Over time, there are times when we feel so experienced that we forget some things we need to do before we get on the bike or even when we ride. This article will find out if you have bad habits or mistakes on a mountain ride.
Forgetting to warm up
As in all sports, we must warm up our muscles and ligaments to successfully perform the routine that we will practice. And, you need to remember that warming up is not the same as stretching.
Some of the actions you can take to warm up are to get to the meeting point by rolling. In this way, your body will warm up and be ready for what is coming.
If it is not possible when you start the ride, go at a low pace, without trying too much, so that the muscles warm up little by little, the first 5 min or 10 min are recommended. After that, start at a relaxed pace and gradually release strength.
Do not check the bicycle before the ride
One of the most common mistakes, regardless of whether you are a novice or experienced, is to check the bike until a few moments before riding. You can ride on a big wheel mongoose bike because it gives better stability in all terrains.
It is necessary to check the mechanical condition of the bicycle at least one day in advance or the night before. This way, you will be able to detect if you have a flat or low tire and you will be able to breathe in or change the tube at that moment and not delay the ride the next day. It is important to check that the brakes work. Remove the dust accumulated in the suspensions to avoid their wear during the ride.
Clean and lubricate the chain. Make sure to apply the right oil for the climate or terrain through which you are going to ride.
Verify that all cables are in place and parts that have contact with rocks or the ground are not out of place. By doing this, you won’t have any setbacks before starting your ride.
Start the shoot with all the “punch”
Another of the big mistakes is to start riding with all the energy and strength that we have. We need to start small and keep a step during the ride. Let’s remember that there is still a long way to go to finish the ride and we have to balance the energy we have for the whole trip. If you pedal with all your energy, you will probably be tired on the descent, making more mistakes on the descent.
Do not put a meeting point on the route
When going out in a group, it is necessary to put meeting points along the route. In this way, you will prevent someone from getting lost on your way out to the mountain.
You must identify the important points where there is a change of roads and it is quite obvious that they can take another course. They can be located in road cuts or intersections, or even in a specific km.
Yes, everyone goes his way and they don’t know the route. Therefore, it is advisable to tell whoever goes ahead to wait at each of the points where you can see two different routes until the others arrive.
We know that this may mean that the route becomes longer in time, but it is the only way to ensure that everyone is together and that there is no chance of getting lost.
The same applies to the descent. We must be patient with the participants. Not all of them go down as fast as the others. If we see a path and do not know which route it is, it is better to wait for someone else to arrive, go the other way, and lose ourselves on the way down.
It is good to make a relay plan among the participants to wait at the intersection points. Thus, nobody is left to last and you are sure that someone cannot go down with a fluid rhythm by waiting for others.
Do not bring spare parts or basic tools
Something that can be very annoying is thinking that others will carry tools and spare parts that you can take advantage of.
Many cyclists carry tools in case of emergency even if we sacrifice carrying a little more weight on our back. But, this does not mean that you should not bring your own tools and spare parts.
If you do not want to carry complete equipment, a minimum load is necessary to get out of trouble, such as a camera, some patches, and even a pump. Not many people carry more than two spare tubes or just not the size that your bike occupies. Don’t abuse the trust of your cycling friends.
If they come out very often among the same people, they can divide the tool and each one carry a part, for example, the air pump, the patch kit, etc.
Do not bring food or hydration
It does not matter if it is the route that you practice every Sunday. You should always bring at least one snack or energy bar. You never know when you can crash and need that nutritional punch.
In the same way, water should never be lacking. Not because you are in the best condition in the world does it mean that your body does not need fluids.
It is more important to carry this when you do not know the route. Remember that you will be in the middle of the hill, where there is no store available to get you out of trouble.
Carry more than you need in your backpack
Do not overdo it when carrying tools or food, either! You don’t have to carry the floor pump on an MTB track. There are pocket tools for this. Nor is it necessary to carry half a refrigerator in your backpack. Remember that all the weight you carry on your back will be part of enjoying or suffering on the ride. Do not wear extra clothes or thousands of gloves or “buff.” Take only what is necessary to get out of trouble and be able to conclude your ride successfully.
Attend a ride that is not at your level
We see this more often than one would like! Many people attend rides that are not of their level. They confuse the physical effort of a flat route with a high mountain route. Not pedaling 80km flat means that you can finish a 25km ride in the high mountains.
Remember before the event, ask for the altimetry and the distance. What do you need to bring? What type of ride is it and for what level? Etc. Not the same a roll of Cross Country to one of All Mountain. Ask what the descent will be like.
It is good to ask you a little more than you are capable of, but you should not exaggerate wanting to attend a shoot that you will not be able to complete.
Preventive maintenance of your bicycle
Do not wait for something to fail your bike to take it to the workshop. Your bike needs a preventive mechanical service. Do not neglect it. Enjoying the ride to 100% depends on the conditions in which your bike is. For example, if you don’t have brake pads, you won’t be able to brake well, which will distract you on the descent. If you can’t get the gear changes right. You will lose effort and time on the ride. That is why it is important to give your bike constant maintenance.
What else do you think needs to be included in these common mountain biking mistakes?
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Tags: mechanical condition of the bicycle, mistakes on a mountain ride, mountain ride
