do is extremely helpful as well. Lots of time, even when timid on a trail, if I follow someone good, I just keep in their line and it becomes surprising easy.

[Nanci]

I liked Ned Overend's "Mountain Bike Like A Champion." And a _great_ MTB biography is Marla Streb's "Downhill: The Life Story Of A Gravity Goddess."

Nanci

[Trekhawk]

Im a MTB newbie and some of the girls here recommended the DVD Performance Mountain Biking by Ned Overend.

I like having the DVD because sometimes I need to see what they are talking about for it to make sense.

[VW Beetle]

I just picked up Mastering Mountain Bike Skills, by Brian Lopes. This one offers LOTS of photos and very informative diagrams showing ideal cornering angles and whatnot. This book seems to offer detailed information on many topics that are only covered briefly in other books.

I second the review for the Ned Overend DVD. There are also these video freebies on the web:
http://www.dirtcamp.com/video_tips.shtml

And this site (text/images only, but fairly comprehensive):
http://www.webmountainbike.com/basics.html

One to avoid: Despite many warnings, I purchased the DVD "Mountain Bike Fundamentals" while roaming around in REI. (You know how it is...It was one of those winter impulse buys when you're desperate to speed up the arrival of the biking season and satisfy yourself instead by sinking large quantities of cash into biking accessories). The DVD title is a total misnomer: Virtually no 'fundamentals' or instruction at all. It seems mostly to feature teenage boys (or maybe twenty-somethings) doing 20 foot jumps, drops, and crashes over and over to an annoying soundtrack.

[SadieKate]

This video is a good next step to the Nedly video. Lots of instruction.

http://www.wcsmb.com/2002/video/index.html

I'll have to watch it again for uphill technical trail technique. It provides a lot of instruction on lifts which probably means it covers lifting on uphills also. I just can't remember.

[Quillfred]

Thanks for asking the question that's been on my mind Trigurl. I really want to take a class when I go to Whistler this summer so I don't get into trouble. It looks like so much fun!

Does anyone ever ride down ski mountains?

[trigurl]

How about mtb'ing for dummies I read the road bike one and got a few good pointers from it.

I am hoping to go for a ride this evening if all goes well so for now I will just keep my weight on the back of the saddle!