Mountain Bike Skills Training Advice from the Pros – Part 4
The last installment of this series brings us the musings of Gene Hamilton. Gene is a Silver and Bronze medalist at Masters World DH Championships and the founder of Better Ride Skills Camps (www.betterride.net). Gene is known for his boundless energy and enthusiasm for our sport and has helped hundreds of riders build their skills and confidence.
What are the top 3 basic skills that you feel all riders should have?
1. Proper vision techniques, riders need to be looking ahead, where they want to go 100% of the time. Knowing to look ahead and actually knowing how to look ahead and then actually looking ahead are three different things. Actually looking ahead is tough until you understand how to do it and then spend a lot of time improving your vision with vision drills.
2. Body position, riders need to ride in balance, in a neutral position and independent of their bike. Most riders ride out of balance (elbows in, weight back, at the end of their range of motion). There are two old skills myths that continue to be passed on that need to be eliminated. One is, “when climbing keep your elbows in and down” which cramps your lungs and makes it hard to handle the bike. The second one is on a steep decent get you weight way back (which takes weight off the front end making steering and the use of the front brake sketchy and usually puts you at the end of your range of motion (arms straight out) so you are no longer in a neutral position (where you can react in all directions).
3. Balance! Balance is a skill that can be learned and improved. Trackstands are a great bike specific balance exercises but anything that challenges your balance is a balance drill. Balance boards, Swiss balls, wobble boards, standing on one leg, walking backwards up a steep hill are all great ways to improve your balance. I have been taught that 5 minutes, twice a week of balance work will greatly improve and refine your balance.
What is the number one skill you see missing from most riders in your camps?
